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Library Managers

University of Waterloo
Library Managers, March 18, 2009
9:30 a.m., Davis 1568

Present: Allan Bell, Eric Boyd, Betty Graf, Jennifer Haas, Christine Jewell, Michele Laing, Sharon Lamont, Susan Mavor, Ann Naese, Bill Oldfield, Richard Pinnell, Susan Routliffe (Chair), Debbie Tytko, Annette Dandyk (Recorder)

Regrets: Mark Haslett, Mary Stanley

1. Chair’s Remarks
• Recognition and Commendation
Sadly, John Sitler passed away on March 15. His passing was noted in the March 17 Daily Bulletin http://www.bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/2009/mar/17tu.html. John worked in Resource Sharing, Circulation Services and was a staff member in the Library since September 1980.

• Updates
Budget –Senate Finance Committee approved the recommendation of a 3% across the board expenditure reduction in fiscal 2009-10. The recommendation will go to Senate on March 23 and Board the Governors April 7 for final approval. The cut would not be applied to co-op, scholarships, and the library acquisitions budget. The acquisitions budget would receive a $400,000 increase to base, but at this time it is unknown how much, if any OTO (one time only) funding we will receive. The hiring freeze would be extended and major discretionary spending will continue to be curtailed. It is expected that we may resume purchasing books May 1. At this time, a budget reduction of 5% is being planned for fiscal 2010-11. For more information see the March 13 Daily Bulletin http://www.bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/2009/mar/13fr.html

On March 26 students involved in UW’s Peer Health Education Team will have a display with information for students about the benefits of physical activity in the Porter Library. Nancy Collins sent a message to Managers and Supervisors advising them of the display. Last fall, an ad hoc group was struck to discuss displays in the Library and to develop some guidelines. Membership consisted of Jennifer, Sharon, Mary, Nancy and Annie. It was planned that the draft guidelines would be discussed at the March 4 Managers meeting but it was cancelled; therefore, the guidelines will be discussed at the April 1 meeting. The guidelines state that Nancy is the first point of contact for requests.

• Around the Table Updates
Christine and Helena will alternate attending Managers meetings during Annie’s leave.

Susan M
Susan is working with Mary and Cheryl on the Friends of the Library event scheduled for April 20.

Ann
Ann has received only one response to her message about the proposal to discontinue lending out headphones. Porter ISR has some concerns because they will soon begin offering Camtasia software on a public workstation and it has some audio files.

Rationale for discontinuing the loan of headphones includes:
o Most people carry their own headphones for use with iPods etc.
o While there are no health issues associated with the loan of headphones because they don’t go in the ears, Linda Brogden, Occupational Health Nurse, and the Safety Office feels the service should be stopped.
o Earbuds can be purchased for $6 in the vending machines.
o The headphones break frequently and 20-30 need to be replaced each year.
o Loans of headphones are higher at Davis than Porter; it is suspected people may be using them to block out the noise.
Christine will take the comments back to ISR for further discussion and will follow up with Ann.
Action: Christine, Ann

2. Business Arising from February 18
There was no business arising.

3. DC Exam Study Zone Update
Jennifer gave an update on the exam study zones intended to make Davis a quieter place:
o Will run March 29 – April 24 to coincide with extended hours.
o Will address noise, cell phones (turn off when entering the Library) and ban strong smelling food.
o The Davis library will be divided into two zones
? red, silent study areas with no talking allowed
? yellow, quiet study where quiet conversation will be acceptable.
o Communication:
? tent sign when entering the library and banners on front doors
? red and yellow circles designating silent and quiet zones
? guidelines posted at entrance and throughout library
? bookmarks with the guidelines.
o Signage will ask users to turn off cell phones when entering the Library, and indicate where to go to talk normally.
o Furnishings:
? some of the tables will be removed and replaced with study carrels
? some display units will be put up for posters and to use as sound barriers between silent and quiet areas.
o Fulltime and casual staff will monitor the areas. They have received training from Counselling Services about how to approach people.
o Students and staff will have many opportunities to provide feedback during this period.

4. Normalizing the Chat Reference Service
The UW Library Chat Reference service is still operating as a pilot six years after it started. Users access it from the Library’s home page http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/asklib/index.html. Doug Morton provided some background and proposed that it become a permanent part of the library’s reference service. Since 2006 Instant Messaging (IM) chat lines and Meebo have been the software of choice. Currently the chat reference service operates Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 4:00 pm, and receives approximately 60 queries per month. Users are comfortable with IM technology and many are working from labs or offices and prefer not to make the trip to the Library. Essentially, the service opens a reference desk on their computers wherever they are. There is no cost for software, services, furniture or equipment. Staff time is minimal – Systems staff need to set it up, and ISR staff run the service (for many people this is two hours per week).

Managers had no concerns and overall agreed with the recommendation that chat reference become a permanent service. A promotion campaign will be developed with the Communications Librarian.

 

Next meeting: April 1, LIB 428

 

 


 


 


 


 


 




 




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June 10, 2009