The implementation project continued to move forward at a brisk pace. The Libraries’ Implementation Team finished the Alma configuration form and the Primo Central Index activation form. Ex Libris completed the Alma test data load and has released the Alma/Primo environments to us for data review and testing. Our Ex Libris consultants have given the library team very positive feedback: All of the tasks assigned to the Implementation Team have been completed on schedule or ahead of schedule. We are told that our data looks cleaner and has fewer problems than other libraries also migrating from Sirsi to Alma. The consultants are very confident about the successful launch of Alma and Primo on June 1st.
Training for the Team and Working Groups
In February, the Implementation Team continued the weekly training required by Ex Libris. All the working groups affiliated with the project were also engaged in extensive training in their functional areas. The considerable amount of time we are spending on internal training is paying off. Following a demo by two CTS staff on resource management at a training session, our Alma consultant remarked that she had never seen a client who could walk in at this stage of implementation and complete the tasks so smoothly!
New Staffing Need
As the implementation project progresses, we discovered an urgent need for an electronic resources librarian who has experience with Alma and Primo, so a new position was created and is being advertised. The new Electronic Resources Librarian will report to the Discovery Services Librarian and work closely with the CSRS staff responsible for licensing and renewing online journals and databases. In the past, we in the Libraries often talked about the need to increase staffing for e-resources management and support, since the library collections have shifted decisively from print to electronic. The new Electronic Resources Librarian position is an important step in that direction.
Upcoming Workshop on Alma Workflows
From March 13-15, an Ex Libris consultant will be onsite at Rutgers to conduct a three-day workshop on Alma. The primary goal of the workshop is to assist us with reviewing and defining major workflows using Alma. The format of the sessions will primarily be discussion as this is not a training exercise. The Implementation Team is working with Ex Libris to finalize the workshop agenda, which will likely include sessions on acquisitions, resource management, e-resources, and fulfillment. The working groups will decide who should attend the sessions in their respective areas.
Plan for All Staff Trainings
The Libraries’ working groups are also hard at work designing training and developing a related delivery plan to provide the training to our librarians and staff. As we reported last month, the all-staff training sessions will be conducted in person, by library staff, and with Rutgers data and configurations. Please stay tuned for more information about all staff training opportunities from the working groups.
New Brunswick Libraries is inviting faculty from Rutgers University-New Brunswick to join their New Brunswick Faculty Author and Creator Event.
This year’s event will be an immersive experience, showcasing the full range of RU-NB intellectual output. We will create neighborhoods of content, featuring works such as monographs, journal articles, patents, startups, dances, musical scores, poems, stories, artworks…
Event details:
Date: Wednesday April 11, 2018
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Where: Alexander Library Reference Room, 169 College Avenue, New Brunswick
What: Neighborhoods of content, a panel discussion, faculty lightning talks and demonstrations
Wine and refreshments will be served.
All faculty are invited to attend the celebration — even if they have not submitted a work for display. Please share this information widely — we would love to see a big crowd.
Lots of new marketing materials available on the communications department website this month. Let us know if you have any other ideas for things that would be useful:
These flyer templates are available to local units to help promote their upcoming events and exhibits. The templates are available in Word and Powerpoint, so they require no special software. We’ve tried to provide enough options and variations to allow some personalization and tailoring for specific locations and events. If you would like me to conduct any training on how to use these materials, please let us know. We also welcome any feedback and/or requests for variants of these templates.
With the recent changes in how group study rooms are reserved, we have updated the signage templates with new QR codes. These are now available for libraries that are using the libcal service. If you have group study rooms that don’t use the libcal reservation system or other types of spaces that need signage, let us know. Scroll down on the Signage Templates page to find the new group study room signs.
