Campus Updates

[alana]

Please share any campus updates using this thread!

[cfishner]

SUNY Delhi has just had our Middle States re-accreditation visit, and the Resnick Library was commended on several points.

Sarah Meisch-Lacombe will be taking on a new role within the library, her new title will be Electronic Resources and Assessment Librarian. We are excited for her to take on this new opportunity here with us.

Librarians Carrie Fishner, Sarah Meisch-Lacombe, and Professor Peter Brusoe presented "Building Campus Partnerships Through LibraryCon" at ALA's LibLearnX Conference in January. Planning for next year's LibraryCon is already underway.

Planning for spring activities and programs to support students as they approach end of semester projects and finals are underway.

Respectfully,
-Carrie Fishner, Delegate

[jenndevito]

The University Libraries welcomes Barry Volson as a part-time Evening/Weekend Supervisor. Barry joined the Access & User Services team on March 16. Barry holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science: Fisheries Science from the University of Rhode Island. He is the Natural Resource Program Manager at the Peconic Estuary Partnership in Kings Park, NY. Prior to this position, Barry was a biotechnologist and laboratory manager in Rhode Island.

On March 2, 2023, six University Libraries employees were recognized for their years of service at Stony Brook University. Lynn Toscano (35 years), Gisele Schierhorst (30), Eileen Phoel (26 years), Kristen Nyitray (25 years), Jeanne Quagliata (25 years), and Christian Wood (25 years).

In honor of Women’s History Month, the University Libraries has an exhibit in the Melville Library Central Reading Room, on loan from the Long Island Library Resources Council, with information about how women won the right to vote. In the North Reading Room and at the Health Sciences Library, users will find book displays featuring women authors, some from Stony Brook University. On March 2, Stony Brook University graduate students Jade Kai and Jose Flores Sanchez presented their paper, “Coloniality & Contagion: COVID-19 and the Disposability of Women of Color in Feminized Labor Sectors.”

On March 8, the University Libraries hosted a panel discussion on ChatGPT and Generative AI. Hosted by University Libraries dean Karim Boughida, the panel included Sowad Ocean Karim (president of Undergraduate Student Government), Prof. Susan Brennan (Psychology, Computer Science, Linguistics), Prof. Owen Rambow (Linguistics, IACS), and Rose Tirotta-Esposito (Director, CELT). https://library.stonybrook.edu/2023/03/13/chatgpt-generative-ai-forum-features-faculty-staff-student-voices/

The University Libraries is hiring an Instructional Support Associate in Access & User Services and a Director of Content Management. https://library.stonybrook.edu/about-us/employment/

[Chrissy O'Grady]

New Paltz Campus Updates

Dr. Susan Frey joined the library earlier this month as the new Library Dean. See the campus announcement linked below which includes Dr. Frey's background. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Frey and excited for the future of the library.

We also welcomed Jenn Palamino as the new Circulation Manager. Jenn is not new to STL and worked here as a student assistant, clerk and then secretary to the library dean. She previously worked in the college's Office of Veterans and Military Services. We couldn't be happier to welcome Jenn back.

The Digital Scholarship Center, coordinated by Senior Assistant Librarian Jennifer Rutner, is hosting two workshop series (Podcasting Week and Mapping Week) in March for faculty, students, and staff. The DSC will also host a virtual speaker series event in April with presenters from the US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) at the University of Houston. The talk is titled "What the Archive Means to Us: Preservation, Community Partnerships and Pedagogy." See link below for more information about the exciting events at the DSC.

https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2023/02/susan-m-frey-dean-sojourner-truth-library/
https://hawksites.newpaltz.edu/digitalscholarshipcenter/workshops-and-events/

[Adam Saunders]

SUNY Morrisville welcomes its new Instructional Services Librarian Adam Mizelle. Adam comes to us from Widener University in PA where he was the Information Literacy Coordinator. His past experiences with IL coordination and the ACRL framework will be a great asset as he tackles the process of working with faculty on integrating the new GNED IL standards into their courses. Adam is a fan of fishing, music, and tabletop rpgs.

