The Agenda - Faculty and Staff Newsletter

Category: Universitywide

  • Ex Libris Implementation Team Update – September 2020

    The HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) provides digital access to a significant portion of our titles held in print during temporary and involuntary disruptions to normal library collections services. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how patrons access and use library collections; to align with state recommendations and promote public safety in our library spaces, users are currently unable to freely browse and borrow from our physical collections. These restrictions allow us to offer a digital replacement for our print copies from the HathiTrust repository. Access to these titles is based on our print holdings and because the digital access offered by HathiTrust is provided in lieu of our print items, we cannot circulate both “copies” simultaneously to comply with copyright. For this reason, personal delivery and click and collect request options are not available for items with full text electronic access.

    Compliance with copyright also informs some of the features of the HathiTrust ETAS reading experience. Users must “check out” the digital copy for a short period of time to access. This provides a controlled experience that restricts the number of simultaneous users. When users are done browsing the item, they have the option to return the item right away to free it up for other users or to retain the checkout for a period of time. The material will automatically renew during active use and expire after 12 hours of inactivity. After an hour of inactivity, the title becomes eligible for new checkouts but will continue to default to the initial user if there are no checkout requests from other users. Users cannot print or download from materials held in the HathiTrust ETAS, but these items are eligible for chapter scanning and interlibrary loan.

    HathiTrust ETAS provides safe and immediate access to many of our print titles during our temporary service disruptions. Rutgers is periodically reevaluated for access to the HathiTrust ETAS and we will no longer be eligible for this service once users are able to freely access services and collections.

    HathiTrust provides detailed information about the ETAS on their website (https://www.hathitrust.org/ETAS-Description) including an information page that is specifically aimed at user questions (https://www.hathitrust.org/ETAS-User-Information#FAQ).

  • Collections Budget Statement for Fiscal Year 2021

    The public-facing document on the FY21 collections budget has now been posted to our website.

    You can view it here or by navigating to About > Mission, Vision, & Strategic Plan from the homepage.

  • Reflecting on Our Values and Principles

    As I’m sure you’ve seen in your email or the Cabinet minutes, the Libraries’ Values and Principles Taskforce recently completed its work and issued a final recommendation to Cabinet for consideration. We are still in the process of finalizing our values and principles and will post them to our website soon—but in my mind, this work could not have come at a better time, as the COVID pandemic, the shift to online-only, and now, planning for the phased return to our buildings, have all forced us to take a step back and determine what is core to library service.

    Our values and principles are different from our goals and priorities. The latter identify “what” we do, while the former describe the “how” and “why.” When these are finalized, we will have a set of ideals that we can use to guide our decision-making in the future—and in some ways, they have already begun to do so. For example, at the last Cabinet meeting, during which we discussed the taskforce’s recommendation to us, we decided to move the value of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to the top of the list. This was a recognition of the importance of this value to us as a leadership group and an organization, as well as an acknowledgment of the reality that we have work to do in this area. Our first step forward is charging a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which will take stock of our current environment in order to guide and recommend processes within the Libraries that embrace DEI. As a reflection of our ongoing commitment to this value, the DEI Committee will be a permanent group designed to provide continuing guidance on these issues, not a working group tasked with producing a single report or planning a one-off training.

    Of course, this is only one example of how our values and principles can serve as a compass for us. Moving forward, we should consistently refer to them as a guide when there are hard decisions to make or difficult conversations to have. When we embrace these values—DEI, Inquiry, Access, Service, and Collaboration—with the intent of truly living them, we can be confident in our ability to move forward in a way that meaningfully advances the missions of the Libraries and the university.

    I would once again like to thank the members of the taskforce—Mina Ghajar, Tom Glynn, Samantha Kannegiser, Elizabeth Surles, and Geoffrey Wood—for their extraordinary work. Their job was certainly not an easy one, and the way in which they sought input from faculty and staff across the Libraries was admirable. I encourage you to review our values and principles once they are posted and reflect on how you can embody them in your own day-to-day work.

