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September 20, 2019 Council Meeting @ SUNY Geneseo / Re: Campus Updates - Albany

« on: September 19, 2019, 12:20:33 PM »

New website
The University Libraries unveiled its new website in July! Check it out at: library.albany.edu.

Digital Scholarship: Opportunities and Challenges – Conference on October 11, 2019
The University at Albany Libraries will be hosting a one day conference on digital scholarship, developed in collaboration with Binghamton University Libraries, on Friday, October 11, 2019. This one day conference brings together scholars interested in exploring all aspects of digital scholarship. It will showcase new and important digital research projects, explore the potential of new and emerging trends in digital scholarship and investigate the technology, infrastructure, and support needed for effective scholarship.
Registration is required. The conference is free for students, and $40 for all other non-student attendees. For full schedule, speaker information, and to register, please visit: https://future.library.albany.edu/dsconf

Open Access Week events
The University at Albany Libraries will be holding a full week of programming in recognition of Open Access Week.
*Monday, October 21      12:00-1:00   Panel of Campus Advocates Speaking to Open Educational Resources at UAlbany
*Tuesday, October 22      12:00-1:00   Open Access Policy: From Directive to Draft
*Wednesday, October 23   9:00-12:30   Open Data Workshop: Intro to R and Python Using UAlbany’s Espy Collection
*Thursday, October 24   9:00-1:00           Reproducibility Symposium (Part 1): Building Transparency into Research, Teaching, & Learning
*Friday, October 25      9:00-1:00           Reproducibility Symposium (Part 2): Building Transparency into Research, Teaching, & Learning
These events are free and open to all, but registration for some is required. For more information on each program and for registration information, please visit: https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/open_access_week/2019/

Campus Conversations Series
The Libraries is continuing its Campus Conversations in Standish series this semester.
*Wednesday, October 2, 2019. Join Dr. Susanna Fessler, Professor of Japanese Studies, and the University Libraries for a talk titled "An Albany Yankee in the Tycoon's Court."
*Wednesday, October 30, 2019. Join Dr. David Carpenter, Director of the Institute for Health & Environment, and the University Libraries for a presentation titled "Are There Health Hazards Coming From the Rollout of 5G?"
*Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Join Dr. David Rousseau, Associate Professor of Political Science, and the University Libraries for a presentation titled "War and Rights: The Impact of War on Political and Civil Rights."
All Campus Conversations are held in the Standish Room of the Science Library from 12:35-1:30. These discussions are free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided.

Personnel Updates
The Libraries welcomed a number of new folks over the summer. Ryan Clow joined our team as Digital Scholarship Center Training Specialist. Abigail (Abby) Adams is our new Subject Librarian for Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, Cybersecurity, and Criminal Justice. Kathleen Flynn is our new Subject Librarian for Physical Sciences, Math & Statistics, Computer Science, & Engineering. Katlyn Ira and Matt Dorry joined our Access Services team. Katherine Mules joined Library Systems as our Application Administrator/Developer.
Giovannine Matheron (Acquisitions) resigned to pursue other opportunities. Joyce Rambo (Dean’s Office) retired on August 9.

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September 21, 2018 Council Meeting @ UAlbany / Re: Campus Updates - Albany

« on: September 21, 2018, 08:08:25 AM »

Virtual PAWS (Personalized Assistance With Searching) Pilot Program
The University at Albany Libraries has seen an increase in the number of one-on-one research appointment requests made by students.  This fall, the libraries’ Virtual PAWS Committee (Personalized Assistance With Searching) will be rolling out a soft launch of a pilot program to bring our one-on-one research consultations to our growing number of online and distance students.  We expect the program will help us provide a personal, face-to-face, service through online video conference software, giving our distance students the same opportunity to sit down with a librarian and discuss research strategies. The pilot will help us identify practical strategies and benefits of using video and screen-sharing in reference consultations.  The committee is collaborating with colleges and departments that offer fully online degree programs to reach out to enrolled students. Over the past year, librarians Camille Chesley, Sue Kaczor, Amanda Lowe, and Lauren Puzier have reviewed, recommended and initiated the training for and organization of the program and look forward to reporting on its results.


