January 4, 2018 Meeting of Library Staff Support Committee

Agenda not yet available.

Emily Kasak, Shoshana Vegh-Gaynor, Danielle Postula, Kyle McCafferty, Gennye Varvel, Laura Poulosky, Emily Kasak, Shoshana Vegh-Gaynor, Danielle Postula, Kyle McCafferty, Gennye Varvel, Laura Poulosky

Library Staff Support Committee Meeting Minutes—Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018

 

 

Special Guests:

Bill Mischo (Acting University Library Dean)

Kim Matherly (from Administrative Services)

 

Discussion with Bill Mischo:  Since John Wilkin will return to his role as University Library Dean on January 16^th, Bill Mischo visited our meeting to discuss various Library matters as he ends his year as Acting Library Dean.  Highlights included:

Bill’s article in Jan. Issue of Library Office Notes:  For an update on the Library’s budget, recent accomplishments, partnerships, and projects, Bill encouraged anyone who has not already done so to read his “University Librarian Notes,” which can be found here: http://publish.illinois.edu/libraryofficenotes/university-librarian-note/january-2018/

Recognizing staff in the current budget situation:  As part of their discussion of the transitions between Bill’s time as Acting Library Dean and John’s return, Bill plans to talk with John about how to balance the difficult budget cuts the Library is facing (another $300,000 in cuts for the upcoming fiscal year) with staff recognition and community-building events, emphasizing the importance of seeking input from staff about such events.

Building Library Community:  We talked with Bill about the idea of forming a new “Building Community” Committee, with the goal of strengthening communication and professional relationships throughout the Library.  (See LSSC Minutes from our Sept. 28^th and Oct. 26^th meetings for more on this idea.)  We would like to have civil service employees, Academic Professionals, and faculty members on this committee, so that all of these groups would be represented and would have the chance to work together.  Bill suggested that instead of forming a new committee, which would require approval from Executive Council, we might consider instead forming a sub-committee made of members from LSSC, L-CAP (Library Committee of Academic Professions), the Diversity Committee, and the Staff Development & Training Committee, since these are the groups with members who have expressed interest in working together to build Library community.  Kim Matherly invited us to let her know if we would like to put this potential development on the agenda for Executive Council.

Further Ideas for Building Connections:  Bill also suggested encouraging Library Division heads to organize more frequent/consistent intra- and inter-Division communication and to consider offering social events within and between Library Divisions, such as “field trips” when members of one division could visit another division to learn about their operations and services.  Emily wondered if we might invite other staff members along with us to attend LSSC “field trips” to different libraries and campus units.  Bill also mentioned the idea of more frequent library Open Houses to encourage more in-person communication and networking.

Upcoming Library Employees Event:  Remember to attend the University Library Employees Event on Friday, January 12^th, 2018, from 8:30am to noon at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center—this will be a great opportunity to talk with Library colleagues from all units!  At this event, various Library accomplishments of Academic Professionals, civil service staff, and faculty will be recognized.  Breakfast and lunch will be served.