Dwan Gaye Parker's Retirement

Dawn Gaye Parker has retired effective December 15, 2009 after 27 years with the university. Dawn's first position with the Libraries was with the Microfilm Center (now the Preservation Reformatting Center), followed by assignments in Acquisitions, Special Collections, the Engineering Library, and the Science Team. Her latest position has been in Serials Acquisitions, Collections and Technical Services Division. Particularly notable among Dawn's contributions has been her long-time work with the library staff organization. We wish Dawn all the best on her retirement.

Helane Davis Resignation

I too greet the following message from the Dean of Law with mixed emotions. Helane has been a wonderful leader of our Law Library, a productive member of our Executive Committee and a good colleague in all ways. With her departure occurring in June 2010, we will have opportunity to continue working with her in the months ahead.

Dear Faculty, Administrators and Staff:

It is with mixed emotions that I write to inform you that our Law Library Director, Professor Helane Davis, has submitted her letter of resignation as Law Library Director and Professor of Law effective June 15, 2010. Helane has decided to take on a new challenge as Director of the Law Library at Albany Law School in Upstate New York. As many of you know, Helane joined the law school in 2005 and was named Library Director about 1 and ½ years later in 2006. Helane has been an engaged member of the faculty and has done a superb job managing our Law Library resources. Most recently, Helane served on the Dean Search Committee which resulted in my arriving as Dean less than six months ago. I say this message is sent with mixed emotions because I know that Helane has a grand vision for legal education and I would have loved to have had that vision realized here at UK College of Law. But alas, that is not the case. I wish Helane the best of luck in her new venture. At an appropriate time, I will announce our process for seeking a new Law Library Director.

David A. Brennen
Dean and W.T. Lafferty Professor of Law
University of Kentucky College of Law

New Hire in Medical Center Library

Keith Barbour has been hired to fill the Library Technician/Evening Supervisor position in the Medical Center Library. If his name is familiar to some of you, it is because he was formerly employed at the MCL from 1999 - 2005. His start date is December 21. Welcome back, Keith!

Comings and Goings

Dennis Davenport, Library Technician in the Science Library, Research & Education Division, has resigned and has accepted a position off campus. In his 22 years with the Libraries, Dennis has worked in numerous locations, including technical services, the Agriculture Library, Mathematical Sciences Library, Facilities, and the Science Library. His last day with the University will be Monday, November 30. We wish him much success in his new position.

Michael Brewster has been hired into the Library Technician Sr. position in the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library, Research & Education Division. Currently employed in a STEPS position with Fine Arts, Michael will begin his regular position on Monday, November 23.

Zachary Young, currently a Library Technician in the Medical Center Library, has been offered and has accepted a Library Technician Sr. position in the Medical Center Library. His promotion will become effective December 7, 2009.

Lenore Nash Begins Phased Retirement

Lenore Nash, long time Library Technician in the Medical Center Library technical services area, has been approved for phased retirement. Beginning October 18, Lenore is working half-time for the next three years, after which time she will achieve full retirement from the University. Lenore began work at the Libraries in August 1992, and we are pleased she is continuing her employment with us! Lenore is the first library staff member to utilize the phased retirement benefit since it became available in 2007. For more information about phased retirement see http://www.uky.edu/HR/benefits/PhasedRetirementProc.html.

Jennifer Mattern Resigns

Jennifer Mattern, Library Technician in the Circulation Department Fines and Lost and Found Office since August 2006, has submitted her resignation. She completed her MLS degree while working in the Libraries and has accepted a Reference/Public Services Librarian position with the Clark County Public Library. Her last day with the Libraries will be September 23, 2009. Way to go, Jennifer! Thanks for all the good work you have done for the Libraries.

IT Reorganization -- Director of Project Management

One of the recommendations of the Consult4 report for Library Information Technology Division was to create a formal Project Manager position. To implement this recommendation Library IT is reorganizing, and on September 1, 2009 Beth Kraemer will take the position of Director of Project Management in Library IT. The formation of this position will allow us to better manage IT resources while implementing projects to meet Library goals and objectives. As part of the reorganization the two IT programmer positions, held by Michael Slone and Ed Brown, will be brought into the Project Management department, and will be supervised by the Director. The Project Management department will be better able to focus IT on the priorities established by the Libraries and complete the numerous IT services being requested.

