Cornell Undergraduate Information Competency Initiative: From Concept to Institute
Leah Solla
The Information Competency Initiative grew from the CUL Priority Objective Implementation Team #3, created in 2005 in response to growing awareness of information fluency issues in higher education. The team was charged to work with faculty and other campus partners to evaluate the needs of the Cornell community with regard to skills for scholarly and professional research, information evaluation, management, and communication. Over the next two years, the team developed documents that outline core and subject-based competencies for undergraduate students and engaged campus partners in dialogue about information competency and learning objectives. The team surveyed the landscape of other institutions' experiences integrating information fluency into higher education curricula, and exchanged site visits with the UC Berkeley Mellon Institute and Library/Faculty Fellowship for Undergraduate Research, chosen as a promising model for Cornell because of its similar size and academic environment.
The UC Berkeley Institute, supported by a Mellon Foundation grant, operated from 2003-2007 and focused on developing student research skills through library-faculty partnership. The program brought together administrators, faculty, librarians, educational technologists, and other pedagogical experts in a Summer Institute that provided the faculty fellows with a stipend and a team of campus support personnel to help redesign course assignments to incorporate information fluency. Based on the success of the Institute programs, UC Berkeley received further funding from the Mellon Foundation to launch the Undergraduate Student Learning Initiative to expand the focus on learning goals and evaluation procedures to all undergraduate programs.
From left: Kuei-Chui Chen, Institute Fellow; Camille Andrews, Institute Co-Chair; Kathy Berggren, Institute Facilitator; Laurel Hester, Lecturer, Neurobiology and Behavior; and Jim Morris-Knower, Implementation Team
The CUL team recommended building on the experience of the UC Berkeley Institute through collaboration with UC Berkeley to demonstrate the viability and adaptability of the model for the Cornell community. The timing of this recommendation with the departure of the former Cornell University Librarian presented significant challenges to obtaining external funding to support a pilot program at Cornell. Undaunted, the team put the proposal to the university administration and was rewarded with an internal grant from the Interim University Librarian and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education to create a pilot institute for June 2008. To prepare for the institute, the CUL based team expanded to include campus partners from the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Academic Technology Services and User Support of CIT, the Office of Information Technologies, and several faculty members from diverse colleges. UC Berkeley hosted a workshop to present key aspects of the Institute/Fellows program as training for the Cornell team. The three-day workshop solidified the team and laid the foundation for a unique Cornell-specific institute.
Faculty were invited to apply for the institute, and eight applicants were selected to participate in the pilot with the goal of integrating research skills into one class assignment. The summer session was held from June 16 – 20, 2008, and launched right to the heart of the matter with a panel of undergraduate students commenting on their perspectives on library-based research. After a frank discussion by the participants on their Aha! research moments (“bad research does get published”), and a case study on the morass of implications surrounding digital literacy, the institute was off to a roaring start (my head certainly was full the first day). The program continued just as intensely, aided perhaps by the campus email blackout, through discussions around the library perspective, assignment writing, deep learning strategies, technology planning, peer feedback, and TA perspectives. Participating faculty were partnered with librarians, technology staff, and teaching experts and worked throughout the institute to revise assignments and syllabi. The week ended with a report out from each partner-cluster on the implementation plan for each class for the following year. Press coverage of the Institute was picked up by various local and national education news sources, intrigued by the prospect of “Research Methods ‘Beyond Google.’”
The feedback on the summer session was overwhelmingly positive. Participants reported that it supported their needs for revising their courses and wished for more opportunities for discussion and conversation. The need to engage the administration in more support for teaching and to encourage more investment of faculty time to address core issues of information competency was expressed repeatedly in wrap-up discussions and evaluations. The first follow-up meeting of the institute will be a group lunch to share progress on class work since the summer session and to discuss continuing challenges. Regular gatherings throughout the year will include lectures from education experts, further discussion of digital literacy, presentations of redesigned assignments and outcomes, and assessment of the program.
Clare van den Blink and Tony Cosgrave
When the Information Literacy Priority Implementation Team first met in January 2005, the discussion swirled around the importance of involving faculty and partners in evaluating and identifying information competencies for the undergraduate research experience at Cornell. In his inaugural speech in September 2006, President Skorton put the question to the Cornell community, “What specific steps should be taken to more meaningfully integrate the research and creative focus of the university into the undergraduate curriculum?” With collaboration from partners, the team has demonstrated that a model of broad-based cross-campus partnership can work on the Cornell campus.
The pilot also indicated a strong need to more fully address new information concerns and technologies as well as the traditional research skills and collections. The team is now focusing on the future sustainability of an expanded institute that would address the pedagogical uses across Cornell of both new technologies and the information competencies required to function in a distributed and rapidly changing environment. A top priority is to enable opportunities for staff development in all areas of instruction and information competency, including the nascent Library Instruction Partnership Program (LIPP) which debuted in August. Stay tuned for the next evolution of this initiative and its dedicated team.
Committee members: Camille Andrews (co-chair), Stuart Basefsky, Tony Cosgrave, Somaly Kim Wu, Baseema Krkoska, Janet McCue, Thomas Mills (co-chair), Leah Solla
Campus partners: Kathy Berggren (Communications), Keith Kjortshoj (Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines), Tracy Mitrano (IT Policy), Steve Pond (Music), Elliot Shapiro (Knight Institute), Claire van den Blink (Academic Technology Services), David Way (Center for Teaching Excellence)
Implementation team members: Bonna Boettcher, Medha Devare, Barbara Friedman (Academic Technology Services), Lance Heidig, Eric Howd (Academic Technology Services), Keith Jenkins, Jim Morris-Knower, Mary Newhart, Kim Nicholson (Academic Technology Services), Katherine Reagan
Library Instruction Partner Program (LIPP)
Tony Cosgrave
The charge of the PSEC Instruction Committee is to "provide leadership in maintaining a library-wide commitment to effective instruction" and "facilitate or assist with providing educational opportunities for library instructors." To help address this charge, the Committee has created a new program called the Library Instruction Partner Program (LIPP).
