Next Dean's Update

The next Dean's Update will be October 17.

National Diversity in Libraries Conference

In concert with the Kentucky Library Association, the Southeastern Library Association and the Association of Research Libraries, the National Diversity in Libraries Conference was hosted in Louisville this week. Participants had a spectrum of options of keynote speakers, poster sessions, and more topical sessions. Our library faculty and staff were well represented as usual. Reinette Jones served as UK’s representative on the planning committee and I am very appreciative of the fine work that she did on our behalf.

Recent Consultants Visit

Thank you to the many members of our faculty and staff who met with the R&E/IT consultants earlier this week. For some time Kelly, Toni and I have been talking about various issues about the services we provide, the organizational structure we have, the need to determine what positions to fill, etc. It has also been almost 4 years since we did our large reorganization. Since then we have done some tweaking to the organization e.g. establishing a director of branches in R&E. As we look at where we want to go and how to get there, I felt the need for same outside help in gathering information and providing us with some feedback. At the same time, I discovered that Marilu Goodyear and Beth Warner were doing exactly this sort of consulting work and that they had just the right skills to provide us with good advice.

What happens next? Hopefully by the end of October, the consultants will provide us with their report. That will be shared broadly. Then we’ll decide what comes next.

I appreciate the candor with which all of you interacted with the consultants and I look forward to their report.

Library Hours to be Restored

Over the past few weeks, you have, no doubt, read and heard about the students’ concerns about the reduction in hours for the Young Library. I find it heartening that the students have so effectively and reasonably articulated their need for access to the Libraries and been willing to take that case to me, the Provost, and to their student government leaders.

I’m pleased to report that there will be a press release this evening announcing the restoration of 24/5 access effective October 19. Funding to restore the hours is being provided by the Student Government ($10,000) and the Provost ($20,000). This funding will provide the needed funds for this academic year. We will work with the Provost during our usual budget process about the restoration of permanent funding for the years ahead.

Circulation will, of course, be recruiting student employees so please spread the word once the press release is made public.

United Way

You will already have received a message from President Todd about the start of the annual United Way campaign. Janet Stith represents the Libraries on the Campaign Cabinet and others in the Libraries will be visiting to deliver pledge cards. Even very modest contributions add up in big ways to help the agencies which received funding through the United Way. I hope you will consider a donation as your circumstances permit.