|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Libraries announce two new major gifts
|
|
Libraries announce two new major gifts
 A $1 million gift to the Syracuse University Libraries will be used to create a new endowed fund to support the Plastics Pioneers Historical Plastics Collection. The donor, a successful member of the plastics industry, wishes to remain anonymous. The annual revenue from this endowment will help fund a new curator who will manage and develop the Plastics Collection.
In making this gift, the donor and the Plastics Pioneers Association commit to supporting the Syracuse University Libraries as it maintains, preserves and makes accessible the history and artifacts of the plastics industry. Glenn Beall, a plastics historian and industry activist who helped to broker the gift, says about the anonymous donor, "He was a plastics processor, sold his business a few years ago, and this is his way of giving back to the industry for the wonderful career and business opportunities that the plastics industry provided to him."
Read more »
 Alexander N. and Margaret Charters have donated $50,000 to the Syracuse University Libraries to create the Alexander N. Charters Library Initiative Fund. The funds will be used to develop the Charters Library for Educators of Adults, expand its accessibility and increase its use, both on campus and in the field of adult education. In making their most recent gift for the continued development of the Charters Library, Alex said that he wishes to continue to provide an active and growing resource for practitioners, as well as those who continue to study the practice. Read more »
|
|
|
|
Personnel news
Laura Benjamin (Access & Resource Sharing) has accepted the position of Access Services Manager. Her appointment began February 1.
Archives and Records Management has been split into two functional areas. University Archives is now part of Special Collections, and Records Management reports to Dale King, Assistant Dean of Administration Service s. A search has begun for a full-time Records Manager.
Jennifer Vaughn (Acquisitions and Cataloging) has accepted the position of Catalog Librarian in Acquisitions and Cataloging. Her first day as a librarian is March 1 .
Allison Xu has joined the Libraries as an Analytics and Assessment Analyst in the Program Management Center. She is a recent graduate of the iSchool with an MS in Information Management. Allison worked with Paul Bern as an intern last semester and has a great background in database and data analysis. Please welcome Allison to the Libraries!
|
|
Library leadership and communications: LMT
|
|
Library leadership and communications: LMT
In the fall we put together a new group, the Library Management Team (LMT), comprised of department heads, directors, assistant deans, associate deans, and others to provide a broad basis for library management and leadership discussions and decisions.
The group meets every two weeks, and is settling into its work very well. Members have been urged to share topics discussed at LMT with their departments; each of you feel should feel encouraged to propose agenda topics to your LMT representatives.
Agendas and summaries of our discussions are now posted for all library staff at: https://sharepoint.syr.edu/library/LMT%20Minutes%20and%20Agendas/Forms/AllItems.aspx
|
|
Human Library event
SU Libraries will host its third annual Human Library on Wednesday, April 6, from noon to 4 p.m. in Bird Library. During this time, participants will have the opportunity to talk to "human books": volunteers from the SU community who represent a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, areas of expertise, and life experiences, in an effort to promote tolerance, encourage diversity, and challenge stereotypes and prejudices. The purpose of a human library is to encourage people from different backgrounds to talk with and learn from each other in a safe environment.
Human books will lead one-on-one or small group conversations for 20 minutes at a time to share stories about their experiences or backgrounds. Anyone on campus can attend the event anytime between noon and 4 p.m. to "check out" and have a conversation with one or more human books. No preregistration is required, although there will be an opportunity to reserve human books for a specific time if desired.
Event organizers are currently accepting applications for human books until March 1. Faculty, staff, and students can apply at http://tinyurl.com/bookvolunteer.
SU's event is part of a regional Human Library program supported by the Central NY Library Resources Council. Event partners currently include the Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA) from the School of Information Studies, the Office of Learning Communities, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Slutzker Center for International Services, and the LGBT Resource Center.
The first Human Library program was held in 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Since then, similar events have been organized in libraries, schools and other institutions around the world.
|
|
Online video tutorials and training
|
|
Online video tutorials and training
Did you know that the University has an enterprise licence for Lynda.com, an online library of more than 3,500 high-quality instructional videos taught by industry experts on the latest software tools and skills.
