The Ohio State University Libraries NEWS NOTES Online Vol. XLIX No. 51 December 19, 2000 "Audrey" came for a visit and decided to stay--in the Libraries' ASD area What a strange underground power religion is, how difficult for us to estimate its strength. Llewelyn Powys, Letters Complete Archive http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (1 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
Contents: Calendar of Events Calendar of Events Announcements Features Meeting Notes Human Resources See also: What's New on the Libraries' Homepage. Send items to Patricia Greene by Friday noon for publication the following week. Meetings Exhibits Peanuts An Exhibition at The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library September 18, 2000 - January 19, 2001 Reading Room Gallery Adrienne Kennedy: The Sense of Place Through December 31, 2000. Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute 1410 Lincoln Tower Famous Faces: Portraits Of and By Celebrated Personalities from the World of Entertainment Through December 31, 2000. Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute 1410 Lincoln Tower Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday Pages 1985-1995 From September 10, 2001 to January 15, 2002, as part of the 2001 Festival of Cartoon Art. The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library The Festival of Cartoon Art Forum from September 28-29, 2001. For other University events, see OSU Electronic Calendars University News Releases http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (2 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
oncampus University Research News Announcements Welcome Aboard The Libraries has filled the positions of senior accountant and communications coordinator, both of which are part of the Administrative Services Department (ASD). The senior accountant position is the result of the vacancies created when Libraries Budget Officer Karen Carroll and Account Clerk Roger Stockdale took other positions on campus. The Libraries new senior accountant is Brent Fuhrman. He begins his position on December 21st. Brent comes to us from the Department of Hematology where he was a senior accountant. Brent will be responsible for maintaining accounting standards in the Libraries, reconciling payroll, and consulting with the administrators on issues of budget. His office will be in the Libraries Business Office. The communications coordinator position is new to the Libraries. Chiquita Mullins Lee has accepted the Libraries' offer and will begin January 2nd. She comes to the Libraries as an entrepreneur as well as from the National Black Programming Consortium where she was a program development coordinator. She has extensive experience in developing, designing, writing, and producing sales and marketing support materials. Chiquita will be responsible for preparing and implementing a communication plan and programs that support our Libraries' employees, materials, and development efforts. Activities John M. Bennett (Special Collections Cataloging/Rare Books and Manuscripts) has published an article, "Vanguardia literaria y editoriales minoritarias en los Estados Unidos", DEBATS (Valencia, http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (3 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
Spain), no. 69, 2000. Winter Quarter Library Workshops The Health Sciences Library is offering the following workshops this winter: "Searching the Health Sciences Databases (Basic)" "Searching the Health Sciences Databases (Advanced)" "Evidence Based Medicine Databases" "Using Online Journals" Registration is required. Please go to the Health Sciences Library's home page at http://bones. med.ohio-state.edu. Click on "Workshops" and follow instructions. Your registration will be confirmed via e-mail. The "Searching the Health Sciences Databases (Basic)" workshops will be held on: Thursday, January 18, 2001, 1:30-4:00pm. Monday, January 22, 2001, 1:30-4:00pm. Health Sciences Library Classroom (room 400 A&B) These hands-on sessions emphasize effective techniques for searching MEDLINE using the OhioLINK interface. Skills learned in the workshop can be transferred to other health sciences databases (i.e., CancerLit, CINAHL) available through the OhioLINK system. The first part of the class consists of discussions and demonstrations. The last hour is an optional hands-on session in the library's Computer Lab. The "Searching the Health Sciences Databases (Advanced)" workshop will be held on: Thursday, February 8, 2001, 1:30-4:00pm. Health Sciences Library's Classroom (room 400 A&B) http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (4 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
