Movers and shakers at the Libraries in September 2001. See any names you recognize?
A lot of things can change in 17 years… but then again, some things never do. What was happening at the dawn of another fall semester for the Libraries in 2001?
A Fall Greeting… and a New Colleague
The Summer was not as quiet as usual – we implemented a new look for the Libraries’ home page; authority control was introduced into IRIS; circulation notices will now be sent via e-mail; and Media Services transferred responsibility for smart classrooms and equipment delivery in New Brunswick to the Teaching Excellence Center, and introduced web forms for requests across all campuses.
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We completed a successful recruitment for an AUL for Digital Library Systems and hired Grace Agnew, who will be joining us in January. This is an important position as we examine more closely how the Libraries technical infrastructure is organized and deployed to support the Digital Library Initiative…. We look forward to Grace’s leadership, and her participation in these discussions as we continue to move “aggressively, but intelligently towards the creation of a new library system.”
Got Training?
With the arrival of a system-wide Training and Learning Coordinator, Marilyn Wilt, the Libraries need to plan and coordinate on an ongoing basis an effective library human resource development program. With this goal in mind, Associate University Librarian for Administrative Services Samson Soong convened a new Training and Learning Advisory Committee…. Members thus far include Ann Montanaro, Ned Richards, Gracemary Smulewitz, and Julie Still.
As I’m sure you’re all aware, the annual American Library Association conference was held last month in New Orleans, Louisiana. Rutgers was well represented, with plenty of posters and presentations being delivered by folks from the Libraries (check out our Faculty & Staff News page for more details). I reached out to our colleagues for their takeaways from the conference—here’s what they had to say.
Tara Maharjan (l.) and Megan Lotts (r.) presented on using a button maker for outreach to students. Credit: Megan Lotts.
Jordan Nielsen’s poster was titled “Mapping the Undergraduate Business School Curriculum: A Targeted Approach to Library Outreach & Instruction.” Credit: Megan Lotts.
Bonnie Fong and her poster on equity, diversity, and inclusion in a science librarian organization. Credit: Bonnie Fong.
Bonnie was busy! Here she is with her poster on boot camps for graduate students.
As the section’s incoming chair, Lily Todorinova had the honor of presenting the Emerging Technologies Section Achievement Award to the Library of Congress’s Donna Brearcliffe. Credit: Lily Todorinova.
Katie Anderson: I had the opportunity to learn more about ACRL’s Signature Initiative on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) during the ACRL Leadership meeting. Everyone is encouraged to take this quick poll (open until July 13, 2018) for feedback on priorities. Along with the many business meetings for my section (Anthropology and Sociology Section), a highlight of the conference was a program addressing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic libraries. Three panelists presented an engaging and thought-provoking program to a packed room entitled “When to Speak Up, When to Listen: Allyship, Race, and Communication in the Academic Library”.
Megan Lotts: What I enjoyed most about our poster session was learning more about what’s happening at other libraries, as well as sharing what we are up to at Rutgers. I also met a woman who is on a design team in Newark, I think within the libraries, and she was excited to take home a Rutgers button, so she could wear it to her next meeting. Kind of warmed my heart, total cheese, but true story. It was also great presenting at the same time as Jordan. I learned more about my RU colleague’s work, and we got to take pictures of each other!
Christie Lutz: It’s tough to beat the food and architecture (and heat) in New Orleans, but at the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) conference I had a great experience presenting on the New Brunswick Music Scene Archive and chatting with people about music scenes and special collections. And I conducted some inadvertent collection development—I met a conference attendee from the University of Delaware who is married to a former Court Tavern bouncer, and she texted him right away about my presentation and it looks like he’ll be donating! I attended some thought-provoking sessions as well, in particular on challenges and new ways of thinking in archival collection management, and challenges and opportunities in working with underrepresented communities in developing their own archives.
Tara Maharjan: What I took away from the conference was that a lot of people stopped by and mentioned that their institutions already had a button maker, but were not really using it. People were surprised that we were using it to promote collections, talk about copyright, collaborate with departments, as well as a fun tool to engage with students. I also learned that I apparently talk with my hands in a lot of photos!