Materials for Library Liaisons
There is a new section on the communications page for Project Outreach Materials. RASE-WG has provided materials for library liaisons who are doing outreach for the following projects. You can download presentations, flyers, and information sheets:
“Wouldn’t it be great if there was a space where people from the Libraries could post notices for one another if they have an item for sale or are selling Girl Scout Cookies or are playing a local gig with their band?” Yes– this would be great. Introducing the Rutgers University Libraries Bulletin Board. This is an open space where you can post any type of notice you would like to share with your colleagues. Thanks for the suggestion, Dee Magnoni!
This bulletin board is powered by Padlet. If you want to create a post, click on the + sign in the lower right of the bulletin board. You can create a Padlet account for free OR you can post anonymously (in which case, I’d recommend including your name at the bottom of the post so people know who the post is from).
You can access this bulletin board directly at https://padlet.com/rulibraries/bulletin (bookmark it!) or via the sidebar menu on The Agenda.
Last November, the Libraries participated in Giving Tuesday at Rutgers University. This is an annual event that follows the consumer traditions of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, to encourage individuals to support their favorite non-profits and charities.
This year, Rutgers University received $174,483.19 in Giving Tuesday donations and we are happy to announce that the Libraries received over $6,500 in donations from 18 donors. This is excellent and actually places us 8th at the university overall in terms of total dollars raised. This outcome shows we are are supported and valued by our users and colleagues. These funds will help us do a lot of good at the Libraries.
Giving Tuesday is far from a solo or even a departmental effort. We owe many thank yous — thank yous to colleagues who made donations in support of the Libraries and thank yous to faculty and staff who shared our Giving Day initiative and promoted it via your communications channels. This type of success is a group effort, and it is not possible without your help!
The Communications Department shared our new website at the State of the Libraries poster session. We have been actively updating the site with more resources and materials that may be of use to you. Our most recent additions are:
Sample of the brochures available via the Communications Department.
Here you can find resources and tips and tricks for using social media at the Libraries. The social media guidelines, process for requesting a new social media account, and the social media manual are stored here. But you can also find information about joining the Libraries’ social media list serv (useful if you are managing any library social media account) and our social media directory. Eventually, I hope to move the social media directory to a more visible, public site as part of a refresh of the news and communications sites on the Libraries’ website. In the meantime, if you have a social media account that is not listed here, please let us know.
This retractable banner is available for your events.
New Retractable Banner
We placed an order for a new retractable banner and this is available for loan if you need it. For more information on this and to see other items we have available for event support, please visit Loanable Equipment A/V and Events.
Project Outreach Materials
You can find project outreach materials for both ORCID and Open and Affordable Textbooks Program. Here you will find PDF copies of promotional brochures, powerpoint presentations for faculty outreach, and more. If you have other projects for which this type of resource center would be useful, let us know.
It seems that in every aspect of the work of academic libraries, there is an increased interest in frameworks. For example, in response to the ”rapidly changing higher education environment,” the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education transitioned to the Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education. I am involved in a Big Ten initiative to develop a Framework for Discovery-to-Fulfillment Systems. Rutgers is also not immune to the charms of developing frameworks. Internally, there is a Libraries group developing a framework to describe the technical infrastructure and architecture of special collections (charge | minutes).
The framework presented in OCLC’s Realities of Research Data Management report may be useful as we think about the categories and framework we could use to describe our services.
Frameworks provide a way to divide complex goals and processes into manageable chunks while retaining information about relationships and dependencies between the components. Frameworks allow organizations to map multiple approaches to a goal and to tailor these pathways based on context. We have discussed the need to develop a better understanding of central and local services and responsibilities. We also need to develop infrastructure and services that advance the missions of our three campuses and a statewide health system. It seems that we would benefit from a framework that describes our services and illustrates the relationships and interdependencies between central and local units.
I have been following the OCLC Research Library Partnership Reports on the Realities of Research Data Management. This is a “four-part series that explores how research universities are addressing the challenge of managing research data throughout the research lifecycle.” The first three parts are now available and are quite good, digging a little below the surface to discover underlying drivers that influence practices. This topic alone is worthy of quite a bit of conversation that is beyond the scope of this post; however, I mention it here because, in Part One of the series, OCLC develops a framework for describing categories of services related to Research Data Management that may be useful as we think about the categories and framework we could use to describe our services. These are not going to map directly onto the needs of Rutgers University Libraries as a whole, but they demonstrate a way of thinking about these issues that will be valuable.