Can you hear me now? Audio Preservation with George Blood
The University at Albany Libraries has invited George Blood to give a workshop for our regional cultural institutions, scheduled for Thursday October 18, 2018. It will begin with an outline of the inherent vices and deterioration vectors of audio media. After this refresher, the presentation will work with a model RFP (Request for Proposal) and SOW (Statement of Work) to give attendees the information they need to proceed with preservation and digitization of this essential and unique part of our collective memory.

For more information and to register, visit the CDLC website, or click https://www.eventbrite.com/e/can-you-hear-me-now-audio-preservation-with-george-blood-tickets-49306909293.


New and Improved Metaliteracy Badging System
With generous support from Dean Rebecca Mugridge, Kelsey O'Brien and Trudi Jacobson have been working on a revamped version of the Metaliteracy Badging System. Originally created by educators from across the SUNY System, this instructional resource has been implemented with over 2,000 students at UAlbany, and seeks to empower learners to be mindful consumers and creators of information. Students who successfully complete the required components have the opportunity to earn four digital badges that may be shared on an e-portfolio or professional network: Master Evaluator, Digital Citizen, Producer & Collaborator, and Empowered Learner. The multimedia site includes original and openly-resourced content that can be assigned to meet particular course needs. Our ultimate goal is to make the resource open for use by any SUNY institution. We are excited to launch the new and improved site later this fall, which will allow customized learning plans and mapped progress toward the earning of each badge. In the meantime, the content of the site has been archived and may be previewed here: https://sites.google.com/view/metaliteracy/. Please feel free to reach out to Kelsey O'Brien if you're interested in learning more: klobrien@albany.edu.


Personnel News
This summer, the Libraries welcomed a host of new people to our team. Alyssa Panetta joined the Libraries as Web Developer/Designer. Alyssa held this role part time since last summer, but recently transitioned to a full time position. Lauren Puzier, formerly the Library Reference & Projects Librarian at the Dewey Graduate Library, was hired as our new User Experience Librarian. We welcomed Rachael Haines, our new Library Budget Officer. Leah Darcy joined the Innovate, Make, Create Center as the Audio, Video Equipment Lending Assistant. Jason Cromie is the newest member of the Discovery Services team in Technical Services.

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January 26, 2018 Council Meeting @ FIT / Re: Campus Updates - Albany

« on: January 26, 2018, 11:51:00 AM »

Strategic Planning
The University is currently working on drafting an updated strategic plan. The University Libraries has been holding meetings, discussions, and brainstorming sessions to develop a strategic plan based on the University’s framework. We are currently in the process of developing a draft plan.

SUNY LSP Migration Working Groups
Our campus contacts on the migration working groups are:
SMSP – Nancy Poehlmann (co-chair)
Data Migration – Wendy West (chair)
Access Services – Jeff Goldstein
Electronic Resources – Jan Waterhouse
Training – Jan Waterhouse (chair)
Discovery – Rebecca Nous
Analytics – Kabel Stanwicks

BreakoutEDU
The Information Literacy Department has been experimenting with new teaching methods this year using BreakoutEDU's immersive game kits. Inspired by "escape rooms" that have gained popularity in recent years, the kits consist of a box that students "break into" by solving clues to unlock five different types of locks. Trudi Jacobson and Kelsey O'Brien have worked closely with a lecturer in the Writing and Critical Inquiry program, a required course for first year students, to implement the game as a team-building exercise at the start of the semester (an article about the experience will be published in a future issue of C&RL News). Implementations have also included a zombie apocalypse-themed version of the game and a research-oriented version for an Information Literacy class.  The department provided an in-service for UAlbany librarians who might be interested in using BreakoutEDU in their own classes, and plans to keep experimenting with new applications of the kits during the spring semester.

New Single Service Desk
On September 21, 2017, the University Library opened a single-service desk for patrons. The new desk provides a home for Circulation, Reference, and ITS Help services. Previously, library users had to visit separate desks for certain services—for example to the Circulation desk for checkout and return of laptops, and to the Reference Desk for research guidance. "This project assisted us in streamlining our services, as well as enhanced the space on the University Library's first floor," said Rebecca Mugridge, Dean of University Libraries. A ribbon cutting ceremony officially opened the desk and was well attended by the university community.