Lily Todorinova: I am the incoming chair of the Emerging Technologies Section (ETS), which is part of the ALA Reference & User Services Association. As part of my section, I attended an interesting session regarding formal vs. informal project management, how to make a decision matrix, as well as “rightsizing” projects. It was super useful.
Zara Wilkinson: My co-authors and I presented at the Library Research Round Table (LRRT) Research Forum. The forum had a total of four presentations, so we got to hear about a group of diverse research projects, from first generation college students’ experiences using the library to the resources and repertoire knowledge catalogers rely on in their day-to-day work. I enjoyed the breadth of topics and methodologies, especially in the context of our own project, which examined academic librarians’ experiences with research and their successful development of research skills and confidence.
The New Brunswick Music Scene Archive has been awarded MARAC NJ’s Innovative Archives Award for 2018. Photo credit: NBMSA on Facebook.
The New Brunswick Music Scene Archive has been awarded the 2018 Innovative Archives Award from the MARAC NJ Caucus.
The award is given to an organization that has provided exemplary leadership or service to the archival community and residents of the state. It may also honor a local, county, or regional organization, either for long-term leadership or service, or for outstanding effort demonstrated in a given year. Nominees may have developed innovative educational or outreach models utilizing archival sources, provided leadership during a time of emergency or crisis, demonstrated new thinking in finding a solution to an issue or problem, or exhibited creativity in increasing awareness of local history resources among New Jersey residents and visitors.
The official presentation of the award will take place at Monmouth County Archives and History Day on October 13. Congratulations to Christie Lutz and Tara Maharjan in Special Collections and University Archives for this recognition of their tremendous work!
BTAA Cooperative Cataloging Partnership Receives ALCTS Outstanding Collaboration Award
Rutgers was among the institutions recognized by the ALCTS’s 2018 Outstanding Collaboration Citation.
The Big Ten Academic Alliance’s Cooperative Cataloging Partnership was awarded the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services’ (ALCTS) Outstanding Collaboration Citation for 2018.
This award recognizes and encourages collaborative problem-solving efforts in the areas of acquisition, access, management, preservation, or archiving of library materials. It recognizes a demonstrated benefit from actions, services or products that improve and benefit providing and managing library collections. It was presented at the ALCTS Awards Ceremony at the ALA conference in June.
Congratulations are in order for our colleagues from Central Technical Services who comprised the Rutgers team: Colin Bitter, Roman Frackowski, Kati Ritter, Catherine Sauceda, and Mary Beth Weber. Rutgers both provided cataloging (Roman and Kati for foreign languages and Catherine for musical scores) and took advantage of the program to eliminate a backlog of titles in Arabic and other foreign languages.
NJEDL Spotlights Outdoorsy Summer Getaways
Whitesbog Village. Photo credit: Peter Miller on flickr.
Looking for the perfect summer day trip? Look no farther than the New Jersey Environmental Digital Library’s spotlights column. This area highlights activities around the state mostly having to do with the outdoors or the environment. Forthcoming events include:
100th Annual Mercer County 4-H Fair, July 28–29
Bio Blitz at Whitesbog Village, July 28–29
Making Bark Collection Containers and Berry Harvesting, August 8
Star Gazing with Morris Museum Astronomical Society, August 18
Join Connect the Lots for free fitness classes in Camden all summer long.
As part of their #HealthyCamden series of weekly fitness classes, Connect the Lots offers free outdoor yoga classes at Johnson Park on Tuesdays from June through August. Classes begin at 6 p.m. For cancellations due to inclement weather, visit Connect the Lots on Facebook or Twitter after noon on the day of the class. Other weekly offerings include Zumba, House Party Fitness, Bootcamp, and Aqua Aerobics classes.
