Welcome to the Fall 2008 Semester of IRT Library Services
Table of Contents: Fall Flings | Tech Trade Out | SACs at SAC | ACC Reorg | Round Rock Campus One-Card;G-mail | Email Subjects | Team Goals | Signs | Community Access New Librarians | Training & CE | Staffing | Management Style LS Workspaces | New Activities |  |
As usual there are many things going on in the college, IRT and Library Services. Some of our activities are driven by college events and some are driven by IRT events and activities and others are driven by our own services and resources as well as our own ideas for activities and initiatives. Although I have specific sections in this "welcome" about these events and activities, in general, college activities this year include:
- The 35th Anniversary of the beginning of Austin Community College
- ACC's wonderful technology trade out plans that support both public services and staff workstations
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation issues
- ACC's new Round Rock Campus planning process
- ACC's Student Projects - One-Card; Gmail
The 35th Anniversary of the beginning of Austin Community College
ACC goals for celebrating the 35th year include:
- Celebrate the college's history, accomplishments, and look to the future
- Raise public awareness of ACC's mission, programs, and impact on the community
- Engage the community
- Invite the public to a variety of ACC events/celebrations
- Fundraise for the ACC Foundation
- Launch the Alumni Network
- Thank our partners for their ongoing support/engage new partners
- Honor ACC pioneers and alumni [both student and Board of Trustees]
- Enhance the current schedule of events with additional promotion
- Integrate the anniversary with the 'I am acc' image campaign
There are two groups planning for the 35th anniversary year. They are a 35th Committee and an Archive Committee. Richard Smith is serving on the 35th Committee and I am serving on the Archive Committee. The initiatives are being led by Gary Hampton, ACC Dean and Brette Lea, ACC Director of Marketing. While there are a few stand alone programs plans for the year, the 35th Committee's primary goal is to tie in to existing programs and couple the theme of those programs with the Anniversary. In addition, the PR/Marketing plans for the year include: incorporating 35th anniversary facts, stories, and logo when appropriate into presentations, radio/print/TV ads, and talking points, press releases, and trivia giveaways. Projects & events designed to engage the community [students, faculty, staff, and public] in a yearlong celebration include those in the list below. I am including them all, because we need to know what is going on where on our campuses for any scheduling shifts we may need.
Obviously Library Services isn't involved in all events, although employees can self select what they wish to attend that works with their schedules (work with your managers,) BUT Library Services will have their flings, we will be providing space for exhibits of archive and fine arts materials, we will have booths at several events and we will be linking activities to our webpage throughout the year. More later on these events and our role in 35th celebration activities - many of which, if not most, are free.
Library Services Flings
The Austin Community College Library Services' Fall Fling Open Houses are part of ACC's 35th Anniversary celebrations. Campus constituents, visitors from other ACC campuses and members of the educational community are invited to visit any or all of the four "Fling" campuses and see the "libraries of the largest (Northridge), the newest (Cypress Creek and South Austin), and the most specialized (Eastview) campuses." Visitors will see our facilities and resources, our newest custom celebrity READ posters and a demo of our Know How Island on Second Life, starring our avatar, 'KnowHow Jewell'. For questions, call 223-3085. For maps and contact information go to http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/campuses/. Times are from 2:30 to 5:30pm and dates include Friday, October 3 - South Austin Campus, Thursday, October 16 - Cypress Creek Campus, Thursday, November 6 - Eastview Campus and Friday, November 7 - Northridge Campus.
ACC's wonderful technology trade out plans that support both public services and staff workstations
Many LS computers will be replaced according to the College's replacement schedule -- probably during the winter intersession. Your supervisor has a list of campus computers which will be replaced this fall. The new computers will come loaded with Windows Vista (Business edition). Steve and Margaret will work with Ellie and Molly to provide some training material to assist you with the transition from WindowsXP. Look for information from the Tech Team soon.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation issues
SACS returned to ACC the last week of August to assess the South Austin Campus, one year after opening. I met with the team with the larger ACC group and then toured a team member (with great assistance from Mike Midgley and David Fonken) through the South Austin Campus library/IRT space. I think the team was impressed and ACC get status and recommendations soon.
ACC reorganization
The college's reorganization created a shorter management span for the president. Our reporting structure is still the same and we are very pleased.
