Cornell University Library Instruction, Research, and Information Services

News and Updates
July, 2002

IRIS Is Launched!

"There comes a moment when you have to stop revving up the car and shove it into gear."
David Mahoney, Corporate Mogul (and former president of the Good Humor Corporation)

I am pleased to report that we have concluded a successful six-month transition and the IRIS organization is officially launched! Special thanks goes to the members of the IRIS Transition Team-Pat Schafer (Chair), David Block, Linda Bryan, Paul Constantine, Lenore Coral, Susan Currie, John Dean, Carla DeMello, Nancy McGovern, and Nancy Skipper-and to the many members of the various task forces for their support and hard work.

Much has been accomplished in this past six months, which I'd like to share with you. You can also follow our progress on the IRIS communication Web site at http://www.library.cornell.edu/iris/index.html. Here you will find links to our vision statement, administrative structure, announcements, reports, policy statements, and a calendar of events. Click on the "What's New!" image to view the Library's New Student Reading Project Web site, designed by Carla DeMello and Lance Heidig.

Vision and Mission

The IRIS vision is to "bring individuals and information together." Our mission is to serve as a "vital component in the Library's goal of maintaining its place as the primary information resource for Cornell University." In fulfilling this mission, our primary focus will be on users, with the goal of providing high quality content, expanded access, responsive services, and greater learning opportunities.

Administration

Details on the IRIS administration, including an org chart, are available on the IRIS Web site at www.library.cornell.edu/iris/administration.html. Beginning this month, IRIS administration will be vested in two groups. The 7-member IRIS Cabinet will provide general oversight to all of IRIS, and deal with policy development, new initiatives, strategic planning, and CUL system-wide responsibilities. The IRIS Management Group will consist of the Cabinet plus the heads, coordinators, asst. directors and representatives of the various units comprising IRIS. We will meet on a monthly basis to share information, discuss various initiatives, and develop team-based approaches to issues/projects.

An IRIS-wide Responsibilities Group, to be chaired by Susan Currie, will assess the role, functions, and resources for IRIS-wide support and coordination in areas such as technology, network administration, budgeting, research, design, communication, and public programming.

Departures and Arrivals

Africana Library

Eric Acree takes up his duties this week as Africana Librarian. He will be working closely with David Block and others in developing the World Area Collections program.

Collection Development

After twenty-five years in the Library, David Brumberg will retire, effective August 1, 2002. David was the Director of the New York Historical Resources Center for the first twelve years of his tenure at Cornell. Since 1989 he has been full-time in Collection Development, serving as the History Bibliographer. We will all miss David's expertise, judgment, savvy, and, most of all, his indefatigable optimism. Conceding that David is irreplaceable, but recognizing the importance of continued development of the Library's history collections, I want to announce the following changes in responsibility and thank those who have agreed to take them on. First, David, himself, will return to the Library August 16th and manage the US history collections. Sarah How will assume responsibility for general and British and Commonwealth history. David Corson will develop the history of science holdings for the Olin stacks as well as curate the History of Science special collection. Will Sayers will expand his current responsibilities in French and Italian language and literature to include history of these areas. And Virginia Cole, recently PhD'ed in Medieval Studies, will serve as selector for Medieval history.

Other appointments in Collection Development include Yoram Szekely who will serve as Interim Coordinator of Collection Development for Olin and Uris from August 1- September 30. Martha Hsu will assume responsibility for training and staff development for new selectors. Fred Muratori will undertake collection development of Anglo-American literature and Lance Heidig will administer a special fund to support the New & Noteworthy Books Collection.

Information Services

Pat Schafer is assuming the position of Director of Information Services, which will include Reference Services, Access Services, ILS, and the Fine Arts and Music Libraries. We will miss Paul Constantine, who is heading to the University of Washington to become the Associate Director of Libraries for Research and Instructional Services. During his seven-year tenure at Cornell, Paul assumed leadership within the Library and nationally, especially in the area of digital reference services. Under his direction, Reference Services implemented "Chat" reference service at Cornell, initiated a collaborative pilot with the University of Washington to offer live reference service to both universities, and participated in the Library of Congress' Cooperative Digital Reference Services Project. While we are losing a Head of Reference Services, we are gaining a valuable collaborator at the University of Washington. With his departure, Bob Kibbee and Nancy Skipper will co-chair Reference Services. Three Reference Assistants-Nicole Brown, Deborah Raftus, and Jennie Abrahamson-are all leaving to go to graduate school and ultimately plan to become librarians! They will be missed and we are currently advertising for their replacements. Carmen Blankinship has been named Access Services Librarian, with responsibility for Circulation, Reserve, and Media in Olin, Uris, and Fine Arts. Cammie Hoffmier will report to Carmen for day-to-day operations of the Annex.