Connect the Lots is a community-driven initiative to activate Camden, New Jersey’s vacant and underutilized spaces through the identification and implementation of artistic, cultural, and recreational projects and activities. The goals of the initiative are to engage Camden residents in neighborhood transformation, create safe nodes of activity, and to bring vibrancy to Camden’s corridors and public spaces. Learn more at the Connect the Lots website.
kite+key Summer Tech Promotion
kite+key’s summer tech promotion offers special deals for faculty and staff.
Take advantage of our promotion and spread your interest free payments using Employee Payroll Deduction! Purchase a Mac and receive $100 off + $100 kite+key Gift Card! Purchase an iPad Pro receive $50 off and $50 kite+key gift card! Purchase a Dell computer $499 and above, receive $100 eGift card + $50 kite+key gift card! Purchase Safeware Protection Plan and we double your theft coverage free! Visit our website here. Located in the Plaza at Livingston Campus 55 Rockafeller Road, Piscataway and the Hahne & Co. Building at 625 Broad Street, Newark. Prices and promotions are subject to change, some restrictions may apply.
Rutgers Cinema
See first run movies at discounted prices at Rutgers Cinema.
See first run movies at Rutgers Cinema while enjoying a special from our concession! Open to the public with free parking available in lot 112A. Ticket prices with ANY valid school ID are $5 before 6pm and $7 after, no ID still a bargain at $7 before 6pm and $9.50 after. Rutgers Cinema is located in the Plaza at Livingston Campus, 105 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ. Get tickets here, showtimes here.
The Plaza at Livingston Campus
The Plaza at Livingston is home to nine retailers.
The Plaza at Livingston Campus is home to nine retailers: Henry’s Diner; Hoja Asian Fusion; Kilmer’s Market; kite+key, Rutgers Tech Store & TeKCheK, Rutgers Computer Repair; The Wright Cut; Qdoba; Starbucks; 16 Handles; Rutgers Cinema. The Plaza at Livingston Campus offers free visitor parking in Lot 112A. Click here for retail hours of operation.
AfroBeat Fest comes to Newark’s Military Park on July 14.
AfroBeat Fest
African Soul Festival will be the largest celebration of culture and heritage of Africans on the continent and in the diaspora in the state of New Jersey. This free family friendly celebration on Saturday, July 14 at Military Park will bring out over 200 vendors featuring food, music, clothing, artifacts as well as entertainment from the diaspora.
Experience the African cultural scene in Newark with a day full of entertainment, dancers, drummers, children’s village and the best vendors in NJ. Visit the Newark Happening website for more information or mark your calendar on Facebook.
The 13th Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival expands to a second weekend for the first time this year.
Lincoln Park Music Festival
The 13th Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival will take place from July 27 to August 4 at Lincoln Park, 450 Washington Street in Newark. For the first time ever, the Lincoln Park Music Festival expands to two weekends of music, arts, culture, and humanities.
“Doin’ it in the Park” opening weekend features Family Day blues and jazz, a youth talent showcase, Gospel in the Park, Hip Hop Day, Health and Wellness/Sustainability Village, Senior Village, Kids Zone Village, and more.
Weekend two focuses on the humanities, with “Unplugged” style conversations with creatives, free outdoor film screenings, a music-and-dance-party meets maker faire, and closing concert performances.
Twenty-one years ago, all hands were on deck as the Libraries were gearing up for the implementation of a new library system. Sound familiar? Here’s a snapshot of the Agenda from July 1997.
With a Little Love from Our Friends
Merit awards for 1997. See any names you recognize?
Below are some notes we recently received from members of the Friends of the Rutgers University Libraries. We thought you might like to see them too!
Letter #1
Yesterday (Sunday, May 25th) I walked in the rain to the Alexander Library. Absolutely everything was closed – the caravans at the bus stop, the food shop further up, clearly all the teaching buildings. I met not one person on College Avenue.
But the library was open, and there were people going in and out, using it.
We get a publication from the Library of the University of Michigan, which announces the library to be the center of the university. Truly, I believe yours is, and truly I thank you for acting as though it is!
Letter #2
I have been a Friend of the Library for several years….