The categories of services included in Part One: A Tour of the Research Data Management (RDM) Service Space are:
Education—educating researchers and other stakeholders on the importance, and in some cases, the necessity, of responsibly managing their data and making arrangements for its long-term curation
Expertise—providing decision support and customized solutions for researchers working through specific research data management problems
Curation—supplying technical infrastructure and related services that support data management throughout the research cycle
It seems to me that by generalizing and extending these concepts, we could develop service categories that would help us plan and implement new services. In recent years, we have been reacting to extensive changes occurring in the university, but with the larger environment stabilizing, we can start thinking more about the structure that will best support campus missions and begin to develop a common vocabulary to discuss planning and priorities. There will be more on this in the coming months, but I encourage you to visit the links in this post and start thinking about how these ideas can be applied to our work.
The Douglass Century will be published by Rutgers University Press next month. Check out the March Agenda for your chance to win a free copy!
Celebrating the Douglass Century
Congratulations are in order for our colleagues Kayo Denda and Fernanda Perrone, who, along with Mary Hawkesworth of the departments of Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies, have penned a history of Douglass Residential College entitled The Douglass Century: Transformation of the Women’s College at Rutgers University. The book will be published by Rutgers University Press next month. From the press:
“The Douglass Century celebrates the college’s longevity and diversity as distinctive accomplishments, and analyzes the contributions of Douglass administrators, alumnae, and students to its survival, while also investigating multiple challenges that threatened its existence. This book demonstrates how changing historical circumstances altered the possibilities for women and the content of higher education, comparing the Jazz Age, the Great Depression, the Second World War, the post-war Civil Rights era, and the resurgence of feminism in the 1970s and 1980s. Concluding in the present day, the authors highlight the college’s ongoing commitment to Mabel Smith Douglass’ founding vision, “to bring about an intellectual quickening, a cultural broadening in connection with specific training so that women may go out into the world fitted…for leadership…in the economic, political, and intellectual life of this nation.” In addition to providing a comprehensive history of the college, the book brings its subjects to life with eighty full-color images from the Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.”
But wait—there’s more! March’s issue of the Agenda will include a contest for a free copy of The Douglass Century, so tune in next month for your chance to win.
There will be ample opportunity to meet health sciences librarians and learn about the resources, tools, study spaces, and collections that are available on Busch campus.
Refreshments will be served and complimentary retractable ID card holders will be available while supplies last.
Watch: State of the Libraries
A video of Krisellen Maloney’s State of the Libraries presentation is now available on our YouTube channel.
Krisellen’s presentation from State of the Libraries is now available on our YouTube channel. It includes an introduction of new employees, an overview of the Ex Libris implementation, and a discussion of the budget. Kudos to Rich Sandler for his work on the video. And in case you missed it, a video playlist of the poster sessions from State of the Libraries was posted in last month’s issue of the Agenda.
The New Jersey Digital Newspaper Project Goes Live
The New Jersey Digital Newspaper project celebrated a major milestone last month when the first batch of pages from the Perth Amboy Evening News became available to the public via the Library of Congress website Chronicling America. Colleagues from the Libraries, the New Jersey State Library, New Jersey State Archives, and the New Jersey research community gathered at Alexander Library to commemorate the occasion with presentations, tours of the project facilities, and of course—cupcakes!
Dee Magnoni, Maxine Lurie, Caryn Radick, Mary Chute, and Grace Agnew at the NJDNP launch celebration.
A nice crowd was on hand to learn about the project’s public launch.
Giovanna Ligato-Pugliese and Jacob Paul were happy to give attendees tours of the project office and demonstrations of equipment.
A case display illustrated the source material for the digital versions of the newspapers now available online.
The cupcakes were “black, white, and read all over!”