A brief review of skills and techniques from the basic class, and demonstrations of advanced techniques for using subject headings and keywords for searching MEDLINE and related OhioLINK databases. Advanced features of the search interface are explained. The first part of the class consists of discussions and demonstrations. The last hour is an optional hands-on session in the Library's Computer Lab. The "Evidence Based Medicine Databases" workshops will be held on: Thursday, January 25, 2001, 1:30-4:00pm. Thursday, February 1, 2001, 1:30-4:00pm. Health Sciences Library Classroom (room 400 A&B) Overviews of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Best Evidence Database, and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness. Participants learn how to execute effective searches in these databases, and also how to find evidence-based health care information via MEDLINE. The first part of the class consists of discussions and demonstrations. The last hour is an optional hands-on session in the Library's Computer Lab. The "Using Online Journals" workshops will be held on: Monday, February 12, 2001, 1:30-4:00pm. Thursday, February 22, 2001, 1:30-4:00pm. Health Sciences Library's Classroom (room 400 A&B) Participants learn how to find articles from health-related online journals provided through OhioLINK's Electronic Journal Center, the OSU Libraries online catalog OSCAR, the OVID full-text journals and the National Library of Medicine's PubMed services. The first hour of the workshop consists of demonstrations and discussion. The second hour is optional hands-on practice time in the library's Computer Lab. Contact: Carol Powell (e-mail) powell.225@osu.edu. http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (5 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
Features Luminous Lucubrations Last issue's entry, "jejune " means "not interesting." This week's entry is "penury." Online resources for this question are available: WWWebster Dictionary - brief definitions The Oxford English Dictionary - lengthy, historical entries Laughs Dilbert's Daily Mental Workout Cartoon of the Day Meeting Notes Main Library Research and Reference Services Meeting December 12, 2000 10:00-11:17am 122 Main Library Recorded and enlarged by Bracken http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (6 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
1. Beau Case provided wrap up information about weeding the LC classes S & M and set some of the ground rules for the next project to weed class N. Fifteen Main collection managers submitted lists identifying about 200 S & Ms (of about 900) to stay in Main. Bracken expressed his thanks and noted that this broad participation was certainly positive. Departmental librarians have until Friday 12/15/00 to submit their lists to Beau. He's waiting. Nancy Helmick's help in providing the Word document containing the S & M boolean was most appreciated. Now Nancy Helmick has been asked to provide a Word document of a boolean of Ns and Beau will forward this file with instructions to collection managers. There are about 7000 Ns in Main. As in the S & M project, participating collection managers will submit to Beau lists of properly formatted call numbers and titles for items that are to remain in Main Library. Beau's emailed instructions will identify deadlines for the project (probably 1/31/01 for Main Library collection managers and 2/16/01 for departmental librarians). Beau also solicited feedback about procedures used to weed the S & Ms. Some would like to include some check out data for items; we will check with Nancy to see if this is possible and not too difficult. It was also made clear that Main and departmental collection managers can and should negotiate relocating or retaining specific titles that should not be sent to STX before the project's deadline and outside of the project's process. The normal, divisive expressions of dissatisfaction with the entire concept of weeding also surfaced again. Bracken emphasized that he thought that weeding must be seen as a routine responsibility of collection management and that the S, M, N, and all weeded classes will necessarily require routine management in the future. 2. Performance Evaluations: Bracken distributed copies of the DRAFT (Bracken verbally underlined DRAFT, three times) "Performance Evaluations" document presented at the 12/4/00 ASC meeting. Bracken reported that the Executive Committee had discussed performance evaluation both philosophically and practically in several meetings and will continue to discuss the issue in future ones. He pointed out that the Libraries is attempting to bring its evaluation procedures in sync with those of the University and noted that while the 12/4/00 document might seem to focus on staff evaluation, the principles and spirit of the document also applied to faculty evaluations. Bracken also pointed to the four important points on the document's last page, particularly (1) that the Libraries uses all available salary money given by the University; and (2) that performance evaluation is only one component used to determine http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (7 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
