Alfred University Librarians Meeting 2022-04-20, 9:00 am
Virtual, Zoom
Attending: Kevin Adams, Samantha Dannick, Maria Planansky, Mechele Romanchock, Brian Sullivan
Excused: Ellen Bahr, John Hosford
1. Opening Conversation
Brian shared several quotes from the recent Chronicle of Higher Education report, “The Library of the Future” and we discussed the question, “What is the library that’s going to last 50 or 100 years?”
2. Approval of Minutes
March 31, 2022 minutes were approved.
3. Dean and Director Updates Director Updates
Social Media Policy
o Input desired. Please provide additional feedback on the internal policy or ideas for a Style Guide. Mechele will form a subgroup to focus on this. Let her know if you or someone from your Team wants a role in this.
Disaster Planning
o Supply kits in each library were recently inventoried and are in the process of being restocked.
o Long term, we’ll be looking to revisit the plans for each library. A group is to be formed to work on this task. Participation is sought from all teams, but especially Archives, Collection Management, and Public Services. Mechele will reach out to determine group membership.
Student Worker Planning for Fall
o Financial Aid seeking job descriptions for all potential fall positions.
Please let Mechele know and fill out the paperwork if you might want a position. The process will be to send the form to Mechele, Brian, or Deb Rollins so that the Admin Team can submit them together as a group.
o Also working on the budget implications of work-study’s increased pay rate, beginning July 1st.
Summer Plan
o Public Services is working on summer library hours, as well as
coverage for various summer programs (HEOP, AUNY, Summer Arts, etc.). Expanded hours are possible to support these programs.
Dean Updates
Summer Plan
o Librarian coverage calendar – 1 week/librarian between July 5 and August 12. Librarians are expected to be as available as possible during their week. Apart from that week, librarians can create schedules that make sense for their Team, liaison responsibilities, and other projects. They can work from home or on campus as needed and use Release and Vacation days as desired. They can consult with Brian if they have questions.
o Library staff are allowed to work “Summer Hours,” which essentially means they can take a half hour lunch instead of an hour, thus potentially working 8-3:30 or 8:30-4:00, if desired and if approved by their supervisor.
All-Staff Meeting (4/21) Game Plan Preview o Library Assessment & Statistics
Highlights from Information Literacy & Reference assessments, along with ACRL statistics, will be shared
o Website Project
Parallel to what was shared at 3/31 Librarians Meeting o Strategic Plan
Parallel to what was shared at 3/16 Librarians Meeting
Executive & Deans Council Updates o Mask mandate criteria
o Yield season within Enrollment Management
o Planning for various recent events (Marlin Miller Birthday, Earth Day cleanup, Peter Cuneo talk, Hot Dog Day, Middle States kickoff, etc.) o Living Learning Communities coming (Laurie shared additional
information after the meeting)
o Role of research in Academic Affairs (sponsored, student, faculty, etc.)
o Recent meeting with President Zupan – Good discussion of various library topics and happenings.
Microsoft Teams Timeline
o Will circle back in May All-Staff Meeting. Focus has been on the website project in recent weeks.
Unimarket & E-Procurement
o Tool coming soon for ordering supplies, etc. Admin Team working on implications for our workflows and processes.
Reminder: Mentoring Survey Due 4/22 (Ellen Bahr Sabbatical Project)
Academic Ableism Book Discussion – SUNY – Coming in May
HR and Librarian Faculty Status
o Language to be added to library faculty offer letters:
“In addition to your faculty status, you are eligible for the benefits outlined in the Administrative and Technical Specialist summary.” (link to benefits, statutory or non- statutory as appropriate, included).
4. Discussion Topics
a. Reconsideration Policy
Maria shared a draft policy, looking particularly at the process and
workflow for what to do if a library resource is challenged by a patron. We walked through the document together. This will be an internal policy and made available to staff and student workers within Public Services.
Other topics discussed:
o Parallels the draft “Takedown Policy”
o Herrick juvenile collection policy, perhaps to be folded into this or our Collection Development Policy
o Electronic Resources – included or not? Ebooks, databases, searches and subject headings
b. Weeding Guidelines
Maria shared a draft that draws from previous library documents with guidelines, and seeks comments, feedback, input, and additional ideas.
c. Herrick & Scholes Library Committees – Ideas for Discussion Topics & Updates
The Herrick & Scholes Library Committees will be meeting again for the first time since 2019 (Scholes) and 2014 (Herrick)! Maria chairs the Scholes Committee and Kevin is the convener of the Herrick Committee. Maria, Kevin, Mechele, and Brian will be meeting to plan the respective agendas and would be happy to receive ideas for update and discussion topics.
Next meeting: 5/4/22, 9:00-10:30, Virtual - Zoom, Secretary – John Meeting adjourned 10:35 am
Minutes respectfully submitted by Brian Sullivan