I continue to actively use several branches of the Library on a regular basis. I have been particularly impressed with the caliber of the reference librarians at the Dana Library. It has been a satisfying association for me.
Thank you for your assistance.
The Agenda 19, no. 13 (July 6, 1997)
LIS Teams, Assemble!
We have had a wonderful response to the several calls for people to become involved with the training program for the new LIS coming later this summer. Nearly seventy people from all over the library system have volunteered to participate in some aspect of the training program.
We have compiled all the information from the completed “LIS Training Committee Questionnaires” returned to us by the volunteers and have worked with each of the LIS Implementation Chairs to place volunteers into the training teams for the Circulation/Reserves, Cataloging and OPAC modules. The remaining teams, Acquisitions/Fiscal Control and Serials Control, will be announced shortly.
Based on volunteer’s questionnaire responses, each team will be divided into smaller working groups to write documentation, develop scripts, test scenarios, conduct sessions and assist trainees at the computers.
The Agenda 19, no. 13 (July 6, 1997)
Connie Abroad
Partially funded by “Chun Hui Plan,” a government grant from China, Connie Wu at LSM went to China for a lecture tour in June. She and four presenters from other universities and information companies visited three top ranking universities in China: Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Hangzhou University. Connie presented three topics: (1) Internet Overview and Its Applications and Resources; (2) Electronic Publishing and Its Impacts; and (3) Challenges to Librarianship. More than 400 academic and public library directors and librarians from several provinces attended these workshops. Since her presentations interested the audience Connie has already received several invitations for next year’s lectures after she came back.
The NJ International Film Festival’s summer run is June 1–10.
New Jersey International Film Festival
Friday, June 1–Sunday, June 10 Rutgers–New Brunswick
The Rutgers Film Co-op/New Jersey Media Arts Center and the Rutgers University Program in Cinema Studies present the New Jersey International Film Festival Summer 2018. All films screened as part of the festival are New Jersey or area premieres! For the full schedule and more information, visit the NJ Film Festival website.
The Schommer Astronomical Observatory hosts open nights on three Thursdays in June.
Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory Public Open Nights
Thursdays, June 14, 21, and 28, 9:30–11:30 p.m. Rutgers–New Brunswick
Get lost in the wonders of the night sky with the 20-inch optical telescope at the Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory. Celestial bodies able to be viewed include:
June 14: Arcturus, M5, Antares, M13, Vega, Deneb, Albireo, M57, M11, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn
June 21: Arcturus, M5, Antares, M13, Vega, Deneb, Albireo, M57, M11, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon (first quarter)
June 28: Arcturus, M5, Antares, M13, Vega, Deneb, Albireo, M57, M11, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn (near opposition), and the Moon (full)
For more information and updates on potential closures due to weather, low visibility, etc., visit the observatory’s website.
A car show promoting Alzheimer’s research and prevention rolls through Rutgers–Newark on June 23.
Car Show Promoting Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Prevention
Saturday, June 23, noon to 2:30 p.m. Rutgers–Newark
Come for the cars and free food tastings from local Newark restaurants and food stores. Join a raffle drawing for free gifts from community businesses. You will also learn to strengthen your brain and reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease, and how to sign up to participate in important community-based studies of aging, brain health, and Alzheimer’s disease at Rutgers University–Newark. Learn more.
This month we travel back in time 38 years to June 1980. What were the hot topics around the Libraries?
Not So Fast
Whether it’s 1980 or 2018, the summer is always a good time for a picnic. (Don’t forget to RSVP for ours in this issue of the Agenda!)
The Library Administration has abandoned plans to sponsor a van to drive ALA conference attendees to New York City. Study has shown that public transportation is more cost effective due to the length of the daily conference schedule and the number of people attending meetings at different hours. Individual transportation arrangements will allow conference participants to be in New York for the meetings they are interested in attending.
Participants whose official work station is New Brunswick or Newark will be reimbursed for bus or train fare to New York from their work station. Participants may, at their option, take a personal car, but reimbursement will be only to the level of train or bus fare.