Up and Comer Award - Amanda Lowe
Amanda M. Lowe, Outreach and Marketing Librarian, was one of twenty people (nationally) to be recognized with an Up and Comer award through ATG Media - an umbrella group that includes the Charleston Conference, Against the Grain, and a new series of short, open access ebooks – this past November. The Up and Comer award is intended for librarians, library staff, vendors, publishers, MLIS students, instructors, consultants and researchers who are new to their field or are in the early years of the profession. Up and Comers are passionate about the future of libraries and they seek to innovate, inspire, collaborate, and take risks. They are recognized as the future library leaders and change makers. Amanda will be featured in the December/January issue of Against the Grain and is scheduled to speak in an up-and-coming podcast series.

Personnel Updates
We recently welcomed two new employees to the Libraries. Amanda McGown joins us as Library Systems Desktop Support Technician in Library Systems. Steven Hunter joins us as a Lending and Access Services Clerk at the University Library.

Selected Publications & Presentations
Craig Gibson and Trudi E. Jacobson, “Habits of Mind in an Uncertain Information World.” Reference & User Services Quarterly, v, 57 no. 3, 2018, pp. 183-192.

Thomas P. Mackey and Trudi E. Jacobson.  Metaliteracy: Reflective and Empowered Lifelong Learning. Literacidad y Vida Cotidiana Conference. Guadalajara, Mexico. November 24, 2017.

Trudi E. Jacobson, John Delano, Linda Krzykowski  Laurie Garafola, Meghan Nyman, and Holly Barker-Flynn. “Transfer Student Analysis and Retention: A Collaborative Endeavor.” Reference Services Review, v. 45 no. 3, 2017, pp. 421-439.

Kelsey L. O’Brien, Michele Forte, Tom Mackey, and Trudi E. Jacobson, “Metaliteracy as Pedagogical Framework for Learner-Centered Design in Three MOOC Platforms: Connectivist, Coursera and Canvas.” Open Praxis, v.9 no. 3, 2017, pp. 267-286.

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November 3, 2017 Council Meeting @ Albany / Re: Campus Updates - Albany

« on: November 02, 2017, 09:29:09 AM »

UAlbany Campus President
Dr. Havidán Rodríguez was appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees as the 20th president of the University at Albany in June 2017. He took office in September 2017. If you’re curious to learn more about him, there is a really nice welcome message, along with highlights from his past experience here: http://www.albany.edu/news/79681.php

Campus Conversations Speaker Series
Dr. Mathias Vuille, a prominent scholar on past, current, and future climate change in the tropics, will present on "Toward Mountains Without Snow and Ice: How Climate Change will Transform our Mountain Environments in the 21st Century." Wednesday, November 8, 12:35-1:30, Science Library Standish Room. All are welcome. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.
Additional information is available at: http://liblogs.albany.edu/librarynews/2017/10/dr_mathias_vuillehow_climate_c.html

UAlbany celebrated Open Access Week with a 1 day program. Featured speakers included:
Johan Rooryck, former editor of Elsevier’s Lingua and current editor-in-chief of Glossa, who led the entire Lingua editorial board’s resignation, and went on to form Glossa as a fair open access alternative.
Darren Chase & Shafeek Fazal, Stony Brook University, who detailed the development of SBU's Open Access Policy.
Elaine Lasda & Julie Slichko, UAlbany, who discussed the partnership between the University Libraries and Information Technology Services to create a model for professional development in facilitating the adoption of OERs in online courses.
Complete program information, including recorded presentations, will be made available through our institutional repository: http://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/open_access_week/

Personnel news
Jan Waterhouse has come on board as the Director of Technical Services and Library Systems. She is currently participating on a couple of the SUNY LSP groups, so you may already have met or spoken with her. Angela Hackstadt has been hired as our new Subject Librarian for Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, and Law. Alyssa Panetta has joined the Library Systems department as a part-time, temporary web developer.
The search for the User Experience / Web Design Librarian is ongoing, and we will be advertising a full-time permanent web developer position shortly, so be on the lookout for that vacancy announcement.

