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Michele Combs to consult for the Smithsonian
Michele Combs was recently hired as a consultant by the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Art (AAA). She will conduct a gap analysis study for the AAA and nine other Smithsonian units to identify informational gaps in their finding aids against two description standards. To be completed in March 2011, this analysis will help the Smithsonian determine the feasibility of a future mass EAD (Encoded Archival Description) conversion.
Michele has worked for the past five years converting SCRC's print-based finding aids to EAD. To date, more than 1,800 EAD finding aids, representing 85% of all SCRC manuscript collections, have been created or converted.
Congratulations, Michele! |
Business Services Office helps the Library "go green"
 Jackie Allred recently gave a presention to the Green Library Team on ways that the Business Services Office strives to "reduce, reuse, and recycle" during the purchasing process. Their process is reflective of the University's green purchasing policy, which states that the University is committed to the development, purchase, and use of environmentally and socially responsible materials and products. Jackie explained that a typical purchase begins with Brian Byrnes, who is responsible for ordering. Before placing an order, he identifies vendors that can provide environmentally and socially responsible products. For items over $1,000, which require bids, Brian will specify that the Library seeks to purchase products that meet certain environmental standards. Another way Brian seeks to "reduce, reuse, and recycle" is by filling orders with available supplies before purchasing new items. The Business Services "store" is stocked with a variety of supplies, from pens to binders; all that were either ordered and not used, or recaptured from elsewhere in the Library. Jackie encourages all staff to help the Business Services Office be good stewards of the environment by returning any unused supplies. She also encourages staff to "shop at the Business Services store first" since it's usually more cost effective than going elsewhere, and because they offer environmentally sound products . Finally, she asks staff to let Brian know if they find a "greener" version of a product so that he can add it to his list.
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SULA Executive Committee announced
The election results are in! SULA officers for 2010-11 are:
Chair elect: Marianne Hanley, Preservation
Secretary: Eli Liquori, Learning Commons
Member-at-large: Fantasia Thorne, Learning Commons
Congratulations to all! |
Carnegie Library photo featured on
C&RL News September cover
The cover of this month's issue of College & Research Libraries News features a photograph from the Carnegie Library Centennial Digital Collection. The image is of a researcher in the stacks of the George Arents Rare Book Room in Carnegie, circa 1957.
Janet Pease made this suggestion to ACRL over a year ago and followed through to provide what they needed to make it happen. Thanks, Janet!
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Sound Beat Goes Vaudeville!
 Flossie Turner Lewis, former star of the Vaudeville stage, spent time in Belfer's recording studio recently to record voiceovers as a guest-host for Sound Beat, the Library's radio show that is set to launch in early 2011. Sound Beat will feature 90-second modules highlighting Belfer's extensive holdings. Vaudeville audiences knew Flossie as "Little Hot Mama" when she performed with her family, the Turner Family Revue, starting in 1935 when she was two years old. The Turner Family performed on the famed Chitlin' circuit, and in the entertainment district known as "Little Broadway" in the historic Overtown, Miami entertainment district. In addition to the voiceovers, Flossie sang her signature tune, "Happy as the Days Is Long," written for her by a family friend. This was Flossie's first experience in a recording studio, and after rehearsing with the band (bassist Mike Delaney, drummer Liz Strodel, and pianist Jerry Neely) for an hour, she made the recording in a single take! The song and episodes will be available on Sound Beat's website as podcasts after the show launches. While on campus, Flossie spoke to Dr. Theo Cateforis' Music and Gender class about adult literacy. After being illiterate most of her life, Flossie learned to read at age 65. A few years later, she received the National Award for Excellence as Outstanding Student at the National Literacy Conference. It was there that she met Paula Meseroll, SU Director of Communications and Marketing, who subsequently worked with Flossie to write Little Hot Mama, Flossie's life story. Little Hot Mama is available at Amazon and Staythirstymedia.com. |
To offer users an additional mode of communication with the Library, a new suggestion box has been installed on the first floor of Bird Library, near the Waverly entrance. Comments are collected daily and shared with those most directly affected. Suggestions and responses will be posted near the box and we'll also include the highlights regularly in this newsletter.
Recently, several students commented about the inadequacy of Library hours over the Labor Day weekend. As a result, the hours committee made some adjustments to spring hours. In addition, SCRC will hold evening hours until 7:00 p.m. two days a week, beginning in the spring, a suggestion that was offered at the Fall Kickoff session. |
If you haven't taken the tour yet, check it out!
 Kudos to Pamela Thomas and the Virtual Tour team -- Tina Chan, Abby Kasowitz-Scheer, and Fantasia Thorne! |
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Staff News
Got news? Please feel free to send us any news items that you would like to share with colleagues -- graduations, weddings, new babies, travels, and such. As always, we welcome your feedback, comments, questions, or story ideas. Send your contributions to libcom@syr.edu.
Many thanks for your interest!
The Editors
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