ACC's new Round Rock Campus planning process
As of Monday of this week, I have returned all LLT comments on the 119 page document designed to present contiguous space comments/ideas to ACC IRT/LS and lead architects. We have an exciting future with the Phase I Library/IRT space opening in fall of 2010 in the main building on part of the 3rd floor. In Phase II, IRT/LS will expand into all of the 3rd floor. This will be our largest library/IRT space and I am excited about the possibilities.
ACC's Student Projects - One-Card; G-mail
By now you have received the copy of the AST's email to staff regarding the college's move to providing g-mail addresses to ACC students beginning this fall. I think the one-card transition went smoothly this last year and expect that the g-mail initiative will be well received and go smoothly as well.
LS Emails/Print Communications
Years ago the LLT started the process for standardized subject lines for emails in an effort to provide organization to the dozens of emails we send back and forth among LS employees. Using these headings gives us a quick "what it's about" and also allows us to sort our email folders quickly by subject line (by ourselves) and set preferences for automatic sorting. Individuals need to use these for print communications and can also - if appropriate - create library files with these titles as well.
Area | Wording | LLT Comments |
|---|---|---|
Teams/Groups | LLT CDT TT LS Tech LS Web ELE PR AST SDT etc. | LLT - Library Leadership Team CDT - Collection Development Team TT - Teaching Team LS Tech - LS Tech Team LS Web - LS Web Team ELE - Electronic Resources PR - Public Relations and Marketing AST - Access Services Team SDT - Staff Development Team etc. |
Importance? Priority? Need to Know? | Optional Deletable FYI Query | I think these headings are self-explanatory. |
Timing | ASAP Need Reply Deadline: {date} | ASAP This should include the date and time. Should also include "deadline" somewhere in body of the memo/email Need Reply - Use for Julie if urgent Deadline: {date} may not be urgent but needed by date |
LS 2009 Team Goals
LS goals can be found on the wiki on individual pages of a spreadsheet. These are being consolidated for a single, more global look at the goals. We will send out an email when the combined/merged goals document is ready.
LS Signage Inventory/Program
HL's will be working with staff to inventory signage and instructions in libraries in order to establish continuity and necessity but with flexibility for campus differences. Although the expectation is that some signs will be identical in terms of wording and look, libraries will also have individual/unique signs as needed. LLT is also looking into mural possibilities.
Public/Community access to ACC Libraries
LLT will review data gathered from across the state to design an access document that specifies privileges, age levels, use of resources and the prospect of a visitor sign in at ACC police offices - for individuals (non-ACC constituents coming in to ACC Libraries.)
New Librarians
We are so pleased to have two more new librarians for ACC Library Services. Our two new hires include:
- Adrian Erb, Assistant Professor- E-resources Librarian - Adrian is the new Electronic Resources and Reference Librarian at Cypress Creek campus. This fall she will be immersed in intensive training and will be moving among Tech Services (with Cherry Luedtke,) South Austin Campus (with Terese Morgan) and Cypress locations, because her position responsibilities are new due to consolidation of e-resource activities for ACC LS. Her previous professional experience is from Concordia University in Austin where she served for two years as a reference librarian. Her Concordia position gave her unique e-resources experiences that included managing licensing and vendor contracts for e-resources; the redesign of Concordia's library website to improve and promote access to library resources for students, faculty, and staff; the establishment of chat reference services; the creation of Web tutorials; and, the implementation of new database offerings to enhance the quality of student learning.
Adrian received her MSIS from the University of Texas at Austin and BA in English Rhetoric from Texas A&M University. She describes herself as tech-oriented person. Her hobbies include going to the gym, trying new restaurants, and attending live music events.
- Barbara Jorge, Assistant Professor - Barbara joins ACC Library Services as a Reference Librarian, at the Pinnacle Campus. She comes to ACC Library Services with reference and webpage design experience through internship positions at the Austin Public Library, Central Branch, and with reference and outreach experience as an ACC Adjunct Librarian from both ACC Rio Grande and Pinnacle campus libraries.
Barbara received her Master of Science in Information Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English also from The University of Texas at Austin.
LS managers will continue the extensive web-based, self-directed orientation; one-on-one management training; and mentor relationships for training, continuing education and development; and, will join the class (taught by Julie, the sophomore class and the sophomore graduating class) for new librarians.