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

« on: January 26, 2017, 10:20:09 AM »

Campus News from University at Albany

Upcoming Events:

Campus Conversations in Standish, Spring 2017
12:35-1:30 pm, Standish Room, Science Library, University at Albany
All are free and open to the public. More information about the Campus Conversations in Standish speaker series can be found at: http://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/campus_conversations/

Wednesday, February 8:  Dr. Victor Asal, "Criminalizing the LGBT Community and the Long Arm of the Religious State"

Wednesday, February 22: Dr. David Hochfelder, "98 Acres in Albany: Telling the Social History of Urban Renewal"
   
Wednesday, March 29: Dr. Lawrence Schell, "Minority Health Disparities: The Case of Native Americans"

Faculty Recognition:

Elaine Lasda Bergman, Subject Librarian for Social Welfare and Reference at the Dewey Graduate Library, was presented with the 2016 UNYSLA (Upstate New York Special Libraries Association) Chapter Member Merit Award at its Fall Meeting in Syracuse on October 21. The UNYSLA Chapter Member Merit Award is conferred annually and was created to recognize individuals for outstanding achievement and service to the Special Libraries Association (SLA) and to the Upstate New York chapter.

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) named Yu-Hui Chen, PhD, “Member of the Week” for the week of October 24, 2016. Yu-Hui Chen is Subject Librarian for Education and East Asian Studies. The article on Yu-Hui can be found at: http://www.acrl.ala.org/acrlinsider/archives/12647.

Personnel Announcements:

We welcomed several new members to our staff over the last few months. Giovannine Finn Matheron has been hired as Serials Coordinator. Tyler Norton joins the Libraries as a temporary Marketing Staff Assistant. Bridget Collins has joined Dewey staff as Dewey Graduate Library Administrative Support Assistant. Christina Evola was hired as Lending & Access Services Clerk at the Science Library. Lauren Puzier joined the Libraries as the Dewey Graduate Library Reference and Projects Librarian.

We have had several members of our team take on new challenges as well. Amanda Lowe has been appointed Outreach and Marketing Librarian. Joyce Rambo has been named Library Communications and Marketing Coordinator. Karina Ricker was appointed Reference and Government Information Librarian.

Carol Anderson, Reference Librarian, retired in October.

New Services:

Proactive Reference Chat
Reference and Research Services department launched “proactive chat,” an online reference service that does what many commercial online services do: take the initiative in asking online patrons if they need research assistance. After patrons have been online for 45 seconds using a library resource in which the proactive chat feature has been embedded —the Libraries’ online catalog, for instance—a little dialog box pops up on patrons’ computer screens asking if they want help from a reference librarian. If patrons decline, they will not be asked again during that browser session.

Streamlined Borrowing Policies
Circulation services also launched something new for students this semester: three fixed due dates.  Now, when students borrow circulating books, the books will be due on one of three fixed dates—December 1, May 1, or September 1.

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

« on: September 23, 2016, 11:29:56 AM »

Dean of University Libraries

Rebecca L. Mugridge has been appointed Dean of University Libraries, as of August 26. She had been acting as Interim Dean and Director of University Libraries since Mary Casserly’s retirement. Ms. Mugridge joined the University at Albany in January 2013, as Director of Technical Services and Library Systems.  She previously held positions at the Pennsylvania State University, Yale University, Robert Morris University, and the University of Pittsburgh.  We will be conducting a search for the Director of Technical Services and Library Systems in the future.

Personnel Highlights:

New hires and promotions
Ms. Camille Chesley is joining the University Libraries as Reference Librarian and Subject Librarian for Journalism.  She received her MS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was previously Reference and Instruction Librarian at the University of Montevallo. Her research interests include gaming and gamification in library instruction, information literacy assessment, critical librarianship, and diversity and inclusion in library and information science.

David H. Dickinson was hired as Interactive Media Center Training Specialist on July 28, 2016. David has an MA in Interactive Multimedia from Long Island University and a BA in Communications from SUNY Plattsburgh and is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership.

