1. IT report: implementing a new Grover feature for web-based email that is derived from users and routed to an individual staff. How this will work if that staff person is out of the office; or how it the Grover ticket can be routed to shared email boxes, such as the e-resources problems box – is unclear. More discussion will take place at the next Middle Managers meeting. Chris may want to attend.
2. HR report: lots of open positions are out there; some due to a very large grant that will require a few librarians and staff from MSL and HSCL to work on it full-time; the grant will be used to pay for temporary positions to fill in for our staff. (issue that is unclear: wouldn’t it make more sense to hire temporary people to work on the grant itself?)
3. Facilities report:the stairs in East will not be repaired until 2010. Swine Flu precautions – alcohol hand-cleanser and cleaning materials are being routed to the depts. for staff to use to keep their hands and stations as antiseptic as possible.
4. Budget: because of ongoing budget problems at UF, the Libraries may have to give $277,000 back to the University; Judy is working with the Provost to explore ways we might be spared having to return the entire amount. The hope is we would not have to dip into our materials budget.
5. Emerging Technologies: video cameras are available for patrons to checkout; Michele & John Ingram are working with Springer to have e-books available on Kindles for patrons to use and checkout.
6. Cathy M. did a short but nice presentation on the e-books created from our brittle books by the company, Internet Archives. These e-books are cataloged and accessible through our OPAC and are really impressive.
7. More on Swine Flu: staff in all the depts. might be called to work desk shifts if outbreaks of flu get bad. Acq. folks, especially those with public service desk experience, should be prepared to receive calls from branch libraries if the branch circ or reference areas need replacements.
Please feel free to ask questions or give your comments. Steve