During the proceedings, state librarian Mary Chute read a letter on behalf of Congressman Frank Pallone, which said in part: “I would like to commend the New Jersey State Library, Rutgers University Libraries and the New Jersey State Archives for undertaking this important project. Here in New Jersey we have a rich history and innumerable contributions in science, innovation, politics and the humanities. The digitization of these newspapers will provide user friendly access of these historical records to all individuals across the globe. I am proud that The Perth Amboy Evening News is the first New Jersey newspaper available through this invaluable project.”
Paul Robeson Library’s John Maxymuk has authored over a dozen books about the history of the NFL in addition to an entry on professional football in the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia? In advance of Super Bowl LII this weekend, we caught up with John to discuss his love of football and penchant for research—and, of course, whether the Eagles stand a chance against Tom Brady and the Patriots.
A New Look for the IJS
The new IJS logo.
The Institute of Jazz Studies recently unveiled a new logotype, which you can view on our visual identity resources website. Congrats to our colleagues at the IJS for adopting this fresh new look!
What’s Happening is the Libraries’ monthly events enewsletter.
Do You Know What’s Happening?
Did you know we publish a monthly enewsletter of events happening around the Libraries? If not, check out this month’s edition to see what you’ve been missing and feel free to subscribe!
Do you have an upcoming exhibit, workshop, or other event that you’d like the world to know about? Submit it at https://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/events and we’ll include it in forthcoming issues of the newsletter.
The Jersey Collective exhibit at Robeson Library. Credit: John Powell.
Closing Soon: Catch These Displays while You Still Can!
M.K. Asante, author of the critically acclaimed Buck: A Memoir, will present the Ida B. Wells-Barnett keynote lecture on February 1 as part of Rutgers–Camden’s Black History Month celebration.
Celebrate Black History Month at Rutgers–Camden
A series of activities will celebrate cultural diversity at Rutgers University–Camden throughout Black History Month in February.
Thursday, February 1 The Africana Studies Program will kick off Black History Month 2018 with a presentation by Sandra Turner-Barnes titled “Critical, Little Known Truths, Regarding African Enslavement within the State of New Jersey,” in the Multi-Purpose Room, located on the main level of the Campus Center. Turner-Barnes serves as executive director of the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
M.K. Asante, author of the critically acclaimed Buck: A Memoir, will present the Ida B. Wells-Barnett keynote lecture at 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, located on the main level of the Campus Center. Asante is a bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker, recording artist, and professor whom CNN calls “a master storyteller and major creative force.” Registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, visit go.rutgers.edu/nd4842au
Sunday, February 11
The Black Catholics and Cultural Diversity Ministry will host the “Tri-State Catholic Gospel Concert featuring Choirs from Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey” at 3 p.m. in the Walter K. Gordon Theater, located in the Fine Arts Complex. To reserve a seat, visit rudioceseconcert.eventbrite.com or contact James Andrews at (856) 583-2907 or Rev. Richard Owens at (215) 587-3541.
Monday, February 12
The Africana Studies Program will host a screening and discussion of the film Timbuktu at 6 p.m. in the Viewing Room, located on the lower level of the Campus Center.
All events are free of charge and open to the public. For more information, visit the Camden News Now website.
Join the Graduate School of Education for the DeMarzo Lecture on Teaching Excellence on February 15.
Building a Coherent and Equitable System of Assessments in Science in a District: A Partnership Approach
Thursday, February 15 3:30–5:30 p.m. Bloustein School, Rutgers–New Brunswick
The Graduate School of Education cordially invites you to the fifth annual DeMarzo Lecture Series on Teaching Excellence. This lecture series features outstanding scholars addressing a broad range of issues around teaching. Dr. William Penuel, professor of Learning Sciences and Human Development in the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, will give this year’s lecture.
In this talk, Professor Penuel will describe the ongoing efforts of a research-practice partnership between Denver Public Schools and the University of Colorado Boulder to create a more coherent and equitable system of classroom and district-based assessments of students in science.