Cathy Dwyer was appointed Director of Scholarly Communications and Head, Dewey Graduate Library, effective July 14, 2016. In this role, Cathy will oversee scholarly communication and research data management initiatives, including the Libraries’ institutional repository, Scholars Archive. She will also provide administrative leadership, develop goals and objectives, and monitor progress for the Dewey Graduate Library.

Jennifer Moore was hired as part-time reference librarian on August 11.

Ms. Kelsey O’Brien is joining the Information Literacy Department in the University Libraries as senior assistant librarian. Kelsey received her MSIS from the University at Albany, and had come to us from Siena College. Her research and teaching interests focus on alternative credentialing, competency-based learning, gamification, and creative publication tools. Other areas of interest include scaffolded learning, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and addressing the affective needs of students during the research process.

Stephanie Sampsen was hired on May 5, 2016 as the Lending & Access Services Clerk, at the Science Library.

Departures:
Lorre Smith, Subject Librarian for Sociology, Anthropology, Geography and Planning, Linguistics and Cognitive Sciences retired in June.

Gregory Baron, Instructional Support Specialist, also retired in June.

Morissa McQuide resigned as the Evening Circulation Clerk at the University Library to pursue a graduate degree in international education at New York University.

John Heffernan resigned as the Evening Circulation Clerk at the Science Library to return to his former position with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision


Libraries Sponsor Visiting Scholar Librarian from China

In support of President Jones’s vision for internationalization, Yu-Hui Chen, PhD, Subject Librarian for Education and East Asian Studies initiated a collaboration between the University Libraries and the Center for International Education and Global Strategy to recruit librarians from overseas to attend its newly established Institute for International Visiting Scholars (IIVS). Dr. Chen developed a proposal for the Libraries to host an international visiting librarian for the Fall 2016 Semester. The program will allow the visiting librarian to gain an understanding of how American libraries operate by observing many facets of our operation and taking field trips to other libraries. In addition, the visiting librarian would take part in seminars and other cultural activities hosted by IIVS.

On September 12, the University Libraries welcomed its first IIVS visiting librarian, Ms. Rong Xiao. Ms. Xiao works at the Library of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) in Chengdu, Sichuan. We believe that Ms. Xiao’s visit will provide both the library and the campus community with meaningful exposure to diverse perspectives. This, in turn, will enrich our learning environment. Additionally, this mutually beneficial program can further enhance the existing partnership between SWUFE and the University at Albany.

Renovation of Interactive Media Center

The University Library’s Interactive Media Center (IMC) was renovated over the summer months to facilitate the growing demand for IMC’s services, including equipment loans, and consultation and instruction. The IMC is the only place on campus that lends recording and presentation equipment to UAlbany students, faculty, and staff. Storage space was created to house the ever-increasing volume of equipment needed to support academic research and student activities.

The service desk was redesigned to accommodate lengthier interactions with patrons. An additional sitdown desk area with a double sided monitor was added and will be used to demonstrate how to use recording equipment and to assist students in using applications on Windows and Macs.

Upcoming events include:

Joseph LeDoux, September 27, http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/
Joseph LeDoux is a world-renowned expert on the neurobiology of anxiety and fear. Director of the Emotional Brain Institute at NYU, he has helped to redefine the current understanding of those psychological states and their associated disorders. His new book is Anxious: Using the Brain to Understand and Treat Fear and Anxiety (2015), an accessible, elegantly written guide to the history and science of his field.

Campus Conversations in Standish Speaker Series, September 28, http://liblogs.albany.edu/librarynews/2016/09/rockefeller_colleges_julie_nov.html
Dr. Julie Novkov, Chair of the Department of Political Science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, and also a professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies will address "The Supreme Court's 2016 Term: Interesting Times" on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 from 12:35 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Science Library's Patricia and J. Spencer Standish Board Room. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Open Access Day, October 25, 2016

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March 11, 2016 Council Meeting at Binghamton / Re: Campus Updates

« on: March 11, 2016, 08:32:20 AM »

