This is my 1st attempt at a Blog, hope it is OK. The pic is Duc Pham and Jay Gillen removing heavy metal shelves, re-positioning brackets, and re-installing at another location. As the space here fills up, we often run low on the popular shelf heights.
C-MACS Update: Owl cards
The C-MACS committee is rolling out a new marketing campaign this Fall. A series of “owl cards” will be placed at service points throughout the library this week, to help inform visitors and students on commonly asked questions. The cards look great displayed graphic-side out, but could also be displayed information-side out.
Each major service point will receive two holders, and the set of 12 cards that make up the collection. Topics include: Food & Drink, Special Collections & Archives, Feedback, Prints, Scans & Copies, Expert Advice, Visitor Services, Research Planning, Geographic Data & Mapping, Study Spaces, Learning Opportunities, Audio Visual Equipment, and Expert Advice.
Inspiration for this project came from the nice “moo cards” Andy Damico, Preservation Librarian, used for Preservation Week in 2013 & 2014.
Information-side displayed
Graphic-side displayed
Owl card close-up
Several students assisted in the usability and quick identification of the topics of the card, based on just looking at the original designs of the cards, and Jeff tweaked the designs to be cute, and instructive. We hope you love them!
Questions or comments? Please contact a member of the committee: Debra Kolah (Chair), David Bynog, Sandi Edwards, Jeff Koffler, Jean Aroom, Norie Guthrie, and Judy Howell
Fondren Executive Committee Meeting Summaries (August 21-August 28)
August 21
Judy Howell visited to discuss Fondren’s fundraising efforts. Howell plans to update the “one-pager” listing fundraising priorities for Fondren, since it hasn’t been revised since 2007. The Executive Committee identified four key areas to focus on, including current use funds (such as technology), capital projects, a proposed fellowship program, and digital projects. Executive Committee members will provide Judy with short descriptions to be used in funding requests.
Lowman offered an update on the renovation project. Since project costs are within the anticipated range, work is proceeding on renovations to the basement (including relocating the Kelley Center collections and building a new space for the DMC and a collaboration room) and the south end of the first floor. Demolition work on the basement back stacks area will start in late September, and the basement renovation is expected to be completed in mid-December.
The Executive Committee reviewed and provided feedback on updates to the university policy concerning travel.
August 28
The library will close over the winter break (December 25-January 4).
The Executive Committee offered feedback on the draft Rice Digital Scholarship Archive Deposit Guidelines, which will be posted soon at scholarship.rice.edu.
Staff are encouraged to attend Dan Cohen’s October 29 lecture, “The Emerging Research Environment & the Digital Public Library of America.” Cohen serves as the Executive Director, Digital Public Library of America and formerly was the director of the Center for History and New Media. The lecture will take place at 4 p.m. in 301 Sewall Hall.
Fondren has been challenged by the University of Texas Libraries to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If staff are interested, they can volunteer to help organize Fondren’s response. Participation is completely optional.
Melinda Flannery thanked Diane Butler for recommending that interview groups do more advanced preparation for candidate interviews; the change allowed for more focused questions and will become a standard part of the interview process for librarian positions.
Topics for upcoming Executive Committee meetings:
- September 4: no meeting
- September 11: library assessment
- Sept 18: Mike Dewey (to be confirmed)
- Sept 25: IT projects
- October 2: library communications
- October 9: no meeting
Study Room Renovations Update
Fondren Library Renovated Study Rooms
We have just completed the renovation of 24 study rooms! All of the rooms feature modern desks, in round or rectangular shapes, comfortable ergonomic chairs, and a stain-resistant carpeting.
The color palette includes green, turquoise blue, and a magnificent purple, all of which are picked up in the carpet. Some of the rooms feature dimmable lighting, and all of the rooms have been painted. In the next few weeks, special screened acoustical tiles with bright and interesting photos by University Photographer, Jeff Fitlow, will be added to the rooms. Images feature student life, and close-up features from around the Rice campus. The study room renovations were guided strongly by student focus groups that were held in July 2013. Some of the important features that students asked for were: bright lighting, office-style chairs, and different flexible layouts for the rooms. Students highly recommended that there be adequate space around the tables to move around, and that the chairs should be able to easily slide under the tables.
The rooms were taken off of the study room reservation system in late May, and will be returning to the reservation system, for students to check out, starting today. Over the next few months photos in the study room reservation system will be updated to reflect the new rooms. Also, rooms will be categorized by attributes to help students pick the perfect room for the way they study.