  • Quick Takes on Events and News – July 2020

    Antiracism is the practice of identifying, challenging, and changing the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism.
    Antiracism LibGuide 

    A new guide created by Katie Anderson highlights resources for research on antiracism with a focus on sources that are available at Rutgers.

    Antiracism is the practice of identifying, challenging, and changing the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism.

    Included in the guide are recommended authors, ebooks, and reading lists; background information on the Black Lives Matter movement; links to podcasts and media; and other antiracist resources. It also features a section with historical material on Rutgers alumnus Paul Robeson, the namesake of Paul Robeson Library who is remembered for his antiracist activism.

    To learn more, visit https://libguides.rutgers.edu/antiracism.

     Summer SAPAC

    Summertime, and Summer SAPAC is here in its shorts and flip-flops to give you a low-key forum to share your research, practical solutions, and fizzy ideas with your fellow RUL librarians, or at least their virtual avatars and disembodied heads.

    Got a research project, at any stage of development, that you would like to share with a friendly audience? Did you miss a chance to present at an in-person conference this spring? Would you like to organize a panel discussion?  Perhaps you’d like to share your knowledge on a professional development topic, or workshop an idea you’ve had about how we’ll provide services next year? Maybe try something out in a smaller and less formal group before taking it to an NBL-All or RUL Faculty Forum?

    If so, the Scholarly and Professional Activity Committee wants to know! We’re looking for presenters for the rest of the summer. We don’t need to limit ourselves to once a month, so the more the merrier. We anticipate scheduling these at lunchtime early in the week.

    Please send your title, abstract, and top three preferred dates to the committee members below. We’ll schedule and announce them as they come in!

    Janet Brennan Croft, co-chair till June 30
    Bart Howard Everts, co-chair till June 30
    Fobazi Ettarh, 2019-2022
    Laura Costello, 2018-2021
    Amy Kimura, 2018-2021

    Upcoming Workshops

    Media and Ebooks FAQ Drop-In Session
    Online via WebEx
    Robeson Library
    7/1/20 8:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m.

    Media and Ebooks FAQ Drop-In Session
    Online via WebEx
    Robeson Library
    7/1/20 3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

    Digital Collections for Reading, Teaching, and Research
    Online via WebEx
    Robeson Library
    7/13/20 1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.

    Course Reserves FAQ
    Online via WebEx
    Robeson Library
    7/14/20 1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.

    Antiracism Resources from the Library’s Collection
    Online via WebEx
    Robeson Library
    7/16/201:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.

    RefWorks, Endnote, and Zotero: Which One Should I Choose?
    Online via Webex
    7/22/2010:00 a.m.–10:45 a.m.

  • Website Redesign Project Update – July 2020

    Over the past few weeks, the web redesign team and the local library owners have been hard at work developing and deploying an audience research plan in collaboration with NewCity. A brand survey specific to each campus was widely distributed to faculty, staff, and students. The survey asked participants to choose words and images that best represent their library, and to reflect a bit on why they made those choices. We were thrilled to receive over 2,000 responses, along with a lot of thoughtful feedback that will help us make design decisions that are driven by local values and priorities.

    Baseline usability testing was launched at Camden earlier this week and will be conducted over the next few weeks at RBHS, New Brunswick, and Newark. The usability study is looking at how users reach our site and complete common tasks, and also asks some more general exploratory questions that will help us understand how local sites might most effectively convey local information along with access to centrally provided resources. The studies differ slightly from unit to unit, depending on what the local library owner groups have defined as the most important tasks for their key stakeholder groups. Given this baseline information, we’ll be able to measure whether user perception and performance around these key tasks have improved during development and after launch. We’ll be sharing the results of our audience research before too long.

    Through content analysis and interviews, NewCity has been digging into the ways content “happens” on our site. As a complex organization with many moving pieces and a vast amount of information to provide to a diverse body of users, content governance is a major challenge. This is going to be one of the most important aspects of the redesign: not just the site itself, but the development of a manageable, logical governance model that will enable us to maintain content that is accurate, fresh, and engaging.

