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KU Library Support Staff (KULSS) Exec
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, Mar 9th , 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)

GUESTS: Julie Warrick, Channette Kirby, Nishon Hawkins, Joel Cooper, Kurt Blythe, Jane Hoyt

ABSENT:

Approval of Feb. 23rd, 2005 Meeting Minutes
DONE
Approval of Feb. 23rd, 2005 Meeting Action Items
WHO? BY WHEN? WHAT?
1. All: Next Meeting - Bring a friend for focus group (meeting is in Anschutz Rm 410) DONE
2. Group Reps: Ongoing - Solicit input/questions for Dean Candidate visits. SEE ACTION
3. Monica: Mon. 2/27/06 - Send InfoMatters comments on behalf of KULSS to editor Allison Rose Lopez. DONE (Monica also met with her last Tuesday 2/28/06 and Allison reported InfoMatters is always open for input and suggestions, no content turned away and no set form.) We still need deadline info. SEE ACTION
4. Robert: Next meeting - Inquire with IT staff re: “random acts of kindness” DONE (Robert emailed this as well. The report was that it was harmless/nice – prolific, IT used hearts. Works well in their environment, close physical quarters.)

Focus Group Questions

What should/shouldn’t KULSS Exec be focusing energy on?
- Reestablish open communication. How do we do this?
  - Better in grassroots (survey?)
  - Staff Conference rpts, would like to see this again (as it once was in FYI)
- We should have “who to go to for what” (on website and email).
- Restablish feedback to supervisors and their evaluations (needs system-wide, from Dean to students)
  - We mentioned this with Donna and also supervisor training.
- Staff Development
  - Courses to be certified in, important for future employment (website for this set of courses). Donna is familiar with this. How can info on it get out to staff?
  - Open Houses

Sunshine Campaign
- Good idea, should have them at the circ desks so patrons and students can participate.
- Should have a pdf on the G: drive
- Comes out of the question: Are we trusted collegues or hired workers? Self esteem problem? (New job titles, salary bands*, LFA- faculty and unclassified)
- Carmen Orth-Alfe, former chair of CCEB, did a survey on Staff Morale (new one needed?) What questions do you ask?
  - Rate 1-5
  - Many people only feel comfortable talking to collegues.
  - Preserve anonymity (even in email).
  - Too big a picture (IS-wide). KU Libraries are still largest USS and we are diffused as opposed to IT who are all in the comp center. People feel cut off.

* Disappointed that salaries determined by salaries.com (which takes you to monster.com) instead of Kansas Wage Survey. What are the long term effects of this? Encourge attendance at final Town Hall Meeting JRP Rm 150 Friday, March 10 2-3:30pm and our own Libraries Forum with Ola Faucher on March 23, 10-11:30am.

Questions for Dean Candidates

(1st visit planned for Wednesday, March 15, 1:30-2:15pm, WATSON A)

We want “xyz” What can we expect from you in response to our needs?
- Current admin is aware of these issues, agrees with us on these needs, but nothing happens.
How would you address morale issues among support staff and build a sense of community across library faculty and staff.
What do you expect from your Assistant Dean’s
- Their role for you
- Their role for staff

Committee Reports

Diversity Committee
March 16th, 2:30-3:30 Spencer Library, Johnson Room: Movie “The Grandmother and the Raven” will be shown. This is a film by local filmmaker James Cisneros who will be in attendance for the film and discussion afterwards. Snacks will be provided. Channette is working on a poster for the event to be put up soon.

Still working on Open House for Diversity Committee to include: redisplay of the 2004 Diversity exhibit, updates on the committee’s work, Q&A session, possibly a cultural talent show. Snacks, of course!

Planning and Resources Committee (PRC)
n/a

Support Staff Senate (from Mary Ann Baker)
You will be getting a survey from the USS Senate Personnel Committee gauging USS folks interest in having tuition assistance available for family members as well as staff. The idea currently being promoted is that a staff member would be able to transfer her/his right to tuition assistance for a semester to a family member. Family members are defined by IRS standards.

KU External Affairs folks (Paul Carttar, Keith Yehlie) are encouraging us to contact our legislators and let them know how we think the changeover to university staff is working. Apparently, the union (for FO folks) is spreading the word that we are all unhappy with the change. That's not something any of the USS senators have heard. So, whether you have positive or negative impressions of the change, let your legislators know.

Urge your colleagues to attend the Town Hall meeting Friday afternoon if they haven't already been to one. Yea, Ola will probably present some of the same material for library folk on March 23rd but it doesn't hurt to hear it more than twice and between the presentations we can all be thinking of good questions for Ola.

I was really proud of my library colleagues during the Town Hall meeting on Monday morning. They spoke up and asked good, appropriate-to-all questions.

Management Council
Monica will send draft.

Planning/Rescheduling Meeting with Ola Faucher, HR

Monica will send a reminder email (to kulib-l, not just kulcc-l) as the date draws near. Have already sent correction email asking staff to post the sent flyers with the date marked out and corrected to March 23rd.

Group Reports

Grp1
? n/a
Grp2
? n/a
Grp3
? n/a
Grp4
? n/a

Agenda items for Dean/HR Officer Meeting (Mar 22)

Until new Dean is hired, will substitute these meeting with an invitation to Donna to attend KULSS meetings. She will be invited to Mar 23 meeting.

Action Items for next meeting:

WHO? BY WHEN? WHAT?
Angie: Friday - Ask Allison Lopez when deadline for content for InfoMatters
Jill Becker: Upon above - Send Allison Lopez announcement of “Dewey Decimators” softball team to INFOMATTERS
Becca: Apr 6th meeting - Ask committees to consider submitting their reports to InfoMatters as well as to KULSS
Angie: Friday - Send announcement of Dean Candidate visit ask input (so replies go to just one person).
Angie: Tuesday 3/14/06 - Formulate question for Dean candidate document.
Monica: Friday - Send thank-yous to our Guests and invite additional comments they may have later via email, in person, etc.

Our next meeting will be in Watson Conf Rm A&B 10:00-11:30. Special Guest, Ola Faucher, will talk about salary bands and job titles.