September 23, 2021 Meeting of Library Staff Support Committee

LSSC Meeting Agenda 09-23-21

1. Approve August Minutes 
2. Borrowing timelines concern update (via email beforehand)

• LSSC brochure update (shared and discussed via email)

1. Bylaws update: send for input (via email)
2. Liaison & Committee Reports
3. Susan Breakenridge joining LSSC for Q & A  – 11:30-12:30

• Other questions/topics
  1. Inclusion in Governance call for input
  2. C. meeting (last attended were 08-09-21 & 08-23-2021)
     1. EC Monday, September 27, 2pm
        1. Shared topics for EC:
           1. Monday continued discussion: AUL User Services/Directors discussion
           2. For next time: Questions? Agenda topics?
        2. Dean Wilkin – meet with LSSC schedule, changed meeting times proposed

• Other Updates / Comments

Jan Adamczyk (Area Studies)
Bernadette Braun (Physical Sciences)
Erik Chapman (Life Sciences)
Julia Cross (Residential Hall Libraries)
Karen Huck (Arts & Humanities)
Kim Hutcherson (Administration)
Tony Hynes (Special Collections)
Rachael Johns (Technical Services)
Michelle Self-Ballard (Central Public Services)
Jessica Sommers (Law)

Minutes for September 23, 2021 meeting

Approve August Minutes: Approved

 

Liaison Reports and Updates:

Administration: No report.

Administrative Council:  did not meet

Area Studies:  Applying for grant; discussed how to better engage grad students,

Arts & Humanities: Guest: Victor Jones.  Discussed what Librarians are doing towards DEIA.  Victor gave his ideas of what would work towards greater diversity in libraries and building a relationship with cultural centers and students.  There was discussion about what everyone has been doing for the semester, how things are going.  Also discussed the ambassador program for the new employees.

Central Public Services:  Did not meet.

Central Access Service:

UGL:  UGL has had discussions on masks.

Law:  Sorting out Alma issues and making good progress.

Life Sciences:  Discussed research data service; reviewed policy for scheduling events at Funk ACES; and discussed possible funds to renovate study spaces.

Physical Sciences:  Did not meet.

Math & Grainger:   Going well this semester

Res Hall:  Working on as much outreach as possible, such as “library to go” events:  res life staff topics at hand, helping students organize own book clubs.

Upcoming events in October:

Feminism for the 99% Book Giveaway, Discussions and Author Lecture

Courtesy of the Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program, get a free copy of Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto from the Residence Hall Libraries when you sign up to attend one of our discussions.

There are 3 discussion options:

• Friday, 10/1, 4-5 p.m. @ Illinois Street Residence Hall Room 0050B
• Tuesday, 10/5, 7-8 p.m. on Zoom (Link will be sent to those who sign up)
• Wednesday, 10/6 7-8 p.m. @ SDRP (“the Ike”) Room 2005

Register here to attend co-author Tithi Bhattacharya’s Zoom lecture on Feminism for the 99% on Friday, 10/15 @ Noon Central time: https://go.illinois.edu/TithiBTalk

Upcoming events in November:

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler Community Read

As part of Parable Path CU (https://krannertcenter.com/content/parable-path-cu), get a free copy of the novel or graphic novel version of Parable of the Sower from the Residence Hall Libraries when you sign up to attend one of our discussions.  Come pick up your copy while supplies last!

There are 3 discussion options:

• Wednesday, 11/3, 7-8 p.m.@ SDRP (“the Ike”) Room 2005
• Thursday, 11/4, 7-8 p.m. Zoom (Link will be sent to those who sign up)
• Friday, 11/5, 4-5 p.m.@ Illinois Street Residence Hall Room 0050B

This event is part of the Parable Path CU collaboration, coordinated by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. There will be discussion groups and arts programming taking place throughout the year, culminating in Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, an opera by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in February 2022. The Parable Path CU collaborators include Champaign Central High School Library, Champaign Public Library: Douglass Branch, Champaign Public Library: Main Branch, The Urbana Free Library, University of Illinois Residence Hall Libraries, University Laboratory High School Library, University Library at the University of Illinois, and the Urbana High School Library.

Special Collections:  Update on building project:  architects are asking about equipment needs, where people do their work (reference area or where), temperature control looking at areas.  A presentation of visual drawings and plans to the committee should happen early next month.  In November, a final plan to be sent to campus.  There was also some discussion on outreach and engagement.

Technical Services:  Did not meet. LibGuides available to share https://guides.library.illinois.edu/librarycatalog/request-renew#s-lg-box-27340296

 

Other News:  Outreach and Engagement committee – thinking of outreach activities, interest in grants; Looking for others to collaborate.  Inclusion in Governance call for input.  We welcome your thoughts, opinions, and ideas for a more inclusive governance structure in an open office hour posted in libnews.

Q & A with Susan Breakenridge        

Q:  May we start the conference process for 2022? (Conference CSE support)

A:  Appreciated how proposal was all written out.  Okay to move forward.  Dean John Wilkin is supportive.

Q:  Sharing Staff Concerns and Feedback (shared via drop in hour & direct communication)Staff borrowing timelines follow-up: Why can we not re-institute the 16-week borrowing privilege for staff?  It was a perk and has since been taken away.  We have plenty of books.  Feels hierarchical.  Faculty get 16 weeks with 10 renewals.  Background – if staff at large beyond the library get this privilege and have issues if book is not available, do they go to Inter Library Loan?  Is that a burden on them?  Can data be collected so that we can revisit this issue to see where we are next year?  Problem is staff is staff regardless, but library is impacted.

Q:  Looking at hybrid / remote work for staff – possible individual-basis consideration? Example:  training is not regular, it’s not consistent, and those that sit in the middle of the office cannot really do the zoom training effectively.  It would be helpful if we could have specific days for training and meetings that could be remote, more flexible especially since covid still remains active and avoid crowded places and wearing masks when engaged in a meeting.  LSSC members agree that one-off’s would be helpful.

A:  It’s difficult when you write policies and guidelines for one-off’s due to the equity, the differences with front facing/public facing, etc.  It’s tricky.  This is on-going, will be reviewing next group of hybrid/remote applications, will check on how AULs feel about the one-off’s. Quarantine – is a different situation, does not have anything to do with remote work.  One-off’s is not a permanent change, so that is easier to work with.  Quarantine is a medical situation for which we have some requirements in place.  If employee is told to quarantine & if you have been notified, then there is a policy – talk with HR.    If you feel like you need to quarantine, if you were close to someone who has covid, HR will work with you.  Again, that isn’t permanent.

Q:  Short staffing stresses – especially for public-facing units, having only 1 person in unit for longer periods.

A:   Aware of the situation and units are equally concerned on being short staffed.  Unaware that some are not able to take breaks.  Will talk to Unit Head’s about this.  Solutions have to be made.

Q:  Mask enforcement: Stress of monitoring both public and colleagues who are not mask-wearing.

A:  This is talked about a lot at unit heads meetings.  Any concerns, take to Susan.  Do not put yourself at risk with a patron that is refusing to wear a mask.

Q:  Request for admin to visit Security in light of new Mask enforcement duties.

A:  Write a proposal to  EC/LCAP/Dean.  Due to budget constraints, probably won’t go anywhere, but needs to be proposed.  The proposal should give them specific details, dollar amounts, like your conference support proposal.

 

Next LSSC Zoom Meeting: October 28, 2021