Albany Updates
Rebecca Nous

We are hosting a Diversity Transformation and Pedagogy Workshops series called Continuing Critical Conversations through Transformative Teaching and Learning.  Two programs are anticipated in April and May: Instructor Support for Re-Constructing Course Activities and Syllabi to address Diversity Transformation and Conversations on Resources:  Media and Frameworks for Transformative Teaching and Learning.  Additional information on this series can be found at: https://transformativeconversations.wordpress.com/

Our last Spring 2016 Campus Conversations in Standish is coming up on April 6 @ 12:35. Rick Fogarty, Ph.D., Associate Professor, History, University at Albany will hold a program titled: What Can 1916 Tell Us About 2016? Europe, Islam, and the Middle East. All Campus Conversations will be held in the Patricia and J. Spencer Standish Board Room, located on the third floor of the Science Library at the University at Albany.

Personnel Announcements:
Deborah Bernnard has agreed to serve as Director of Public Services, effective February 25, 2016. As Director of Public Services, Deborah will oversee four departments: Access Services, Information Literacy, the Interactive Media Center, and Reference and Research Services. Cathy Dwyer has agreed to serve as Interim Head, Dewey Graduate Library. A search for the Head, Dewey Graduate Library will be launched in the very near future.

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January 29, 2016 Council Meeting @ FIT / Re: Campus Updates - Albany

« on: January 27, 2016, 12:57:43 PM »

Albany Updates
Rebecca Nous

Save the Dates: Campus Conversations

Launched in spring 2015, Campus Conversations in Standish showcases faculty research and expertise and also connects members of the UAlbany community in an exchange of ideas and perspectives.  The University Libraries are pleased to announce the Spring 2016 Campus Conversations in Standish schedule:

     Rabi Musah, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry, University at Albany
     Smokes, Chews and Brews: The Dangers and Crackdown on Legal Plant Highs
     February 24, 2016. 12:35 pm - 1:30 pm

     James Stellar, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University at Albany
     Your Brain: Unconscious Decision-making and How it Affects Your Life and Learning
     March 2, 2016. 12:35 pm -1:30pm

     Rick Fogarty, Ph.D., Associate Professor, History, University at Albany
     What Can 1916 Tell Us About 2016? Europe, Islam, and the Middle East
     April 6, 2016. 12:35 pm-1:30pm

All Campus Conversations will be held in the Patricia and J. Spencer Standish Board Room, located on the third floor of the Science Library at the University at Albany. 


Personnel News

We have had a number of personnel changes recently:

--John Heffernan has joined our staff as the Evening Circulation Clerk at the Science Library
--Morissa McQuide has joined the University Library as the Evening Circulation Clerk
--Carol Anne Germain will be leaving Information Literacy and joining the Collections Division at University Libraries in February
--Amanda Lowe has accepted a new position as Lending and Access Services Associate at the University Library, and is no longer acting as our Information Commons Evening Coordinator
--Angela Persico has joined the Libraries as a Resource Sharing and Reserves Associate
--Debora Cheney has joined University ITS and is no longer acting as the Libraries’ AD for Public Services
--Angela McMichael has resigned as Serials Coordinator
--John Pardavila has resigned as the University Libraries Web Developer/Designer
 
We will be advertising for several positions in the coming months.

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

« on: November 13, 2015, 08:19:55 AM »

Albany
Rebecca Nous

New Mac Lab!

We’re really excited to announce the University Libraries’ new Mac Lab and smart group study rooms.  Nine group study rooms and forty-one iMac computers have been newly-installed on the first floor of the University Library.  This was a collaborative project of the University Libraries and UAlbany’s department of Information Technology Services (ITS). 

Each of the nine new group study rooms is equipped with a whiteboard and a flat screen television monitor. Six are glass-enclosed. Users can beam text and image files, as well as audio and video, from their laptop, tablet or smartphone to the television screen. Sharing the display is not limited to the users in the room; users can share the display with other users located somewhere else in the University Libraries or on campus.

The University Library is the only place on campus where Macs are publicly available to students, faculty and staff, so the lab and smart study rooms have been significant upgrades to the University Libraries’ Information Commons.

