The Agenda - Faculty and Staff Newsletter

Category: Department

  • Where in the World is SUS?

    The new SUS space on the third floor of Alexander Library.

    Shared User Services has moved, both spatially and virtually. In June, virtually all (pun intended) of the SUS employees relocated. Our email addresses and phone numbers are the same, but for those who value a spatial identifier, here is where you can find us:

    Technical Services Building
    • Amy Kimura
    • Cathy Pecoraro
    • Elizabeth York
    • Joseph Deodato
    • Michele Best

    Alexander Library 3rd floor (Library Admin suite)
    • Isaiah Beard
    • Marty Barnett
    • NJEDL project staff and students
    • Rhonda Marker

    Alexander Library 4th floor
    • Laura Costello

    SUS has also moved their staff resources information to the “new” staff resources page. You can find information about a variety of digital projects, discovery services, electronic resources, virtual reference, and Web Improvement Team at https://staff.libraries.rutgers.edu/sus. We will soon be expanding our Teaching and Learning section here, too. We’re excited to be the first unit to officially move over to this new site.

  • Dana Library Transformation Project

    3D render of building
    An architectural rendering of the exterior addition.

    These are exciting times for Dana Library. Last month, we began a series of renovations that will address the highest priorities for improving the library that were identified through the Rutgers University–Newark strategic planning process several years ago. The changes will make the library more user friendly in numerous ways, including finally fitting out the third floor, which has been shell space since the construction of that wing decades ago.

    The results of this project involve enhancements that will create new study and learning spaces for students, facilitate ease of access to the collections and departments within, and the construction of a new center to support teaching faculty:

    Construction fence around building
    Construction on the library began in March and is scheduled to be completed in April 2020.
    • An addition to the library is being built to better facilitate the flow of traffic to all five floors of the building. A larger stairwell and high-capacity, high-speed elevator are being installed to allow for large groups of people to move up and down the stairwell with ease, as well as shorten elevator wait time and accommodate more people.
    • The centerpiece of this project is the construction that will take place on the third floor. This includes additional quiet study space for our students and the new P3 Collaboratory for Pedagogy, Professional Development, and Publicly-Engaged Scholarship at Rutgers University–Newark. This open study space will provide an additional 60+ seats, along with numerous conveniently located outlets for devices.
    • This construction will also allow us to enhance our archives spaces and services. A space will be created to house the new Dana Archives departments providing our local university archives collections with a formal home. The Dana Archives and IJS will share the newly created reading room that will accommodate a larger number of classes and independent researchers at one time.
    • This is topped off by an iconic architectural feature on the plaza side of the building that will serve as a beacon to campus visitors, students, faculty, and staff alike.

    Construction has already begun and is scheduled to be completed in April 2020. I’ll plan to deliver updates from time to time in the Agenda, but if you want the latest information as it’s available, head over to the Dana Library Transformation Project blog, where we post updates at least once a week after our meetings (and don’t forget to sign up for the email list to receive alerts when new posts are published).

    Thank you for following along on this journey toward the future of Dana Library!

  • Celebrating National Citizen Science Day

    woman giving presentation
    Mary Catherine Lundquist, Director of the COPSA Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, presents at the Piscataway Public Library.

    April 13 marked National Citizen Science Day for 2019, and all libraries in the country were encouraged to host events to celebrate the day. Because this year’s theme of Citizen Science Day was related to Alzheimer’s disease and target audiences were the general public, the Library of Science and Medicine worked with Piscataway Public Library to co-host an event titled Myths and Realities of Alzheimer’s Disease. The event was sponsored by the COPSA Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders at Rutgers. This joint event by LSM, RBHS, and the local public library was well received by our audiences. Below are some remarks from the speaker, public library librarian, and a manager at one RBHS center:

    • Thank you Connie for inviting me. This was a wonderful group! Your efforts were so much appreciated by everyone. Please keep us in mind for future events.
    • Thank you so much for including Piscataway Public Library in Rutgers’ National Citizen Science Day. I am especially appreciative as the topic of Alzheimer’s is near and dear to my heart. I am truly grateful to have partnered with you on this event and I look forward to creating more programs with you.
    • Librarians are some of my very favorite people! And I’ve received a lot of help from our RU librarians in the past, so I’m happy to help out in return.

  • Libraries before the Age of Google

    floppy disks
    This collection of storage disks is among the many items on display in the “Libraries before the Age of Google” exhibit.

    Librarians constantly embrace change.  Some of the tools or equipment used in the library were considered state-of-the-art innovations and were indispensable in the daily work of librarians.  Have you heard of a library fines calculator? Have you seen the thermal paper that recorded the search results of online searching done by the librarians? Have you ever wondered why you would find some punch cards in the back of library books?  As librarians are retiring, we have begun collecting the vintage items in their offices, and are inviting the librarians to tell us the stories behind each item. Now you can see these items in a display of Libraries Before the Age of Google in the conference room at the Library of Science and Medicine.  The contents of the display are also available as pictures in a digital gallery.

    If you would like to share any interesting vintage library items, please contact Mei Ling Lo (mlo@rutgers.edu) or Tara Maharjan (tara.maharjan@rutgers.edu).  We will be honored to share your stories with the rest of the world.

