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January 27, 2017 Council Meeting @ FIT / Re: Campus Updates

« on: January 25, 2017, 01:23:36 PM »

Erie Community College (ECC)
Submitter: Matthew Best

The close of 2016 brought extensive staff changes to the ECC libraries. Our most senior librarian retired and seven new librarians started work at ECC to fill existing vacancies.

In December, Professor Jane Ashwill of ECC's North Campus library retired after 24 years of service to the college. While at ECC, Jane's roles included managing the library catalog, serving as Systems Librarian, and acting as the Department Chair at the North Campus library. Additionally, she performed regular duties in reference service, collection development, and instruction. In her retirement, Jane plans to travel, paint, and explore volunteer opportunities. We offer our deepest thanks to Jane and wish her  success in this exciting new chapter of her life.

In November, six new part-time librarians joined the ECC libraries. Linda Deeks and Sharon Moore joined the North Campus library. Jodi Benatovich, and Caitlin Kenney joined the City Campus library. Carrie Owens and Jeremy Lyman joined the South Campus library. These librarians bring a wealth of talent to ECC and offer a rich blend of experience from college, school, public, and special libraries.

In October, Keri Thomas-Whiteside began as a full-time librarian at the City Campus. Keri's new role includes overseeing acquisitions and serials at the City Campus library. Her previous experience as a Trocaire College librarian will serve her well as she assists her colleagues with reference services and library instruction.

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September 23, 2016 Council meeting at Geneseo / Re: Campus Updates

« on: September 27, 2016, 10:33:26 AM »

Erie Community College (ECC), Delegate: Matthew Best

2016 brings many positive changes to the ECC libraries and some welcomed accolades. Additional changes extended throughout the entire college.

Over the summer, the ECC libraries began modifying the ways in which it offers library instruction and reference services. The libraries now offer fifteen-minute "mini" library instruction sessions in classrooms around the ECC campuses.  These “mini” sessions complement the fifty-minute sessions that continue to be held within the libraries. Additionally, ECC librarians deployed an online library instruction course via the Blackboard learning management system. This self-paced course enhances the libraries' distance learning resources. To receive enhanced reference services, ECC library users can now book appointments online for private hour-long consultations with librarians. This change reflects the decline of short ready-reference interactions at the libraries' public reference desks. Though ECC librarians are still present at public reference desks, the availability of scheduled private appointments has potential to increase user satisfaction.

2016 also brings staffing changes to the ECC libraries. Justin Cronise, former part-time librarian at ECC's North campus in Williamsville, NY, began a full-time librarian position at ECC South Campus in Orchard Park, NY. New hire, Keri Thomas-Whiteside received a full-time librarian position at ECC City Campus in Buffalo, NY and is scheduled to join the team this October.

On Septemer 30, 2016, the Western New York Library Resources Council (WNYLRC) plans to present its 2016 Outstanding Library Program Award to the ECC libraries. WNYLRC granted this award based on the success of the ECC Libraries' Human Library programs held during 2015 and 2016. These programs brought together people from unique backgrounds in order to dispel stereotypes and prejudices, and encourage dialogue and understanding through conversation. The programs featured a series of guest speakers, living books, who spoke openly and honestly about their specific situations. The presentation of the award to the ECC libraries will be held in Ellicotville, NY and coincides with the celebration of WNYLRC's 50th annual meeting.

Over the summer, construction began on ECC's $3.1 million grant-funded Nanotechnology Building Annex at ECC North Campus in Williamsville, NY. Construction also began on the college's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) academic center at North Campus with a ceremonial groundbreaking on August 24. The $30 million state-, county- and college-funded project will provide approximately 57,000 square feet of new facility space for labs, prep rooms and support spaces for ECC's Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Engineering Science programs.

At the start of the Fall Semester, it was announced that ECC's President Jack F. Quinn, Jr. will retire following the school's 2017 commencement and the college will embark on a presidential transition plan. Quinn, a U.S. Congressman representing Buffalo from 1993-2005, presided over ECC since 2008.