Personnel News

Dewey Graduate Library has hired Rebekah Jarvis-Girtler as a part time reference and projects librarian.  If you’d like to learn more about her, you can find her brief biography at: http://library.albany.edu/dewey/jarvis-girtler/bio.  Dick Irving, long time Subject Librarian at the Dewey Graduate Librarian, retired as of June 30, 2015.   Cathy Dwyer has assumed Dick's subject responsibilities (Public Affairs, Criminal Justice, and Government Information).

Scholars Archive & Open Access Event

We held an Open Access Day event on October 20th. Dr. P.D. Magnus, UAlbany professor in Philosophy and Paul Rapp, Esq, an Attorney who specializes in property law were the guest speakers at the event. There was also a brief demo of Scholars Archive, which helped kick off more interest from faculty in the repository. As the Scholars Archive team continues to reach out to departments, word is spreading across campus about Scholars Archive.  We currently have over 6,000 downloads and the number keeps climbing.

StressLessUAlbany

We’re finalizing events for our 3rd stress less programming for finals week.  This semester, we’re hosting therapy dogs, coffee breaks, coloring, puzzle and game spaces, massages, yoga, a primal scream, and showing funny animal videos in the University Libraries.  Stress Less has been very popular with students in the past, so we’re looking forward to another great week of events!  http://libguides.library.albany.edu/StressLessUAlbany #StressLessUAlbany

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

« on: September 25, 2015, 10:04:39 AM »

Albany
Rebecca Nous

New Interim Dean and Director of Libraries
The University at Albany Libraries is pleased to announce that Rebecca L. Mugridge has accepted a two-year appointment as Interim Dean and Director of Libraries.  Ms. Mugridge joined the University at Albany in January 2013, as Associate Director for Technical Services and Library Systems.  She previously held positions at the Pennsylvania State University, Yale University, Robert Morris University, and the University of Pittsburgh.  You can find her welcome to the Libraries at http://library.albany.edu/welcome/

Metaliteracy Badges
Here at the University Libraries we have been developing a Metaliteracy Badging System, and this year we continue to offer digital badges that recognize our students’ mastery of metaliteracy competencies. A digital badge is a hyperlinked credential that signifies an accomplishment or achievement.  Students progress through a series of metacognitive activities that require careful reflection, and these culminate in a top level badge that may be shared on digital resumes or portfolios.   Instructors from a variety of disciplines have been assigning the badging exercises or “quests” to their students, and there are currently 34 sections participating. Visit metaliteracybadges.org to check it out!

Open Access Week Event – October 20, 10 am – 2 pm
The University Libraries will be celebrating Open Access Week with an event in the Science Library’s Standish Room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20th. 
Speakers for the event will be Dr. P.D. Magnus and Paul Rapp, Esq. Dr. Magnus is a member of the Philosophy faculty at the University at Albany and is also the author of forall x, an open access introductory textbook on formal logic. Rapp is an attorney who specializes in intellectual property law. In addition to his role as an adjunct professor at Albany Law School, Rapp writes about issues related to copyright for his blog, Rapp on This, which is featured on the website of Metroland, a weekly newspaper in the Capital District.
The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP if you plan to attend (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LIlOQ8KRy8_cOIdvGez4CClHrIkhNjl4235511tzxVw/viewform#start=openform).

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June 3, 2015 Council Meeting @ Purchase (Annual) / Re: Campus Udates - Albany

« on: June 02, 2015, 03:13:57 PM »

Dean and Director Search:

The Library Dean and Director search is under way.  The vacancy announcement can be seen here: http://albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=57437.  Please feel free to share with any qualified people you know who you think may be interested.  Application review will begin immediately, and applications should be submitted via the Isaacson Miller job ad: http://www.imsearch.com/5366.

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost:

We are pleased to welcome James R. Stellar, our new Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.  Prior to joining the University at Albany, Stellar served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and then as vice president for academic innovation and experiential education at Queens College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY).  Stellar earned his doctorate in biological psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also completed his post-doctoral studies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

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March 13, 2015 Council Meeting @ Purchase / Re: Campus Updates

« on: March 12, 2015, 11:46:52 AM »

Greetings from Albany!