Popular courses may include:
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Data Analysis
- Interactive Design
- Project Management
- SharePoint
- Social Media tools including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, etc.
- Video Production
- And much, much more!
Take an entire course, or just view specific tutorials, it's up to you. Lynda.com is designed for all levels of learners, available when and where you are ready to learn. You can even view it on your iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet, or other mobile device.
Access Lynda.com at http://lynda.syr.edu or find out more at Answers.syr.edu.
|
|
Kudos!
 Gerry McCarthy submitted the following note from a grateful patron. Congratulations, Joe!
I wanted to notify you of the excellent customer service I received from Joe Sweeney (Learning Commons). I recently asked for assistance at the Bird Library help desk and he went above and beyond to help me compress a PDF file. I thought it would be a quick and simple fix, but it ended up being a rather complex and time-sensitive issue (I needed two resumes compressed for internship applications that were due in a half hour).
Joe was SO kind and pleasant throughout, he worked on this problem for 25 minutes (pausing only when one person came to the desk with a question).
I was blown away by his patience and dedication to the task, I think most people would have abandoned this objective after a couple tries, but he worked relentlessly and I was able to submit the resumes on time.
I have never received such wonderful help at this school, so I felt compelled to pass along this compliment to his superior. I can only guess the great work that you must do to have such an inspired and stellar employee!
Thank you.
|
|
New Library baby!
Laura Benjamin (Access & Resource Sharing) and her husband Richard welcomed a son, Isaac Walker Benjamin on February 23 at 1:22 a.m. Isaac weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 19 inches long.
|
|
Comments from the Interwebs
|
|
Comments from the Interwebs
SU students continue to comment about the Libraries using social media outlets, such as Twitter and Facebook. Many of their musings receive a reply from the Library's official Twitter handle, @SyracuseULib. Here are some of the things that have been on their minds:- I just got so excited about my essay that I started doing some belly dancing moves in Bird Library.
- As a grad student, I love the library. But I don't think ours is very good.
- Bird's the best... (@ Bird Library - @syracuseu in Syracuse, NY)
- The 5th floor of Bird Library is not only a good silent study spot, but a great exercise as you climb 23,423 stairs to get up there!
- I love snow, but it's really a loooooooooooooooooooooooong way walking from Thornden Park to Bird Library.
- Can someone airlift me and my bed to Bird Library?
- Bird Library becomes less and less appealing with every all nighter I spend here alone. #WhereMyFriendsAt #ItsOnly1am #work
- Finally a part of Club Bird. #fiveyearslater
- Trying to find a book at Bird Library is like trying to find Waldo in a forest of candy canes. It's impossible.
- The library gets really cold at 3 am folks #getmeouttahere @ Bird Library-Syracuse University https://t.co/QuoAkVKwgo
- I need a homie to come to Bird Library and hang out with me for a hour and twenty minutes so I'm not the only one without a friend.
- Listening to @KevinTFitz call a college basketball game on ESPNU. He knew Bird Library like the back of his hand. I'm surprised he didn't get into how it sinks every year.
- <Referencing SU vs. Georgia Tech men's basketball game>Typical Saturday 12 p.m. half-asleep non-glamour opponent crowd, it's probably rowdier over in Bird Library.
- It's game day and no one is wearing orange today besides me at the library.
|
|
Otto spotters
Otto is in the Libraries hanging with staff who are doing great work. If you spot him, snap a picture and send it, along with details of where you saw him, to libcom@syr.edu for a chance to win a prize!
|
|
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 Syracuse University Libraries Staff Newsletter
Pamela Whiteley McLaughlin, Julie Sharkey
Contributors: Tarida Anantachai, Laura Benjamin, TC Carrier, Robert Cleary,
Melinda Dermody, Abby Kasowitz-Scheer, Gerry McCarthy, David Seaman,
Pamela Thomas, Allison Xu
Click here to view past issues of the Staff Newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
|