annual salary increases; equity and market, both difficult to define, are the other components. Bracken also emphasized that developing accurate job descriptions is fundamental to the process and that an important part of the performance evaluation process is insuring that job descriptions are up-to-date. In instances where the actual job exceeds the described job, certainly re-description and perhaps reclassification are in order. Heated discussion of the document ensued. It was pointed out that staff raises must be above annual increases in the cost of living and that the new categories outlined in the 12/4/00 document amounted to "old wine in a new bottle," that is, the same-old, same-old but swapping five ratings/rankings for five similar categories, and that in fact the old system was both divisive and insulting. "Fully Meets Expectations" is neither average, the equivalent of the grade of C, nor even what the Libraries wants and expects of its employees, that is, the Libraries expects, indeed, the Libraries depends on high quality performance, initiative, effective participation, and willingness to volunteer. Without this, the Libraries could not have the Book Sale, Oscar committees, and the like. It was also pointed out that an evaluation that required the pre-review of an assistant director was suspect and predicted that fully 80% of the staff will fall into the fourth "Often Exceeds Expectations" category. The impossibility of consistency of evaluation system-wide was also noted. Simpler, more direct, and less divisive evaluation categories were proposed, ones with higher expectations as the norm and that took for granted that fully meeting and sometimes even exceeding these would be average. Bracken was asked to share the group's dissatisfaction with the performance evaluation document with the Executive Committee and, indeed, to have the Libraries convey this sentiment to the powers-that-be in the University. After Bracken reattached his head, he encouraged everyone to continue to talk about the issue and provide feedback to him and other members of the Executive Committee. 3. Signs in Main Library: Fred Roecker showed a mock up of one side of a four- sided sign designed by MLRR to be mounted above and before the Circulation gates in Main. The crowed expressed approval. 4. This just in: Ryan Langhurst has been negotiating with Building Services to clean both the shelves as well as the books in Main Library's stacks. Building Services has agreed to pay for this cleaning. D+D Cleaning worked on shelves in deck 11 on Friday 12/8/00 (a trial run) and the estimate is that it will take about a year to complete the http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (8 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
work. Building Services would like to accomplish the work floor-byfloor and Bracken has been asked to identify priorities. Feedback, please. 5. Carpeting installation: no decision yet. 6. Security in Main Library: we are close. University Security has been formally asked to start providing security services nights and weekends ASAP in conjunction with the Libraries' existing security students. We are waiting for a response about a starting date. Tony Maniaci in Circulation is the liaison with University Security and supervisor of the Libraries' security students. 7. Main Library Renovation Project Pre-Interview meeting of 12/8/00 was very instructive. Both Laura Shinn, Facilities Planning and Development, and Jill Morelli, university architect, spoke very enthusiastically about the importance of Main Library to the University both symbolically and programmatically, sandwiching Wes Boomgaarden's excellent slide presentation on Main Library, past and present, that will be shared with all at a future open meeting. Formal interviews of firms competing to provide the feasibility study will be held 1/10/01, with selection immediately following. 8. To the twelve collection managers and Don McCoy who received via Bracken (on 11/17/00) slips and printouts representing serials with mixed, split, or otherwise problem holdings in need of the kinds of decisions that only they could provide: Thanks from Tschera Connell and Cheryl Obong of S/ER and let's keep those resolved problems trickling in. 9. "Student Hours Report" (through pay period 10) was distributed with advice to advise HR about any discrepancies. Of course, immediately thereafter Bracken received a report through pay period 12! Ask Bracken for a copy of this report if you need it. 10. Ryan Langhurst obtained replacements for the Main elevator arrow lights only to discover, upon installing them, that the problem is not in the bulbs but rather must be electrical. Another repair request has been sent to Physical Facilities. 11. SI Com: Bracken has been asked to provide a floor-by-floor plan on the potential and the challenges related to creating open study http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (9 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