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Nov. 13, 2015 Council Meeting @ Cobleskill / Re: Campus Updates

« on: November 13, 2015, 09:48:39 AM »

Erie Community College (ECC)
Delegate: Matthew Best

The ECC North Campus library hosted its annual Banned Books reading on September 29, featuring English Professor Jennifer Campbell's students reading selections from banned and challenged books in honor of Banned Books Week, the national book community's annual celebration of the freedom to read.

Library Department Chairs Matthew Best (ECC North Campus),  Taheera Shaheed-Sonubi (ECC South Campus), and Kathleen McGriff Powers (City Campus) attended The Fall Meeting of the SUNY Council of Library Directors October 14-16 at the Woodcliff Hotel in Fairport, NY.

On October 20, Librarian Jewel De la Rosa (ECC North Campus) and Librarian Nicole Thomas (ECC South Campus) presented their 1st first ECC Elevate! workshop entitled "Tools for Active Learning" as an in-service event for ECC faculty. The goal of the Elevate! group is to help present to ECC faculty unique ways that technology can be utilized in classrooms to enhance the educational experience.

Jewel De la Rosa is also acting as a Fellow in the SUNY Tools of Engagement Project (TOEP ). TOEP is an on-demand discovery learning professional development model. The goal of TOEP is to encourage faculty and staff across SUNY to explore and reflect upon the use of emerging technology tools to expand tech-infused pedagogy. Jewel is working with ECC's Instructional Designer Jeanne Myer's and Instructor Erik Neilans who are also participating as TOEP Fellows. The three of them presented TOEP informational meetings to ECC faculty throughout November. More information about TOEP can be found here: https://sites.google.com/site/sunytoep/

The proposed contract between Faculty Federation of ECC (FFECC) and the college was ratified on November 4 at a special meeting of the FFECC membership. The vote was 245 in favor, 48 opposed. Contract negotiations occurred over the past six years; now we can focus all our energies on moving the institution forward and running the best college possible for our students.

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Sept. 25, 2015 Council Meeting @ Monroe Community College / Re: Campus Updates

« on: September 17, 2015, 02:16:49 PM »

Erie Community College (ECC)

The ECC libraries welcome new part-time College Librarians Justin Cronise, Maria Lowe, and David Odem. Justin joined the ECC North Campus library staff in September 2015. In October 2014, Maria joined the ECC City Campus library staff and David joined the South Campus library staff.

We also welcome new Senior Library Clerks Tina Doud and Karen Bailey. Karen is serving as a circulation clerk at the ECC City Campus. Tina serves as the City Campus cataloging clerk. They joined the staff in September 2015.

In addition to new hires, new department chairs were selected for two of the ECC libraries at the end of the 2015 Spring Semester. Senior College Librarian Matthew Best is the new chair at ECC North Campus. Senior College Librarian Taheera Shaheed-Sonubi is the new chair at ECC South Campus.

The ECC libraries congratulate librarian Professor Katherine Hill on receiving emeritus status during the college's September 2015 Opening Day ceremonies. Katherine retired from her position at the ECC North Campus library in 2014. We wish her continued success and happiness in her retirement.

-Matthew Best
Erie Community College

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November 14, 2014 Council Meeting @SUNY Albany / Re: Campus Updates

« on: November 13, 2014, 12:35:11 PM »

Erie Community College Library Resource Center congratulates librarians Joyce Ampuja, Katherine Hill, and Lynnette Mende on their retirements in the 2014 summer. We are grateful for their years of dedicated service to the Erie Community College community. Fall 2014 brought personnel changes throughout our libraries. College Librarians Jewel De la Rosa, Jamie Smith, Kim Coney, Kelly Waller, and Senior Library Clerk Paula Gilbert joined us at our North Campus. College Librarians Ryan Grimmer and Maria Lowe joined us at our City Campus. College Librarian David Odum joined us at our South Campus.