A great gallery of photos has been set up by Jeff Koffler here: http://1drv.ms/1nKa2yC
The food and drink policy, going into effect on October 1st, will help these rooms stay fresh.
Executive Committee Meeting Summaries 7/31-
July 31
1. IT support in the library (with guests Lee Pecht, Amanda Focke): The group discussed the need for careful planning for IT support in light of increase in the number of technologically-based projects and programs in the library, especially as regards machine storage and staff support. Butler will develop some questions for discussion, then set up meetings with each of the three other AULs and Woodson to plan for FY15. Lowman noted there may also be technology needs in connection with implementing the university’s move to an online travel reimbursement system. She is exploring possibilities for additional technology funding.
2. Lowman shared a revised time table and basement floor plan for the renovation. Actual construction may begin in the basement in mid- to late-September. First floor renovations are more minor and will be scheduled in due course. Keck will review and update recommendations for placement of collections to be retained on the first floor. There will be a shift toward more scanners and fewer copiers.
August 7
1. Social media: The group discussed the library’s current efforts on social media. Lowman will approach CMACS (Committee on Marketing and Customer Service) to ask for an evaluation of current efforts, tools available/being used, alignment with University-wide social media efforts, etc.
2. Service Centers: The group reviewed some draft guidelines on service (cost-recovery) centers from the university Budget Office. The group was comfortable with the guidelines. The DMC is the library’s only service center; Spiro, Butler and Jane Zhao will meet to discuss compliance with the guidelines.
3. Miscellaneous: Butler reported on several pending software licensing issues, including the decision by Central IT to change license terms for the Adobe suite. The effect on Fondren is that Adobe software will be available only on certain computers. A new desktop support position has been approved. The new food and drink policy is being finalized. Possible uses for Rm. 361 (former home of assistive technology equipment now housed by the east entrance on the first floor) were discussed.
August 14
No meeting.
New exhibits on display
The Exhibits Committee have created several new exhibits now on display in Fondren Library and the RMC:
In the Woodson Research Center, memorabilia from the Rice Hotel Collection including china, door plates, sheet music for the “Rice Hotel Blues,” and photographs are showcased.
On the first floor of Fondren Library, “Rice in the Classroom” displays photographs of students, faculty, and staff in the classroom. Also included are various instruments that have been used at Rice over the years.
On the third floor outside Kyle Morrow Room the exhibit, “Through a British Lens: The Photography and Captions of Julian and Juliette Huxley” focuses on Julian Huxley’s travel photography. As part of his research and work for UNESCO, Huxley took photographs of the people, animals, and land they visited during the 1940s-1960s.
On the sixth floor the focus is on Freshmen at Rice. From the late 1930s up until 1960s first year students were “welcomed” into Rice by wearing a variety of outfits such as beanies, red suspenders, and green dresses and white pinafore for the women. The exhibit includes photographs, beanies, and a green dress with pinafore.
Powderpuff at Rice is exhibited in the RMC Trophy Case featuring photographs and memorabilia from University archives collections. The Committee hopes you will take an opportunity to visit and explore these new exhibits!
What the DMC Can Do For You
DMC New Plotter
In summer of 2014, the DMC acquired a new plotter Z6800 to replace 8 years old plotter. The new plotter uses pigment ink to prevent poster from color fading issue. The printing process takes less time compared to Z5500. The new plotter supports a wide variety of printing media, but the DMC mainly provides semi-glossy and canvas matte printing materials with 36” and 60” wide in size respectively.
The printing service is limited to Rice faculty, staff and students. The outsiders must become a member of Friends of Fondren to have access to DMC printing service. To become a member of Friends of Fondren, visit: https://library.rice.edu/about/friends-of-fondren/membership-enrollment
For more information about the DMC new plotter, visit http://library.rice.edu/services/dmc/resources/peripherals/printers/Designjet5500ps
DMC New Equipment
A portable professional camcorder was added to the DMC equipment collection this summer. In addition to its full HD feature, this new handy SD card video camera comes with audio adjustment feature, which allows users to record audio with much higher quality. This camcorder is ideal to record interviews, lectures, or music performances.
For more information, check out the DMC website at https://library.rice.edu/services/dmc/checkout/equipment/canon-xa10-hd-professional-camcorder
New staff member in Cataloging & Metadata Services
We are pleased to announce that our new part-time cataloger has begun work. His name is Richard Guinn and he is presently the Head of Technical Services at the UT School of Public Health in the Medical Center. Initially, Richard will be concentrating on copy cataloging but we will more-than-likely take advantage of his excellent skills in other areas, as needed.
Richard will be working in B52. Please stop by and say hi if you are in our neighborhood.