Orientation, Training, Continuing Education, Development
In the past we have been focusing on separating out orientation, training, continuing education and development (hence my discussion at all-LS) and providing staff members as many opportunities for internal learning (inside LS, inside IRT and then inside ACC) and also linking you to staff development for free or low cost and fee-based staff development you can choose from (A special thank you to the LS Staff Development Team here.!)
This last summer we had our first Senior Library Assistant continuing education and development and will have our first LA activities and ongoing SLA activities this fall.
LS Staffing
The staffing plan…
LS has maintained a staffing plan for many years. This plan is our roadmap for full time and part time position needs, requests and timing. We are beginning a review of our existing plan and updating it for existing campus needs and what we will need to request for Round Rock, Phases I and II. Other areas we are contemplating include outreach librarian for P-16 initiatives to piggyback on what we already do (ex. Cedar Park) and expanded Early College Start and Extension Services activities.
Open positions…
Riverside SLA (interviews held, offer made/turned down, new interviews in progress)
Eastview LA (interviews in progress)
Head Librarian (was at Pinnacle, no decision on where it will be placed)
Library Services Management Style
For many years my basic management style for decision making was and still is a Situational Management Style. Basically it's a classic style that has managers assessing situations before they choose how to manage them. Example, my choice is usually to involve others in decision making which would speak to Participatory Management style, however, elements might dictate a different style for me. That is, a schedule of meetings might have to be changed because someone has a health issue. I would have to change the schedule but wouldn't be able to share with those involved the "why" because it is a confidential health issue. Therefore my usual style wouldn't be possible so I would have to dictate to employees the schedule change rather than involve them or participate in changing it together. Obviously, sometimes I can involve people and sometimes you just have to trust me.
A focus on individuals is considered more of a Coaching Management Style within Situational Management and is a Democratic Style. In Coaching, employees are provided with what they need to do (performance outline, timelines, teamwork needed, etc. as well as consequences) and then managers ALSO pay a great deal of attention to reminding, illustrating what needs to be done or - obviously - coaching. I have used this style for some time as well, however, beginning with this Fall, I will not be coaching EXCEPT for new employees. This is - in my opinion - more in line with a higher education management style that provides direction and then Head Librarians and faculty perform accordingly.
- Example, encumber deadlines are clear and published. If deadlines are not met for collection areas (acquisitions, weeding, etc.,) deadlines are not extended and money pools back into the larger CDT accounts.
- Example, teams require involvement and performance by team members. Goals and timelines are established now. If involvement doesn't occur or timelines aren't met - these issues are identified early and activities not completed go back to the workgroup for reassignment.
ACC Library Services Workspace
As a reminder …(not coaching but establishing initial expectations!) Workspaces for individuals should be arranged as ergonomically appropriate space. Workspaces, however, are available to other LS staff members who need them and should not be treated as a personal/private space.
- For their own safety, individuals should NOT leave anything of value or private out in the open - either items or written materials.
- Personal materials should not be stored on computers including music.
- All ACC guidelines must be adhered to such as no inappropriate activities should take place on workstations such as - for example - downloading music.
- All passwords for phones and computers should be available to other staff. An example would be the password to a phone would be the extension of the phone and not an individual's private password.
- Computer desktops should not have personal shortcuts.
- All workstations should be left - at the close of the individual's workday - with all programs closed.
In addition, wearing headphones while working at public service desks is prohibited. Individuals at workstations may wear headphones if listening to work-related content such as training materials, however, managers should work with staff on appropriate timing. That is, if an individual at a personal workstation is backing up someone at a public service desk, using headphones would not be appropriate.
New Activities
- AST will look at media as a format and how it has been handled for the past few years. AST will then work with IRT Media and the Language Department to determine services and issues surrounding the purchase of, access for and duplicating of CD's, etc. In addition, how DVD's are handled, media weeding, and media placement on shelves is already being discussed with Media staff.
- Facilitators & Team Leaders will meet to coordinate activities this fall. Oct. 10, 2008 @ 9:00am.
- This fall's All Librarians' Meeting will be in November and will focus on Transforming Libraries Activities.
- Cypress Librarians are piloting working with students on research questions and answers in Cypress Learning Lab.