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KU Library Support Staff (KULSS) Exec
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, Apr 6th, 2006
Anschutz Library Rm 421– 10am-11:30am

PRESENT: Monica Claassen-Wilson (FY06 Chair), Rebecca Claassen (FY06 Vice-Chair), Angie Rathmel (Secretary), Jill Becker (Group 3), Kevin Fussell (Group 2), Denise Swartz (Group 1), Robert Szabo (Group 4)

ABSENT:

Approval of Mar 9, 2005 and Mar 23 (with Ola Faucher) Meeting Minutes DONE
Approval of Q&A Dean Candidate #2 and #3 notes DONE
Approval of Feb. 23rd, 2005 Meeting Action Items
WHO? BY WHEN? WHAT?
1. Angie: Friday -Ask Allison Lopez when deadline for content for InfoMatters DONE
2. Jill Becker: Upon above - Send Allison Lopez announcement of “Dewey Decimators” softball team to INFOMATTERS – NEW ACTION ITEM (with schedule)
3. Becca: Apr 6th meeting - Ask committees to consider submitting their reports to InfoMatters as well as to KULSS – NEW ACTION ITEM
4. Angie: Friday - Send announcement of Dean Candidate visit and ask input (so replies go to just one person). DONE
5. Angie: Tuesday 3/14/06 - Formulate question for Dean candidate document. DONE
6. Monica: Friday - Send thank-yous to our Guests and invite additional comments they may have later via email, in person, etc. DONE

Committee Reports

Diversity Committee
Open House scheduled for April 19th, which conflicts with Staff Appreciation Awards. Will reschedule.

Meeting to discuss suggestions for improving PR. Will be calling for volunteers.

Planning and Resources Committee (PRC)
n/a

Support Staff Senate (from Mary Ann Baker)
The University Support Staff Senate Executive Committee met for the last time of the Senate's year (runs May-April) 5 April 2006.
It's the last time that Kathy Jansen presided over the Exec Committee and next week will be the last time she presides over the full Senate. We owe a debt of gratitude to her as she served at least one extra term to see us all through the changeover from Civil Service staff to University staff. She will continue on the Senate in the office of Past President. If you get a chance, let her know how much you appreciate her efforts.
From her position on the University's Planning and Resource Committee, Kathy was able to tell us that the flat tuition rate was just about ready to take effect in August 2007 and it looks like anyone who doesn't come in at the freshman year and continue for 4 straight years (for example, transfers and folks who drop out for a semester or so) will use a different, more expensive tuition rate.
We spent most of the meeting organizing for our organizational meeting of the full Senate next week and reviewing the Code for what we needed to do for certain positions. Next week we elect the Senate officers, EEO reps and some university committee reps.
The USS Personnel Committee has run into some snags with a survey it's trying to get out to the support staff on campus regarding whether the Senate should pursue trying to get tuition assistance for family members of staff. Now that permissions are needed whenever surveys are sent out to staff, more people/offices are having to weigh in and that takes time. Oh well.
I urged the HREO rep (Cindy Nitcher) to remind Ola to check into why personnel-related staff are not being informed of merit raise information and just the budgeteers (financial folks) are being communicated to about it. I also asked her to check in with Ola about my suggestion to her (Ola) when we walked out of the Libraries "town hall" meeting about salary bands and job titles and that was that when something new is happening that there can never be too much communication so that they should send out letters from HREO to us individually about our new job titles and salary information and that she shouldn't count on information sent to library administrative staff to wend it's way to the library support staff. After all, where's the harm if we get the information twice?
The USS Work Group is scheduled to meet this week after quite a long time of not meeting.
Don't forget to sign up for the community's Day of Caring (April 29th) with the Roger Hill Volunteer Center, 865-5030.

The University Committee on Libraries met for the last time this academic year 28 March 2006.
Leslie Tuttle agreed to serve as the UCL rep on the committee to consider the applicants for the Rubinstein-Mason Award.
There was a brief discussion about the change in the use of studies in Spencer Library from one of faculty and grad students having a quiet space to work to one of storage. Since this change is displacing several faculty members, space was sought in other facilities to accommodate them. This, then, brought to light the way studies are assigned in Watson and Anschutz and the policy was reworked for the UCL to review. We tabled this review until next academic year and will ask to have the University Senate Exec Committee (SenEx) make it a charge for the committee.
Barry Newton announced that he is going to offer to serve as chair again for next year (a good thing).
We allowed as how we had touched on most of our charges for the year and that Barry would send out a draft of the committee's report to the members for review (neither Barbara Gorman nor I have seen the report yet but Barry, as well as 2 other faculty committee members, are on the search committee for the new library dean). He will also include some of our suggestions for charges for the committee next year.
Remind me to relate to you the committee's appreciation of work well done for the committee. I will pass on the committee report once I get it ...