The Agenda 2, no. 22 (June 2, 1980)
Times Have Changed
Staff Opening: Alexander Library: Circulation Department. Library Assistant III. A primary requirement for this position is keypunching.
The Agenda 2, no. 23 (June 2, 1980)
What’s in a Name?
The Ad Hoc Group for Online Database Searching announces a contest for the name of the newest RUL baby – a system-wide service for online database searching. As an example, we have the name proposed by Jean Hamlin as a parting shot: ROARS Rutgers Online Access Reference Service. If you can top this, submit your suggestion to Pat Piermatti at LSM by July 8. The winner – of a free search on the database of her/his choice – will be announced on July 15.
The Agenda 2, no. 23 (June 9, 1980)
Getting a Little Summer Work Done
The Kilmer Area Library will be closed for a period of five weeks, June 30 to August 1, 1980, in order that the asbestos ceilings may be resealed. The mail for Kilmer will be delivered to Douglass Library and sorted there. Ellie Spielman will be at Douglass until July 17, and Emma Warren will be there during the last three weeks in July. If anyone needs to contact them, or any of the other Kilmer staff through them, please call extension 9407.
Bobbie Tipton is recognized for having earned her ACUE credential in effective instruction. Credit: Bria Williams.
Bobbie Tipton and Ann Watkins were recognized by the P3 Collaboratory at the Rutgers–Newark Chancellor’s Luncheon in May for having completed the Association of College and University Educator’s course in effective teaching practices, earning a national credential in the process. Dana Library had the distinction of being the unit with the highest number of participants thus far. Congratulations to Bobbie, Ann, and all who participated! Learn more in the Rutgers–Newark news article.
Michael Joseph will have a series of photographs on display in the Degrees of Abstraction exhibit in June.
A Man of Many Talents
Michael Joseph will have a series of eleven photographs titled “Comings/Goings” in the Degrees of Abstraction exhibition on display at the Rotunda Gallery in Jersey City from June 4 to 30. A reception will be held on Tuesday June 12. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Please see the Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs website for more information.
Bart Everts (c.) poses with Camden mayor Frank Moran (r.) during the Camden Bike Share launch event.
Rubbing Elbows (and Tires!) with the Bigwigs
Congratulations to Bart Everts for participating in a group bike ride with Camden’s mayor, Frank Moran, and Rutgers–Camden representatives in May. The event was held to mark the launch of the Camden Bike Share program.
Something You’re Looking For?
Three new finding aids are now available for Sinclair New Jersey collections in Special Collections and University Archives.
Constantia Constantiou, who worked in the Libraries’ Scholarly Communications Center in the early 2000s, has been named the H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of the Penn Libraries at the University of Pennsylvania. Congrats, Constantia! Learn more on the UPenn website.
The Major Events Committee is pleased to announce that this year’s Faculty/Staff Appreciation Picnic is slated for Wednesday, August 1 at the Rutgers Gardens Log Cabin/Pavilion (140 Log Cabin Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902). The party starts at noon and runs till 4 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of music, food, games, and prizes inspired by summer at the Jersey shore!
The final numbers from Rutgers Giving Day are in and we are pleased to report that the Libraries raised over $12,000 from more than 60 donors. As usual, many of these gifts came from our own faculty and staff—so thank you all for your continued support!
We were also excited to learn that we received extra funds from challenges on social media.
Areas
Challenge(s) Won:
Award Total Amount:
Libraries– Camden
Lucky 21
$200
Libraries– University Wide
Scarlet Pride– social
$500
Libraries– Newark
Lucky 21
$100
As a tie-in to this year’s “Think Bigger” campaign, donors will be receiving a special acknowledgement letter and a light-up magnifier imprinted with the Rutgers University Libraries logotype.
Rutgers Giving Day donors will receive special acknowledgment letters for their gift from a library director.
They will also receive a light-up magnifier with the Libraries logo.
Thank you to all who made Rutgers Giving Day another success!