spaces (like that available on 3A) on floors in Main Library. He is also seeking feedback on the "best" call number re-arrangement of Main Library stacks. Some folks have suggested trying to organize collections A-Z or Z-A. Feedback, please. 12. Information Desk: After thirty years of service, Robert Lynch will retire from ISD and the Second Floor on 12/29/00. We are happy for him, but it causes a problem for us in that Robert is now (and has been as long as anyone can remember) the sole service provider at the Information Desk on nights and weekends. In that it is doubtful if we could find in one person a replacement who would match Robert's thirty years of Libraries' public services experience combined with his willingness to accommodate the awkwardness of both the job's work hours and its reporting lines, it has been decided to reassign Robert's line completely (100%) to ISD and replace Robert with two (2) parttime positions at the rank of Library Associate 2, to be called "Reference Assistants." The expectation is that they will, at least initially, work mostly nights and weekends at ISD's Reference Desk, in conjunction with the existing faculty, to learn the collection, the procedures and policies of Reference, ISD, the Libraries, and the like. Robert's retirement means that the Information Desk will immediately (that is, in Winter quarter 2001) no longer be staffed nights and weekends. It is expected that the "Reference Assistants" will be able to "roam" the Information Desk area to provide assistance under the supervision of the ISD faculty. The Information Desk will continue to be staffed, as it is now, by volunteers during weekdays. The intention is to fill these positions as soon as possible. The positions will be advertised in the normal ways. 13. Lights in Main Stacks: Don McCoy has been submitting twice monthly light surveys to Ryan Langhurst. As of 9/14/00, there were 747 lights out; as of 12/8/00, there were fewer than 40. Thanks to Ryan and Physical Facilities. The crowd applauded. Folks should report lights out in staff offices, corridors, etc. directly to Ryan. 14. In this holiday season Bracken wants to remind all MLRR folks that they should advise Circulation if they plan to work past Libraries' closing time. This is a security issue as well as a matter of collegial courtesy. James K. Bracken bracken.1@osu.edu http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (10 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
Administrative Staff Conference December 4, 2000 Minutes Privacy Issues Relating to E-mail and Circulation Records--Steve McDonald, associate legal council, Office of Legal Affairs, was the lunch speaker and gave a presentation covering "Computer/Internet Law and Policy & Public Records". The major points that were covered are included in copies of his PowerPoint slides. Performance Evaluation--Following the lunch Joe Branin gave a presentation covering proposed changes to the procedures and criteria to be used in this year's round of Performance Evaluations and then presided over a discussion and Q & A period. A handout covering the information presented was distributed at the meeting. All supervisors will be expected to attend a "Conducting the Performance Review" workshop during the month of January. It was further suggested that there should be meetings with Civil Service and A&P staff to explain the new process, hear comments, and answer any questions they may have. The current performance rating process has been linked too closely with salary determinations. The performance review should rather be an opportunity for the staff member and supervisor to deal strictly with performance issues. Although the performance evaluation will be a significant factor in determining salary increments, other factors such as equity and market must also be taken into consideration. The rating scale that has been in use, has nearly 75% of the staff at the highest numeric ranking, and all but 5% of the remaining staff at the next highest ranking. Although the staff of the Libraries is admittedly of very high quality, the rating scale that is used should recognize that the majority of individuals are meeting the requirements of their position, and allow extraordinary accomplishment to be given the higher rankings. Performance rankings, and what have been perceived as attendant merit increases, may in the past been seen as a means of providing additional pay to individuals who have been routinely performing above and beyond their established job descriptions. The proper way of handling these situations should be via position reclassifications, with an attendant increase in salary; supervisors should identify http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (11 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
positions requiring this type of action. Holiday Party--The annual Libraries' Holiday Party will be held at the Geology Library on Wednesday, December 13, from 3:00-5:00pm. More, and different kinds of food, music, and prizes are planned for this year's event. Main Library Architectural Feasibility Study--Wes Boomgaarden reported that a total of nine proposals were received from architectural firms in response to the RFP that was issued this past October. The proposals were reviewed by the Main Library Architectural Feasibility Study Committee, and the following five bidders have been selected for further review: Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, LLP URS with Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott The Hillier Group NBBJ with Smith Group Design Group/Einhorm Yaffe Prescott Arch./Aaron Cohen Associates, Ltd. Representatives from these firms will come to campus for an information session and walk through on Friday, December 8, and they are expected to return later in the month to make presentations based on the information they will acquire during the sessions on December 8. Betty Sawyers December 5, 2000 The minutes of the November ASC Meeting, including a link to the PowerPoint slides used by Tschera Connell (Technical Services) in her presentation on the CORC project, is now available at the following URL: /Staff/asc1100.html Human Resources http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (12 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