Dean Candidate #1-3 Summary Brainstorming (4th Candidate missing)

#1
Most experience in technical services (Head of). Didn’t have a strong personality/dynamic/conviction to stand up for the needs of staff. We feel it’s important in relating to Vice Provost of IS.

Staff Development
+ Broad view that involves all levels of staff
Communication
- didn’t seem approachable
- commented often that she would ”listen”
- dean is key is setting example (would have an open door)
Morale
+ Important to have rituals

#2
Lot of energy and good/new/fresh ideas. Dedication to research. Knew KULSS website and asked questions. Complete IT background. Negative: didn’t like how he handled difficult person (withholding staff promotion).
Staff Development
+ Program he is working on for career path for support staff,
+ No longer a ladder, but a zigzag.
+ Different learning styles. Acknowledges differences to promote productivity.

Communication
+ Staff intranet wiki system
+ showed a good awareness and different modes and awareness
+ never too much communication and visibility
+ High expectation of Assistant Deans (and will to hold accountable)
+ Seemed to have a good balance between the needs of the library and the needs of the University and the communication between.
+ Consistent theme of “team” focus, getting input from all levels (Dean doesn’t have all the ideas.
- Collegiality at the expense of getting things done? Breakdown of communication?

Morale
+ Take individual responsibility. Dean can set a tone only, not a therapist.
+ Didn’t agree with the top-level approach, would go out to others
+ Divisions blurring among faculty and staff (good thing)
+ Recognition (awards, and just people as people)
+ Considers librarians anyone who cares about libraries and works in libraries.

#3
Quiet personality and bland. Least experience at High level dealing with a lot of people. Don’t feel he has the depth to really address specifically the issues we need.
Staff Development
+ Very much for it.
Communication
- Transparency was mentioned at every meeting but never got specific with how.
Morale
+ Divisions blurring among faculty and staff (good thing)
+ People know and like him. Knows community and culture well. He has good relations with faculty.
+ Supports KULSA
- Not sure how he would deal with support staff

#4 (comments below based only on KULSS-Exec meeting with candidate)
Understands needs of the library. On all issues below felt these were vital to the organization.
Staff Development
Communication
- Theory different than practice. Admitted not strong (may be due to IT focus).
Morale
+ Divisions blurring among faculty and staff (good thing)
+ Can’t survive with elitist mentality.
+ Understands needs of library (faculty and staff) and university faculty from the perspective of the libraries.
+ Related well to Staff, he has done the work staff have done, so understands well.

Group Reports

Grp1
-Apr 28 is Stella’s last day.
Grp2
-Dewey (move to the annex) actually taking a higher percentage of reclasses than expected.
Grp3
-Overflow is increasing, currently in special temporary shifting project (2 east). Hired 4 students.
-Want to shift periodicals and microfilm to put in newly ordered cabinets.
Grp4
-Apr 26, 4:15 Annex ribbon cutting
-Annex Manager hopefully hired by next week.
-KState leasing part of the annex. Money used to expand annex.

Agenda items for Dean/HR Officer Meeting (Apr)

Cancelled, invite Donna to next Watson meeting. Consider farewell note/card for Stella?

Action Items for next meeting:

WHO? BY WHEN? WHAT?
1. Denise: Next meeting - Ask Donna when announcement of Barbara Gorman’s retirement and plans for reception.
2. Angie: Today - Draft email for SSEYA deadline announcement.
3. Becca: Upon above - Send out announcement for SSEYA award deadline.
4. Kevin: Next meeting - Buy a card for Stella for us to sign next meeting.
5. Jill: Next Meeting - Send Allison Lopez announcement of “Dewey Decimators” softball team to InfoMatters (with schedule and pictures)?
6. Becca: Next meeting - Ask committees to consider submitting their reports to InfoMatters as well as to KULSS
7. Angie: Next meeting - Ask Diversity Committee to send a summary of their film event.
8. Angie: Noon today - Email kulcc-l Q&A for Dean Candidates #2 and #3
9. Robert: Next Friday - Email Donna and invite to next meeting in Watson.

Our next meeting will be in Watson Conf Rm A&B 10:00-11:30.

PARKING LOT

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