Retirement for Bill Marshall

Bill Marshall has announced his retirement, effective January 8, 2010. Bill began work with the UK Libraries on September 1, 1973, having graduated from Kent State with an MLS degree just the month before. After three years in a manuscripts archivist position, Bill became Director of Special Collections, a position he held through 2004. Currently he serves as Curator of Manuscripts in Special Collections and Digital Programs. In his long professional career with the Libraries, Bill has participated on countless library and university committees and groups, including service as the Secretary of the UK Library Associates. He has been active in organizations such as the Society of American Archivists, the Kentucky Council on Archives, The Civil War Roundtable, and the Society of American Baseball Research. Long a fan of the game of baseball, Bill was named winner of the Seymour Award for the best book on the history of baseball for his 1999 work, "Baseball's Pivotal Era, 1945 - 1951". We thank him for his 36+ years of leadership and good works for the Libraries and the University.

Retirement for Antoinette Fiske

Antoinette Fiske, Library Technician Senior in the Law Library's Technical Services area, has announced her retirement. On her last day of work on September 11, 2009, Antoinette will have been employed at the University for 29 years and 3 months -- all of it in the Law Library. We thank her for her exceptional work and fine service to the Law Library and wish her a long and happy retirement.

Clinical Reference Librarian Position Posted

The Libraries seek to hire a Clinical Reference Librarian in the Medical Center Library. Among other responsibilities, the Librarian will provide general and specialized research assistance for on-site and virtual library users; participate in user-centered, subject specific instruction through general orientation sessions and curriculum-integrated instruction to develop information literacy competencies. The Librarian will work closely with clinical departments to deliver just-in-time health care information. The Librarian will coordinate educational activities of the unit, participate in collection development, and serve as faculty liaison to the College of Public Health.

Required qualifications: Graduate degree in library science from an ALA- accredited program by start date of position. Knowledge of and experience with using National Library of Medicine resources. Knowledge of and experience with using EndNote. Working knowledge of Web 2.0 and other emerging technologies. Excellent interpersonal skills and oral and written communication. Excellent organizational and analytical skills. Good customer service skills. Successful candidates will be able to show evidence of the ability to meet University of Kentucky requirements for promotion and tenure, including evidence of self-motivation, initiative, and productivity.

Preferred Education / Experience: Grant/contract writing skills. Experience in a public health environment. Experience using the Health Services/Sciences Research Resources (HSRR) database.

To apply: Interested applicants can view the complete posting and apply for this position by going to UK Jobs at http://www.uky.edu/HR/UKjobs/.
The job requisition number is SM527230. The application deadline is September 11, 2009.

Library Associates Annual Dinner

The Library Associates Annual Dinner was held in May as usual this year. In my absence, Terry Birdwhistell presented a State of the Libraries report that I had created focused on items of interest to our donors and friends (that presentation has been loaded to the Office of the Dean SharePoint site under Dean’s Presentations). In addition, Judge Joe Lee was honored with the Medallion for Intellectual Achievement.

Library Associates President Kathy Johnson completed her term as president and welcomed incoming president, Gail Hart. In addition, we welcomed the following new members to the Executive Committee of the Library Associates:

Bess Abell
LuAnnette Butler
Eric Doninger
Billy Lanter
Alan Sullivan
Bill Watts

Staffing Changes in R&E

With the approach of July 1, we have three staffing changes in the R&E division to announce:

• Brad Carrington has been selected to serve as the Head, Education Library effective July 1, 2009. Brad will be transitioning to his new position over the remainder of the summer. He will continue to manage his current collections areas while how to handle those in the future is addressed.
• Following a division survey and review of performance, Gail Kennedy has accepted a second two-year term as Head of Branches.
• After a review of staffing in the R&E division, Jennifer Richmond has been transferred from the Education Library to the Young Library, her assignment will include Information Services and the Hub.
  

These changes will address staffing needs in these areas which needed to be resolved before school begins in the fall. My thanks to Brad, Gail and Jennifer for taking up or continuing these assignments. We look forward to working with them in these new roles.