Systems Librarian Angela Rhodes presented at the annual SUNYLA Midwinter Conference. Her presentation titled From Scratches on Paper to Auto-Generated Pivot Tables: The Evolution of Reference Statistics at SUNY Morrisville, discussed the history of keeping reference statistics and the process that pushed the keeping of these statistics from one iteration to another as well as the kind of data the library is seeking now.

The Morrisville library is hosting a new library gallery exhibit by artist Mark Diorio. The exhibit titled The Last Portrait: Reflections at the end of life, is a photographic exploration into the remaining days of the narrative. Every person has a unique story, shaped by life's challenges and accomplishments. The end of life is just another chapter - our final challenge - and it provokes an equally unique response. The exhibit will be on display until April 11th.

Our 5th Video Game Bookclub is currently running! We are playing through Supergiant’s Hades and had our first and second discussion sessions on March 3rd and 21st. Our final discussion will be on April 7th.

[Dana Laird]

SUNY Brockport campus updates:

Drake Memorial Library worked collaboratively with several departments and organizations on campus to hold a Douglass Day Transcribe-a-thon, where over 300 entries were added by Brockport participants.

The library is preparing to host our end of semester Procrastination Prevention Nights, with extended hours and stress relief events and activities for students.

[AprilDavies]

Instruction Librarian Freya Gibbon is enjoying her maternity leave with her first child. He's adorable and has so far behaved beautifully during Zoom calls. The rest of the librarians are covering her classes when we can.

The Mac & Cheese cook-off was a big success. Yours truly took home prizes in 2 categories. Yes, that is how I determine success.

Campus administration has approved restoration of our evening adjunct Reference line. The search will start late-July/August.

Serials & E-Resources librarian Peter Barvoets will retire in June. A search will begin for his replacement soon, we're just waiting for the final click-offs in Interview Exchange.

[loriwienke]

SUNY Oneonta was officially recognized as a university on Jan. 25, 2023. Milne Library helped the campus celebrate with a display of materials from our special collections and archives, which showcased events that helped shape our institution.

Michelle Hendley, Head of Collection Development, Resource Management & Sharing at Milne Library presented, "Mirror, Mirror: What Do You See When You Look At Me?," as part of the Inclusive Inquiry Series created by Dr. Howard Ashford, Director of the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Equity (CRJIE) at Oneonta on Feb. 14.

Milne Library hosted an Alden Scholar Series Lecture by Dr. Matthew Unangst, "Colonial Geography: Race and Space in German East Africa, 1884-1905," on Feb. 21.

In collaboration with Health Educator Rebecca Harrington from the Office of Health Education, Milne Library introduced a mini hump day wagon on Feb. 22 that is available in the library on Wednesdays. Our Radio Flyer wagon is filled with an assortment of free supplies to meet students' reproductive health needs.

Milne Library presented the inaugural lecture of our Reading Room Conversations Series on Mar. 22, when Dr. Allie Terry-Fritsch presented, "Fra Angelico's Public: Renaissance Art, Medici Politics, and the Library of San Marco in Florence."

Milne Library collaborated with SUNY Oneonta's Folks with Disabilities Affinity Group to support a student panel, "Beyond the Spectrum: A Panel Discussion of Personal Experiences," which will take place in the Alden Room on Mar. 29.

[erinwilburn]

Last summer, the librarians at SUNY Broome undertook a major weeding project - removing a significant number of volumes and integrating the reference collection into the circulating stacks.  As a result, we've opened up more space on both levels of our building for student collaboration and study.  It has been well-received!

This spring, we've added huddle stations to 2 of our reservable study rooms, and look forward to seeing students put them to use.

[Michelle Bowers]

After many years of water damage and requests to Upstate's budget office, the Health Sciences Library is getting a new roof. As our new interim Director Rebecca Kindon puts it, we’ll finally be able to say goodbye to our extensive chart of ceiling tiles with leaky spots.