    Once the audience research data has been analyzed, the local library owner groups will each meet again with NewCity to synthesize the results and begin workshopping ideas, informed by the brand survey and usability studies. If you’re interested in contributing to the work around your unit’s aspirations for a new site, please check in with your project team representative. They can provide access to a virtual whiteboard where we’re tracking thoughts about values, impact, audiences, and success measures. The information gathered there will be wrapped up into the workshops later this summer.

    As always, you’re welcome to reach out anytime with questions or comments. Send us an email: webservices@libraries.rutgers.edu.

  • ELUNA 2020 Goes Online for Annual Conference

    ELUNA 2020 logoThe annual Ex Libris Users of North America conference, ELUNA, scheduled for May was cancelled due to the pandemic. However, the planners of the annual conference have scheduled a set of free half-day webinars during the month of July to share product and working group updates. The webinars will be spread over seven days and each day’s session has a separate theme. Staff members are encouraged to review the conference schedule and sign up for the sessions of interest to you. If you are not able to attend or have a prior commitment, the webinars will be recorded and made available for later viewing.

    Please note that you need to register for each webinar that you would like to attend during the scheduled time or to access the recording.

    • Opening Session & Updates: Ex Libris & Alma. July 7, 2020. 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm eastern – Register Now!
    • Updates: Summon & Rosetta. July 8, 2020. 1:00 pm – 4:10 pm eastern – Register Now!
    • Updates: Learning, Research, and Resource Sharing, Leganto, and RapidILL. July 13, 2020. 1:00 pm – 4:25 pm eastern – Register Now!
    • Updates: Customer Success, Analytics and Interoperability, & Esploro. July 14, 2020. 1:00 pm – 4:10 pm eastern – Register Now!
    • Updates: Library of Experiences, CDI, Content, & SFX. July 16, 2020. 1:00 pm – 4:10 pm eastern – Register Now!
    • Updates: Voyager, Aleph, & Linked Data. July 20, 2020. 1:00 pm – 4:10 pm eastern – Register Now!
    • Updates: Primo, Keynote, & ELUNA Business Meeting. July 23, 2020. 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm eastern – Register Now!

  • Hosting Virtual Events with Webex

    Thinking of hosting a virtual event and don’t know how to?

    The COVID-19 pandemic has instantly changed how we work and interact with each other. It’s a challenging time for all of us. All in-person meetings, events, and training have been transformed to online, and there are several online collaboration tools available for Rutgers faculty and staff. This article describes how you can schedule an interactive online event using Webex.

    Webex is freely available to all Rutgers faculty and staff. Before you can start using Webex, you must activate your license. Once you have activated your license, you can start scheduling your online event. There are three different solutions available in Webex:

    Webex Meetings Center provides a simpler way to have a face-to-face meeting experience with your colleagues. You can present, share your screen, and collaborate on projects in a centralized space.

    Webex Events Center makes hosting an online event easy. Whether you are hosting a brown bag event or a webinar, you can deliver an interactive presentation with multimedia, along with Chat, Q&A, and polling, to engage your audience. Refer to OIT’s Getting Started with Cisco Webex Events for step-by-step instructions to schedule an event.

     Webex Training Center is suitable for lecture style classes. You can deliver live, interactive sessions to students anywhere, and keep them engaged with hands-on training, tests, and breakout sessions to enhance their learning.

    When you are hosting a Webex event, you can provide additional security by requiring a password. If you specify a password, attendees must provide it to join the event. Webex makes it possible for attendees and panelists to join an event without a license.

    Are you planning a virtual event but not sure how to choose the right solution? Take a look at this Webex Suite Comparison chart. If you still need assistance, please send an email to support@rulhelp.rutgers.edu and help will be on the way!

  • Library Instruction Continuity

    The Library Instruction Continuity Resources Guide.

