Library Update - April 2004
University
- David Johnston, who will finish his current six-year term as UW’s fifth president in the summer of 2005, has been reappointed for another four years. The chair of the board of governors, Bob Harding, stated that the president’s "vision, energy and splendid leadership are fundamental to Waterloo 's progress, particularly as we move to launch a most ambitious fund-raising campaign."
- The public launch of “Campaign Waterloo” which is aimed at "building a talent trust" by raising $260 million was launched on March 23rd. William G. (Bill) Davis, premier of Ontario 1971-85, was an unannounced guest and gave a spirited defence of public education to a packed and delighted audience.
- Amit Chakma, Vice-President Academic & Provost, was elected to the board of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN/RCDR) at its inaugural meeting on April 23rd.
Library
- The Library has received a generous leadership gift of $500,000 from Peter and Betty Sims, respected leaders in the Kitchener-Waterloo community. Peter served as Chair of UW’s Board of Governors from 1994-1997, and Betty served as the chair of the board of Wilfrid Laurier University. The $500,000 gift to Campaign Waterloo will be used to renovate the 3rd floor of the Dana Porter Library to create an innovative learning and research space for our students and faculty.
- Renovations for the RBC Information Commons have now started and will be underway all summer.
- Susan Routliffe, former Assistant University Librarian, Information Services, is now Associate University Librarian, Information Resources & Services. The work of several organizational review groups is now underway.
- The UW Library is pleased to welcome back Carol Stephenson from her secondment to the OCUL Racer project. We are also pleased to continue to support the OCUL partnership by extending Faye Abrams’ secondment as OCUL Projects Officer.
- The Assessment Group of the Library’s User Services department has just completed a web-based survey of undergraduates on their views of the Library's reserve service. 5000 undergraduate students were randomly selected to participate in the survey and 1166 responded (23 % return rate). The data is currently being analysed by members of the group.
- The Library’s Community Needs Assessment Committee is conducting a web-based survey of students with disabilities to learn how we might better serve them. This survey is part of our Accessibility Plan
- On April 21 the Library concluded negotiations for the purchase of the complete Elsevier backfiles.
Administrative Assistant
Last Updated: March 1, 2006