Instruction

We are actively recruiting for a Director for the newly constituted Department of Instruction-the position description is posted on our Web site. Erla Heyns will chair the search committee; the rest of the committee membership is being finalized. Lance Heidig and Tony Cosgrave will serve as Instruction Librarians in this new department.

Web Librarian

I am pleased to announce that Maureen Morris has been appointed the Web Librarian for CUL. In addition to her Reference duties, Maureen will be devoting her time to implementing the recommendations of the Gateway Redesign Committee Report. She will be assisted by Carrie Benedict and Greg Hunt within IRIS and will chair the Gateway Redesign Implementation Committee.

Other Changes

It is with great regret that we say goodbye to Lynn Bertoia, who will become the Administrative Assistant for CUL Administration in Room 201 Olin. Lynn will be sorely missed for her hard work, patience, artistic talents, and perseverance-especially when it comes to setting up meetings with lots of players and busy schedules. We will be hiring a new Administrative Assistant for IRIS Admin. In the meantime, we welcome Greg Hunt, who will divide his time between IRIS and Library Administration. He will provide technical support for the Wason and South Asia collections and for the Gateway Redesign Implementation Committee.

So Where Did They Move to?

Keen observers will note that IRIS staffers have been switching offices lately. Here's the scorecard:

John Dean and Susan Currie have switched offices. John is now located in 101 E, Susan is in 215.
Mary Arsenault is sharing an office with Marie Powers in 101C Olin.
Sam Hultzman has moved to the Olin Circulation Office.
Linda Miller, Special Projects Librarian in Preservation and Collection Maintenance, will move into an office next to Barbara Eden, the Associate Director of the Department, in B32.
Carmen Blankinship, Access Services Librarian, will move into Linda's old office in 101D.
Christina Bucko has moved from 213 to 215 Olin to assume her duties as Coordinator of Technology and Finance.
Carla DeMello and Kimberly Gazzo have moved to 213 Olin as Design Coordinator and Design Assistant respectively.
Bill Kehoe is on loan from D-LIT for the next year to work on Project Prism. He will be moving to the Research Department in 215 Olin this week.
Bob Kibbee will move into Paul Constantine's office in 106.
Lance Heidig will move into Bob's office.
Ida Martinez, the incoming Library Intern, will begin her rotation in Reference and will move into Lance's office.

New IRIS Committees

Committee on Cultural Events

Barbara Eden and Lance Heidig will chair this new committee, which will work in cooperation with the Rare and Manuscripts Collection and the Public Affairs Department in coordinating exhibits on Olin First Floor and public and cultural events in Olin, Uris, and Kroch. The Committee will also coordinate the New & Noteworthy Books Collection. An N&N group has already been meeting to plan a revitalized program and prepare for the New Student Reading Initiative. Members of the N&N group include:

Lance Heidig (chair)
Carole Atkinson
Joel Copenhagen
Carla DeMello (ex officio)
Linda Miller
Thomas Riker
Other members of the Committee on Cultural Events will be appointed shortly.

IRIS Public Computing Committee

This committee will meet on a regular basis to address any technical issues, new programs, or software that affects public services in IRIS. This group will work with D-LIT and other units within CUL as needed for public computing issues. Committee members include:

Tony Cosgrave (chair)
Susan Currie
Oliver Habicht
Rick Lightbody
Lenore Coral
Thomas Hahn
Carmen Blankinship

IRIS Technical Committee

Technical support will be coordinated centrally within IRIS to ensure consistent, stable frontline technical assistance as well as to manage special projects. The Committee will be responsible for networking, backup solutions, inventory, purchase and disposal of equipment and software, security, and liaison with Desktop Services and local technical support providers. Committee members include:

Susan Currie (chair)
Chris Bucko
Rick Lightbody
Carrie Benedict
Chuck Raniewicz
Nancy McGovern (ex officio)
Tony Cosgrave (representing IRIS Public Computing Committee)

Reports and Updates

The IRIS Web site provides links to a growing number of reports. Already posted is:

Joseph Branin's PowerPoint presentation, "From Collection Development to Collection Management to Knowledge Management: The Evolving Nature of Collections Work in Research Libraries"
Christian Boissonnas' "Report on Collection Development"
The IRIS Transition Team's Technology Task Force Final Report will be posted later this week. Stay tuned for more.

Each month we will bring you additional updates and highlights of moves, renovations, and new programs within IRIS. And as always, please let us know if you have any questions or comments. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks, Anne