Welcome to Anissa Ali and Bethany McGowan

Anissa Ali and Bethany McGowan, our second and third IMLS fellows, have arrived. Both began their fellowships on June 15th and will be with us for the next 8 weeks (ending August 7). Bethany’s home base is in the Medical Center Library and Anissa is based in Information Services in the Young Library. Welcome to Kentucky!

Head of Collection Management Hired

Heath Martin has accepted the position of Head of Collection Management, Collections and Technical Services Division, with a starting date of August 1. He holds masters degrees in both Library Science and English. In his current position as Assistant Head of Collection Development and Resources Management at Western Carolina University, he leads collection development, management, and assessment activities; supervises the acquisitions unit; coordinates a network of 16 library liaisons; manages and allocates the materials budget; oversees gifts; selects, orders and licenses library materials in all formats; selects and manages government documents; supervises collection development and acquisition staff; and serves as liaison to history and other academic units.

Reporting to Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services Mary Beth Thomson, Heath will provide leadership for the UK Libraries' collection management activities and supervise staff in CTS Financial Services, Gifts-in Kind, and Federal Depository Units. We are looking forward to his arrival in August.

Kathryn Lybarger Hired

Kathryn Lybarger has been hired into the faculty position of Coordinator for Cataloging and Metadata in the Collections and Technical Services Division. She will transfer from her current position as Library Manager with the grant funded Partnering to Preserve Racing's Rich History: The Daily Racing Form Preservation Project, Special Collections and Digital Programs Division, on June 1, 2009. Kathryn has a Master's degree in Mathematics in addition to her MLS and she is ABD and completing her doctoral dissertation in Mathematics. Previous to her Library Manager position, Kathryn worked extensively with the National Digital Newspaper Program. We are very pleased to welcome Kathryn to the library faculty. Welcome, Kathryn!

Renee DelMese Resigns

Renee DelMese, Library Technician Senior in the Medical Center Library, has submitted her resignation. She has been employed with the Libraries since August 2001, and was promoted from a Library Technician to LT Sr. position in 2005. Renee's last day at UK will be May 15. We thank her for her good work for the Libraries and wish her good fortune and much success as she relocates to South Carolina.

Jason Keinsley Hired as Desktop Support Librarian

Jason Keinsley (pronounced "kins-lee") will join the UK Libraries faculty on June 1 as Director of Library Desktop Support. Jason is currently Coordinator of Library Systems and Technology as well as Coordinator of Public Services at Norwich University, Northfield, VT, where he supports public and staff computers for both his library and the local public library. He has a Masters of Information Science from Indiana University and a Masters of Science in Information Assurance from Norwich University.

As Director of Library Desktop Support, Library Information Technology Division, Jason will be responsible for overseeing the allocation and maintenance of over 700 desktop computers for library staff and the public, the distribution and proper function of networked printers and other computer peripherals, and for planning and managing computer leases and equipment deployment and installation.

Joshua Harris Hired as Library Tech Senior

Joshua Harris has been hired for the Library Technician Senior position focusing on electronic resources database maintenance, Collections and Technical Services Division. His starting date will be March 30. Josh will be relocating from Washington, D.C., where he has been Archives Manager of the Film and Audio-Visual Archives in the Department of Television and Film, Film Archives, at the National Geographic Society. In particular, Josh will focus on processing electronic materials for the Medical Center Library.

Denise Hunter Hired as Library Tech

Andrea Denise Hunter, who goes by Denise, has been hired for the Library Technician position in Monographs Acquisitions, Collections and Technical Services Division. Since July 2005, Denise has been employed in the Learning Resource Center at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from Morehead State and has begun taking graduate classes in library science from UK. Her start date with the UK Libraries will be February 16. We wish her much success in her position.

Peter Hesseldenz Appointed Academic Liaison for Business and Economics

Peter Hesseldenz has accepted the position of Academic Liaison for Business and Economics in the Research and Education Division. He will be transferring from his temporary assignment to his faculty position on February 1. Peter has worked for the Libraries since January 2002, first as an Image Management Specialist, and then as a Reference Librarian in Young Library. He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Master's degrees in both English and Library Science from the University of Kentucky. In his new position, Peter will serve as Academic Liaison for the College of Business and Economics. His responsibilities will include collection management, subject-specific reference and research assistance, and the development of course-related information literacy instruction for the College. He will also assist with general reference and library instruction. Please congratulate Peter on his move to the faculty ranks!