Farewell Message

In December 2003, I wrote the following holiday message to you:

“In the first six months, I have learned firsthand what a fine library program and staff we have, what wonderful opportunities and challenges are before us to make things even better, and what a vibrant community Lexington is to live in.”

Six years later, I am even surer of the truth of those words. It has been an eventful, exciting, invigorating set of years for me. We have made great progress together as evidenced in our recent self-study and program review process. I am grateful to the University and to you for giving me my first opportunity to serve as the dean of the libraries. I would not be returning to Ohio State as director if I had not had the advantages of leading such a talented group of faculty and staff. I will miss you but will continue to marvel at your success from afar. Please know that you are always welcome for a visit in Columbus. I hope you have a joyous and peaceful Holiday Season.

Strategic Plan 2010-2014

The strategic plan for 2010-2014 has been finalized and posted in SharePoint on the Office of the Dean site. The next task is to establish the baseline metrics in January for those items which can be measured. The plan will also be submitted to the Provost’s Office for their review and acceptance. Our Strategic Planning Working Group – Mary Beth Thomson (chair), Bev Hilton, Miranda Hines, Jason Keinsley, Shawn Livingston, Mary Molinaro, and Sandee McAninch – did an exceptional work here. Congratulations on a very thoughtful and ambitious plan.

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.

Department Heads Minutes

The meeting minutes from the September 17th department heads’ meeting are now posted on the Department Heads SharePoint site. https://libstaffsrv.uky.edu/Admin/Heads/default.aspx

ACRL Partners with HighWire Press

From American Libraries Direct

ACRL partners with HighWire Press

ACRL has announced a new partnership with HighWire Press, a division of the Stanford University Libraries, to provide online hosting of College and Research Libraries, College and Research Libraries News, RBM, and Choice Review Online. The move from the ALA website to the HighWire platform will provide a number of benefits—improved search capabilities both within and across publications, increased Web 2.0 functionality, and online access for individual and institutional nonmember subscribers....ACRL Insider, Dec. 1

Cornell Libraries Consider Merging

From American Libraries Direct

Cornell libraries consider merging

At the beginning of December, Cornell University’s Physical Sciences Library closed, a victim of last semester’s 5% budget cut. But there may be others. A library task force suggests closing some of the 18 existing library facilities in an effort to organize physical spaces around disciplines rather than colleges. Its report outlines such scenarios as reducing the number of libraries to nine or reorganizing the library around only four central spaces....Cornell Daily Sun, Nov. 30

GWU Experiments with Robotic Book Digitization

From American Libraries Direct

GWU experiments with robotic book digitization

George Washington University announced November 30 that it will use an automated system to digitize rare Middle Eastern texts from its own library and from that of Georgetown University. The KABIS III machine in the Gelman Library uses a black plastic arm to turn a page, pause as two cameras take pictures of both open pages, and then turn the page again. Air circulates through the arm of the machine, creating a gentle vacuum that can attract a page and guide it from the right side of the book to the left. The machine, purchased from Kirtas Technologies, can photograph up to 3,000 pages in an hour....Wired Campus, Dec. 1; Kirtas Technologies