December 12 and 19, 2000 The Twelfth Retirement ===Staff=== Information Services/English, Theatre & Communication Reading Room: Robert Lynch is retiring. effective December 31, 2000. Vacancies ===Faculty=== Administrative Services Department: Resident Librarian - replacing Gooden OSU Mansfield: Librarian 2 -new position Music and Dance Library: Head/Music-Dance Librarian - replacing Heck ===A&P=== Administrative Services Department: Program Coordinator/ Libraries Communication Administrative Services Department: Senior Accountant Information Technology Department: Systems Specialist - A&P- 60% - (replacing Krabill) 1st listing Law Library: Electronic Services/Reference Librarian (replacing Davidson) ===Staff=== Cataloging: Library Associate 2 (Arabic/Hebrew Cataloger) - New Position Cataloging: Library Associate 2 (Western Language Cataloger) - New Position) Education, Human Ecology, Psychology, and Social Work Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 (replacing Grondin) Health Sciences Library: Library Associate 1 (replacing Purnell) http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (13 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
Health Sciences Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 (replacing Seedhouse) Health Sciences Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2-50% - (replacing MacCartney) Science and Engineering Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 (replacing Ferry) Serials and Electronic Resources Department: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 ( replacing Yen) Technical Services Accounting and Administration Department: Library Media Technical Assistant 2-50% - (replacing Chan) 1st listing Veterinary Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 1-50% - (replacing Jones) 1st listing The Nineteenth Vacancies ===Faculty=== Administrative Services Department: Resident Librarian - replacing Gooden OSU Mansfield: Librarian 2 -new position Music/Dance Library: Head, Music/Dance Librarian (replacing Heck) Veterinary Medicine Library: Assistant Professor, Head,Vet Med Library (replacing Bruce) 1st listing ===Administrative & Professional=== Information Technology Department: Systems Specialist - A&P- 60% - (replacing Krabill) Law Library: Electronic Services/Reference Librarian (replacing Davidson) ===Staff=== Cataloging Department: Library Associate 2 (Arabic/Hebrew Cataloger) - New Position Cataloging Department: Library Associate 2 (Western Language Cataloger) - New Position - 1st listing http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (14 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]
Education, Human Ecology, Psychology, and Social Work Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 (replacing Grondin) Health Sciences Library: Library Associate 1 (replacing Purnell) Health Sciences Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 (replacing Seedhouse) Health Sciences Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2-50% - (replacing MacCartney) Health Sciences Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 - Library Reserves Coordinator (replacing Toukan) 2nd listing Science and Engineering Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 2 (replacing Ferry) Serials and Electronic Resources Department Library Media Technical Assistant 2 ( replacing Yen) Technical Services Accounting and Administration Department: Library Media Technical Assistant 2-50% - (replacing Chan) Veterinary Medicine Library: Library Media Technical Assistant 1-50% - (replacing Jones) To comply with University procedures, employees who are applying for listed vacancies must complete a Promotion/Transfer Request (form 8931, Rev 9/97) during the week of the first listing of the vacancy in the University Personnel Posting (green sheet). To ensure awareness of all library vacancies which have been posted, applicants should consult the weekly green sheet rather than relying on the listing in News Notes Online and are encouraged to attach a resume and/or other supporting documents to the form. Prospective faculty and staff applicants who are absent during the five day posting period and wish to apply should see Toni Morrison. Library personnel may also view University employment opportunities at OSU Jobs Return to OSU Libraries Home Page Ohio State University Libraries NEWS NOTES Online is a weekly publication edited by Patricia Greene. http://library.osu.edu/sites/staff/newsnotes/nn121900.html (15 of 15) [6/22/2007 2:27:14 PM]