The University of Kansas Libraries

KU Libraries Support Staff

KULSS Executive Meeting
Thursday, April 15, 11:00-12:00
Spencer Research Library Lounge

Present: Julie Warrick (chair), Nancy Hawkins (co-chair), Kristin Zachrel (secretary), Kyle Sederstrom (Group 1), Adam Reilly (Group 2), Meredith Huff (Group 4)

Absent: Sheila Orth (Group 3)

Previous Meeting's Action Items

Additions to the Agenda
*Voluntary tax savings annuities: TIAA-CREF is available for support staff, not just unclassified staff.
*Mary Karten from HREO is the TIAA-CREF contact.
*This is a voluntary retirement fund. KPERS will continue to be required.

Group Reports

Group 1 (Kyle):
*Preservation is cleaning, sleeving, and jacketing items from the music archive for the move to Anschutz. The preservation lab has been out of commission for the last few weeks to support the move.
*Denise Swartz is retiring Friday, April 16th. She is a former Group 1 KULSS representative. There is going to be a party to celebrate her retirement on April 15th at 2:00.
*Acquisitions/Serials has been adjusting their workflow procedures to increase efficiency for the Ordering/Claims and Records Team. They are figuring out ways to reduce or eliminate back and forth workflows between the two units.
*Electronic Resources Librarian position has been posted.

Group 2 (Adam):
*Opened and closed the position vacated by Kerry Chapman.

Group 3 (Sheila):
*Sheila went to KLA.

Group 4 (Meredith):
*The Annex truck is in for repairs.
*Working on exchanges between Watson and the Annex.
*Prepping new staff offices in Spencer: Toni Bressler is in a temporary office. Meredith Huff has a new office. Beth Whittaker will move into the office space vacated by Dr. Carothers and the Honors Program. A wall will be knocked down to make space for an office for one of the new hires.
*Spencer is making preparations for a new Special Collections Librarian.
*3 open searches will close this week (April 16th): Head of Reader Services, Head of Special Collections, and Head of Spencer Processing.
*Trying to figure out what to do with the reception area in Spencer.
*There was a bat in Spencer last week, which FO caught.
*Jim Smith got a new book truck that accommodates his height.

Committee Reports

Support Staff Senate:
*Agreed to collaborate on the summer food drive with the Unclassified Senate.
*Another visit to the Kansas Legislature is planned when the legislators return in April. If anyone is interested in going contact Mary Ann Baker. You must use vacation time to go. The visit will be in support of KU initiatives and the governor's budget proposals.

University Committee on Libraries:

Planning & Resources Committee (PRC):
*Day on the Job at KU is scheduled for April 23rd for Emporia's SLIM students. There will be sessions on reference & instruction in academic settings, technical competencies, and reflecting on the career of a librarian: perceptions on what staff thought working in a library would be like versus what it's actually like.
*There was one submission for the McCorison Rosenbloom Award to fund collaborative teaching efforts and enhance information literacy. It will be awarded as a grant instead of as an equipment expense.
*Med Center tour was good. Visitors were able to see what staff does at the medical center library, there was a tour through the special collections, refreshments were served.

Mentoring Committee:
*KU Library Support Staff needs to start looking for a new member to joint the Mentoring Committee. Nancy Hawkins and Whitney Baker will be leaving the committee at the end of June. Need to put out a call to find a new member.
*Joint meeting with the Committee on Research & Scholarly Activities (CRSA) Wednesday, April 21st to discuss research proposals and what librarians need for doing research for tenure.

Meeting Updates

Deans Council (next 4/16): Nothing to report.

Management Council (next 5/19):
*Position is being pursued to have a Voyager expert on staff with the libraries. Now that the restructuring of Information Services is taking place the search may be more successful.
*Management Council is mentoring 3 searches happening in Spencer.
*This year's retreat will be 2 half days (the first will probably be on June 16th and the second on July 14th - Bastille Day!)
*Would like to announce at the May All-Staff Meeting the ongoing awards (Daisy, LSS, and Unclassified)
*Public computers in Watson, Anschutz, and Art have a new software program that enables use to be time limited for users that don't have a KU login. Patrons must sign in with the service desk to the computers. There is a 30 minute time limit; however, the limit can be extended for users conducting research. Susan Craig has mentioned that this software has been significantly helpful.

Dean's KULSS Meeting: Weren't able to meet with Lorraine and Mike so we'll need to reschedule for either next month or in the couple of weeks.

Action Items for Next Meeting

Parking Lot
(Items to be aware of for the future, not necessarily discussed in current meeting)

*Grievance Committee Task Force / Action on hold

Next Meeting: Thursday, April 29th, 11:00-12:00 at