We’re also considering some change-ups to our spaces inside the library. The ideas so far include new/better charging stations for our students, more double monitor setups on our public computer stations, and some office moves for several staff members.

We had two therapy dog visits this month, which are always a hit with our students. Our access services staff are currently brainstorming more program and event ideas to step into spring and give the students a chance to take a break and de-stress.

[kstanwicks]

Here are updates from UAlbany:

The University Library Current Periodicals Reading Room is being transformed into a multi-purpose event and study space. We're excited to have this room ready to host events for our campus's student research showcase at the end of April. We are also partnering with campus facilities to explore ways to freshen up other library spaces.

The University Libraries continue to work through a library-wide reorganization.

We hosted therapy dogs in the Science Library for a midterm study break in early March.

The Libraries partnered with the university's volunteer ambulance service to offer hands-on CPR training for our library faculty and staff.

The Libraries have been been working with undergraduate education and student affairs to host Study Sundays this semester as a means to help first-year students struggling with academics as we emerge from the pandemic.

We hosted research parties on 3/22 and 3/23 for students involved in the Writing and Critical Inquiry program to offer support in selecting topics, using databases, and finding scholarly sources.

The Libraries faculty and staff will be meeting with our University President on Friday 3/31 for a listening and learning tour.

[mbeechey]

Monroe CC Libraries has (finally!) filled a Principal Library Clerk position by hiring Mary Slifer, promoted from a part time Senior Library Clerk. Among other Access Services responsibilities, she will manage our student library assistants. Mary's creativity and enthusiasm, as well as her experience as a former English teacher, is a wonderful addition to our team.

Speaking of Mary-- she put together a display at our LVG Library entrance for Women's History Month which included fiction and non-fiction by women authors, a women's history quiz, and a "book lady" (a dress form mannequin with books as her skirt).  Next up is a display for Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 27th which will encourage students to write and share their own pocket poems. There has been a lot of student interest in these monthly displays and, going forward, we plan to partner with other areas around the college to highlight additional student work.

LVG Library recognized the retirement of the campus therapy dogs, Gretta and Ollie, with a send-off celebration this week.

Our popular long-term laptop loan program which was implemented in Fall 2022 has been put on hold due to concerns about billing students for unreturned laptops.  Since there is definitely a need, we are hoping to work with the college to find a solution for students who need to borrow technology.

In light of recent events around the country and within our community, the libraries are having a professional development day during the first week of April with presentations and information related to emergency preparedness and mental health supports for students.

[Morgan Bond]

SUNY Oswego updates:

Open forums for Presidential candidates are underway, so far 2 have been held.

We also have three tenure-track librarian searches underway: Access Services Librarian, Cataloging and Government Documents Librarian, and Digital Collections Librarian.

Penfield Library's massive 3-5 year collection review project has begun in preparation for it's upcoming remodel. More details about the project can be found on the libguide: https://libraryguides.oswego.edu/collectionreview/.

[esimmon4]

The library staff at GCC has welcomed a new Collection Development librarian, Barb Biljan. Barb has over 25 years of experience working in academic libraries in Minnesota, Arkansas, Washington state, and Colorado. Barb previously worked at the Alfred C. O’Connell Library as a part-time reference librarian and is excited to return to GCC in her new role as Collection Development & Library Systems Platform Administrator. Her most recent position was at Medaille University where she served as a faculty librarian on both the Rochester and Buffalo campuses. She received her BA in English from the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota and her MA in Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

The staff is navigating plans to move offices and integrate the Learning Center (tutoring) into the library in the next academic year, tentatively slated for Fall of 2023 but dependent on renovations by Buildings & Grounds.

We are currently looking for a PT Reference Librarian.

[franckcr]

The SUNY Potsdam Director of College Libraries resigned unexpectedly on February 8th.  Wish us luck.