The 38th annual Marion Thompson Wright Lecture will be held at Rutgers–Newark on February 17.
The Space Between the Notes: The Social Life of Music in Black History
Saturday, February 17 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Paul Robeson Campus Center, Rutgers–Newark
The 38th entry in the Marion Thompson Wright Lecture Series weaves together the academic and the artistic to explore the social roles of music in black history. Speakers and performers will delve into the history and current state of music in the black diaspora from a variety of angles. At a time when artistic production is so closely interwoven with Newark’s continued development, we seek to draw lessons from music’s history of helping imagine and create a more inclusive and just city, nation, and world. Together, the featured speakers and performers will offer a profound demonstration of music’s power to forge community, provide refuge in troubled times, and move us toward better futures. This year, we have an amazing lineup of speakers including: Stefon Harris, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Daphne Brooks, and performance by Alexis Jessica Morrast. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Newark College of Arts and Sciences website.
Douglass Library is the locus for the States of Incarceration conference, which starts on February 28 and draws in partners from across Rutgers–New Brunswick.
States of Incarceration Conference
Wednesday, February 28–March 2 Rutgers Cinema, Douglass Library Rutgers–New Brunswick
States of Incarceration is an exhibition and series of programs created by over 500 students and community partners in 17 states, including participants from Rutgers University–New Brunswick and Rutgers University–Newark. The exhibit explores the roots of mass incarceration in the United States through local case studies and opens a dialogue on what must happen next.
Conference events and programming explore themes related to the different components of the States of Incarceration exhibit. In particular, they highlight subjects connected to the history of Seabrook Farms, the focus of Rutgers–New Brunswick students’ contribution to the exhibit.
A frozen-foods agribusiness in Cumberland County, New Jersey, during World War II Seabrook Farms recruited 2,500 incarcerated Japanese Americans released on parole from so-called internment camps in the western interior of the United States. Seabrook Farms would also employ guestworkers from the British West Indies, migrant workers from the United States South, Japanese Peruvians imprisoned by the United States, and, after the war, Estonian refugees from displaced persons camps in Germany.
Events and panels seek to explore not only the history of Seabrook Farms and Japanese Americans’ incarceration, but also the issues that agricultural workers—who are mainly immigrants—face today.
The schedule includes a screening/director Q&A of documentary film Resistance at Tule Lake; tours of the States of Incarceration exhibit; a production of the play The Castle; panel discussions on agricultural workers and incarceration; and a plenary by John Seabrook, grandson of the founder of Seabrook Farms.
The conference is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, visit the States of Incarceration website.
This month, I just want to express my gratitude once again to everyone who helped make State of the Libraries so special. From the major events committee to the poster presenters to those of you in the audience–our colleagues are what make this a great event. For 2017, we experimented with the format of the event in several ways, introducing new elements while also retaining what makes this such a special event. In a significant departure, we invited an external speaker to visit us and discuss unconscious bias works and what we can do to mitigate its influence in the Libraries. Calvin Lai’s presentation was as entertaining as it was informative, and it is my sincerest hope that it helps us to better appreciate and accommodate diversity and inclusion in what we do.
I hope everyone who attended had a chance to tour the always-popular poster session. It is fitting that at the close of the year, we get to survey the many great activities and initiatives underway at the Libraries. From Libraries-wide initiatives like ORCID and the Open and Affordable Textbook Program to the exhibits program at Robeson and the enhanced coin scanning project from the Digital Humanities Lab–these posters are a reminder of the positive impact we have on the university and the work of the Libraries. For those who were unable to attend or did not make it around to see all the posters, the communications team has recorded short videos with the presenters that can be viewed on YouTube (see below). Also, a special note of thanks to Dee Magnoni and James Hartstein who provided professional quality printing for the posters. They looked great!
There will be much more to say in the coming months, but for now, I want to wish you all a happy New Year! We have so much to look forward to in 2018.
Migration Milestones in February