    I hope that you will enjoy seeing the items and learning the stories behind them!

  • Libraries Add 300 Volumes to the JSTOR Print Archive

    I recently read in the email newsletter of the Center for Research Libraries about the JSTOR Print Archive at CRL. This is a fallback collection of the print volumes whose digital surrogates are available in the JSTOR database. Surprisingly, the archive at CRL is only 57% complete; they are seeking donations. So I contacted CRL with the list of the bound periodical titles that we are withdrawing from Alexander Library (to gain collections space) because they have become superfluous because of our secure access to digital backfiles in JSTOR for these titles. It turned out that CRL was interested in parts (mostly all) of our holdings for 23 titles. We counted the approximate number of volumes (our electronic holdings information was incomplete) and it amounted to roughly 300 volumes. CRL provided us with a UPS code for mailing of the volumes. With the help of a few librarian colleagues, I pulled the volumes from the bound periodicals section and packed them into 26 boxes. The shipping department applied the shipping labels, and the Libraries’ contribution to the JSTOR Print Archive is on its way to Chicago.

  • Self-Appraisal Reminder

    In anticipation of an announcement from University Human Resources regarding the performance appraisal program, managers and supervisors should remind URA-AFT staff to begin a self-appraisal. Managers and supervisors should also ensure that employees have a self-appraisal form that includes an accurate list of key duties. Self-appraisals should be completed and returned to supervisors by April 5, 2019. Managers and supervisors must complete performance evaluations and notify eligible employees of the appraisal by April 30, 2019.

    Here is a link to the UHR webpage to assist you in the appraisal process.

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Libraries HR.

  • Introducing Libraries HR’s New Website

    I’m happy to announce the launch of Libraries HR’s new staff resources website at https://apps.libraries.rutgers.edu/hr.

    The goal of this page is to be your new one-stop shop for all things related to human resources at the Libraries. It contains need-to-know information for managers, from position management to onboarding and integration; guides to tenure, benefits, and applying for research leave; and a library of useful forms and other documents including CARFs and APPs. There is also a collection of links to resources available via UHR, such as the REHS reporting portal and the university’s holiday closing schedule.

    I hope you’ll have a look and let us know what you think. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

  • Dana Library and Institute of Jazz Studies Host Society of American Archivists Workshops

    workshop photo
    The SAA workshops provided free training on archival basics to non-professionals who work or volunteer at institutions that cannot afford to employ professional archivists.

    In November and December 2018, Dana Library and the Institute of Jazz Studies hosted a series of five workshops presented by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) via SAA’s “Lone Arranger” Section. The workshops provided free training on archival basics to non-professionals who work or volunteer at institutions that cannot afford to employ professional archivists. The overall goal was to help preserve and provide access to archival collections in New Jersey, hidden due to limited access to information on professional archival practice. Similar workshops were held across the state in Atlantic City, Trenton, and Chester, including one led by the Libraries’ Tara Maharjan. Special thanks to Adriana Cuervo for arranging for refreshments and to Mark Papianni for setting up the workshop space.

  • Introducing Browzine

    Rutgers University Libraries are pleased to introduce BrowZine, a current awareness tool that allows users to find, read, and monitor the top scholarly journals in their field from almost any device.

    BrowZine improves discovery of current issues of academic journals and provides streamlined access to full-text via PC, tablet, or smartphone. It also offers useful personalization features so users can keep current with their favorite publications.

    BrowZine users can:

    • Browse thousands of top academic journals by subject, title or ISSN; review current tables of contents, and download full-text articles published since 2005
    • Follow and receive new article notifications for their favorite journals by creating a personal bookshelf
    • Save and export articles to services such as DropBox, Mendeley, RefWorks, EndNote, and Zotero

    Although it provides access to thousands of titles from major academic publishers, BrowZine does not include every journal available at Rutgers or cover issues published before 2005. It also does not include non-scholarly periodicals such as newspapers, magazines, and trade publications. Access to the Libraries’ complete periodical holdings is available via QuickSearch.

    For more information, see What is BrowZine?

  • Ninja Warrior Report

    Participants in this program, from the School of Arts and Sciences’ Students in Transition Seminar, were walked through a series of library related activities including five minutes of copyright, playing a memory game to learn about Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA), making a button to learn more about copyright and SCUA, playing a game to learn about what is available for check out at the circulation desk, how to find an article and a PDF, and more. Over 160 transfer students participated in this project and 105 assessment surveys were collected.

    From a quick analysis of the assessment spreadsheet, each activity was mentioned more than once as a positive experience. Many students enjoyed button making, copyright, finding a PDF, and the unique items found in SCUA. Many students liked the overall feel of this interactive experience.  Also, it was noted multiple times that many students’ favorite aspect of the library was the people who work there. Last but not least, many students—including the passport stamper from the STS program—expressed during the event that the library event was the best so far and many participants thanked us for the opportunity to learn while having fun.

    Should you have further questions about this event, please contact Mei-Ling Lo mlo@rutgers.edu or Megan Lotts megan.lotts@rutgers.edu.