    In light of our “new normal” circumstances, we have created a LibGuide that lists many helpful resources and documentation to support remote instruction.  The Library Instruction Continuity Resources LibGuide includes information on how to conduct live conferencing and record lectures that students may access on demand.  Additionally, it contains links to many helpful University-wide provisions such as direct links to Rutgers Emergency Preparedness for Synchronous/Asynchronous Instruction, and the Teaching and Learning with Technology department.  The guide also contains links to online resources by campus.

    Visit the LibGuide to view all of these valuable resources, and to see how to create and share instructional content in a remote instruction environment.

    For questions about the Library Instruction Continuity Resources LibGuide, contact Maria Breger at maria.breger@rutgers.edu

    View the complete list of the Libraries Teaching & Learning topics.

  • Website Redesign Project Update – May 2020

    Screenshot of NewCity discovery report
    The discovery report is available on the project team’s staff resources site.

    The Discovery phase of the website redesign project has officially concluded. Feel free to peruse NewCity’s Discovery Report, which outlines their findings from their onsite visit, one-on-one interviews with some key stakeholders, discussions with the core project team, an intercept survey, and analytics. They tease out some of the characteristics that make RUL’s different units unique, as well as what unites everyone, and what some of our biggest challenges will be as we move forward with this project.

    We’re excited to be starting audience research this month. Over the next ten weeks, NewCity and the RUL project team will be working with local teams and directors to survey and interview our user groups, define the brands and goals for each campus, and move toward a baseline understanding of what our users need and how they behave. While we’d love to be able to meet face-to-face with our users, we’re not letting COVID-19 slow our progress—we’re working with NewCity to develop a robust research plan that we can deploy entirely online.

    To help coordinate, conduct, and analyze this research, we’ve formed a Local Library Owners team, an augmented version of our core project team. We’re happy to welcome John Gibson, Samantha Kannegiser, Angela Lawrence, Amber Judkins, Christie Lutz, and Victoria Wagner to the project.

    Audience research doesn’t apply only to our external users; we’ll be working with the RUL audience as well. As we develop a web presence that has room for more “local flavor,” we need to be sure to empower local content editors to create and contribute content and design that works best for their units. Our new site will employ a component-based system that will allow local contributors flexibility and ease in creating and customizing local content while keeping the site sustainable for the central technical team.

    The project team continues to meet bi-weekly, with additional meetings now being added as we begin the next period of intense focus on audience research.

    You’re welcome to reach out anytime with questions or comments. Send us an email: webservices@rutgers.libanswers.com

  • Ex Libris Implementation Team Update – May 2020

    Rutgers students, faculty, and staff can now access over a million digitized texts available through HathiTrust’s Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS). In response to the current public health crisis, HathiTrust is providing member libraries with temporary access to digital versions of print titles that would otherwise be inaccessible due to library closures. As a result, the Rutgers community now has online access to over 1.2 million volumes previously only available in print. This is in addition to the more than 6 million public domain and Creative Commons-licensed works already accessible through HathiTrust.

    Rutgers users can search for these titles in QuickSearch or the HathiTrust Digital Library. Books available through ETAS include a note indicating temporary access.

    View in QuickSearch.
    View in HathiTrust.

    Terms of service

    • “Temporary Access” books require NetID login and can only be accessed by Rutgers students, staff, and faculty.
    • “Temporary Access” books can be read online only. Unlike “Full View” books in HathiTrust, they cannot be downloaded for offline reading.
    • “Temporary Access” books can be checked out for one hour. The banner at the top of the browser informs you how long the book is checked out to you. Your access to the book will automatically renew as long as you are actively reading it.
    • If the book you want is currently checked out, a message will display letting you know that the book is in use. Check back later to see if the book has been returned. Unfortunately, it is not possible to request or place a hold on a book. Because access is limited, users are encouraged to return books as soon as they are done using them.
    • “Temporary Access” books will only be available online until access to the Libraries’ print collection is restored.

    For more information, including instructions for accessing ETAS books on your mobile device, see https://www.hathitrust.org/ETAS-How-To