Dean and Director Search:
The Library Dean and Director search has officially begun.  The vacancy announcement can be seen here: http://albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=57437.  Please feel free to share with any qualified people you know who you think may be interested.  Application review will begin immediately, and applications should be submitted via the Isaacson Miller job ad: http://www.imsearch.com/5366.

Staffing Changes:
Dick Irving, Subject Specialist for Criminal Justice, Law, Political Science, and Public Administration and Policy will be retiring July 1.  Cathy Dwyer, our current Head of Reference and Government Documents Librarian, will be transitioning to that position.  Additionally, Chris Barber (Interlibrary Loan and Reserves clerk) and Suzi Dier (Interlibrary Loan and Reserves clerk) are retiring on April 23. 

Library Event:  Campus Conversations in Standish: NASA’s Search for Life Beyond the Earth (Wednesday, March 11)
NASA’s Search for Life Beyond the Earth premieres Campus Conversations in Standish, a new series showcasing UAlbany’s research and creative talents and sponsored by the UAlbany University Libraries.  Dr. John W. Delano, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus, Collins Fellow, and Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, will briefly present the latest results from research in geochemistry, planetary science, and astronomy bearing on the search for life beyond earth. The presentation takes place on Wednesday, March 11 from 12:35 pm -1:30pm in the Science Library’s Standish Board Room on the Uptown Campus. Light refreshments will be served.

America East Finals:
UAlbany Men’s and Women’s basketball teams are playing in the America East Finals this weekend right here at UAlbany!  America East Women's Basketball Championship is Friday, March 13 @ 4:30 p.m. at SEFCU Arena (ESPNU) and America East Men's Basketball Championship is Saturday, March 14 @ 11:00 a.m., SEFCU Arena (ESPN2).  GO GREAT DANES!!

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January 23, 2015 Council Meeting @ FIT / Re: Campus Updates

« on: January 26, 2015, 08:34:07 AM »

Hi from Albany!

You may have heard that our Dean and Director, Mary Casserly, will be retiring this summer.  The Library Dean and Director search is now getting underway.  The search committee has been appointed, and two forums for faculty, staff, and students were held with the executive search firm to discuss the position.

We installed two new water fountains in the University Library with a bottle refill spout with support from The Office of Environmental Sustainability and the Facilities Energy Office.  They allow library users to easily refill their water bottles with filtered water, in an effort to reduce waste from purchasing bottled water.  Dewey Library had one installed last year, and the Science Library will be getting one next.

We are very pleased to have just launched our new and improved Information Literacy Department website.  It highlights our new metaliteracy badging system, iLearn Workshops, and resources for faculty and students.  If you’re interested, you can check it out at : http://library.albany.edu/infolit/?source=front

--Rebecca Nous

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

« on: November 14, 2014, 08:10:52 AM »

Greetings from Albany! 

We are excited to welcome several new employees here.  Allison Hosier has been hired as our Information Literacy & Undergraduate Outreach Librarian in the Information Literacy Department,  Brian Wylock joins us as a Catalog Management Assistant in Catalog Management Services, and  Maya Esperson accepted a full-time position in Interlibrary Loan. 

The Preservation Department has been renamed the Alice Hastings Murphy Preservation Department in honor of Alice Hastings Murphy, a generous benefactor of the University Libraries.  A naming ceremony was held on October 10 in commemoration. 

We launched our institutional repository, called Scholars Archive, with a special event on October 21 as part of our Open Access Week activities.  Faculty have started adding their research.  Check it out at: http://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/

Renovation update:
The installation of electrical outlets on the basement to the third floor has been underway since the start of the summer.  Additional electrical outlets have been installed in the Current Periodicals Reading Room and the basement purple study area. Electrical outlets were installed in the IMC above the height of the work stations allowing for more convenient access to plug in devices...no more crawling on the floor to plug in! 
Work on the Third Floor has gained some good momentum as the technicians have become familiar with the various components involved in dropping the ceiling to install cable trays and ceiling tiles to run electrical lines out to the perimeter of the floor.  This work is very labor intensive and time consuming and work on this floor will continue throughout the fall semester.