Committee members and a few additional experienced library instructors participated in a four part "train the trainer" series with David Way, Director of Instructional Support at The Center for Teaching Excellence. During this series David modeled his approach for coaching teaching faculty. LIPP will provide similar coaching and collaboration services for library instructors.
The first of the four part program was a general planning meeting where Committee members and David discussed the goals and outcomes of the program and mapped out the sequence of the sessions. We decided to have a Committee member be the teacher while David modeled the planning and feedback sessions as other Committee members observed. Camille Andrews was kind enough to volunteer to be the instructor.
The second meeting was a planning meeting with David and Camille. Topics covered during this meeting included: specifying learning outcomes, time budgeting strategies, beginning the class, teaching strategies, checking for understanding, and reactions.
David Way, at front of classroom, pauses as Camille Andrews, front row right, shares what it was
like to be the trainer in the "train the trainer" series.
The third session was a mock workshop that Camille conducted. David was present to observe and take notes and the other Committee members were Camille's students. It was a ninety minute class held in the Uris Library Electronic Classroom.
During the fourth and final meeting, David provided Camille with his feedback on her workshop. It started with Camille's point of view and some positive remarks about the workshop. David then reviewed her goals, shared his observations, and provided feedback on the following topics: monitoring time use; reviewing learning outcomes; judging class length; rethinking planning; analyzing what happened; scripting activities; time budgeting; ending the class; checking for understanding; using handouts; checking where we are in the process; checking in and closure.
Portions of the series were videotaped and David created a fine two-DVD set with scene selections representing each of the steps in the process. Copies are available on request. Please contact me if you would like a copy.
We introduced LIPP at a kickoff event on Friday, August 15, at 9am in Olin 106. A section of the Committee's Web site is devoted to LIPP and the application form is available there. To date we have three participants in the program. We look forward to receiving more applications soon. In the spring, the Committee is planning to host a forum for partners to share their experiences with LIPP.
PSEC Instruction Committee members: Eric Acree, Camille Andrews, Ken Bolton, Tony Cosgrave (chair), Pat Court (PSEC liaison), Thomas Mills, Lynn Thitchener, Jaron Turner
Other LIPP partners: Lance Heidig, Angela Horne, Jim Morris-Knower, Leah Solla, Xian Wu
CUL Staff Prepare Historic Hip Hop Collection for Research
Katherine Reagan
In July 2007 the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections acquired a significant archive documenting the origins of hip hop culture in the Bronx during the 1970s and early 1980s. A gift from author and former music industry executive Johan Kugelberg, the collection’s arrival has made Cornell the home of the best research collection of its kind in an American university. Students, faculty, and scholars have rallied around the archive, establishing a hip hop advisory board and planning a gala conference and celebration welcoming the collection to campus on October 31 – November 1, 2008.
What happens when a special collection--comprised of several thousand individual items in multiple formats--arrives in a truck from New York City in no particular order and without an item list? Cataloguers, archival processors, and interns get to work sorting, describing, reboxing, and labeling.
Cornell’s hip hop collection features vinyl records, CD’s, hand made party and club fliers, books and magazines, and a treasure trove of photographs by Joe Conzo Jr.--“the man who took hip hop’s baby pictures” according to the New York Times.
LTS catalogers Margaret Nichols, Jim Alberts, Roswitha Clark, and Liz Muller are busy cataloging the vinyl records, many of them unique (search Voyager call number 8021 to see more than 700 hip hop albums cataloged to-date). Julia Parker, RMC’s archival processing assistant, carefully assigns each album a sound recording number and box location, ensuring artifact security and scholars the ability to locate what they need.
Music professor Steven Pond, center, looks at the materials with interns Sam Kilroy Kugelberg, left,
and Gabriel McKee; photograph by Katherine Reagan
The party fliers and photographs posed a particular challenge, having arrived in big plastic tubs without associated metadata. To make the collection navigable by researchers, the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections hosted two enthusiastic interns this summer: M.L.S. degree candidate Gabriel McKee and New York high school junior Sam Kugelberg from the Dwight School. Gabriel and Sam identified the hip hop pioneers, club venues, and events represented in Joe Conzo’s photographs of the Bronx, devised a logical organizational scheme for the original club and party fliers, and re-housed and labeled more than 1,000 items during their five days at Cornell.
Thanks to this hard working team, the collection is well on track to meet the numerous eager researchers who have inquired about working with the collection, including the future students in Professor Steve Pond’s spring 2009 seminar, Music 2501, “Discovering Hip-Hop: Research and the Cornell Hip-Hop Collection.”
For more on the Library’s “Born in the Bronx” hip hop collection and conference, visit the web site. To learn more about Joe Conzo, Jr.’s hip hop photographs go to the video at YouTube.
Annual Library Picnic
The best picnic ever!! (photos) That's the word on the quad that I heard last Friday during the library summer picnic. From the food (brilliant choice, Dinosaur BBQ), to the emphasis on recycling, to the flowers, the weather, and yes, the drinks, the library picnic was beautifully planned and delivered. Special thanks goes to members of the Summer Picnic Committee and others who pitched in on the day itself: Mary Arsenault, Carla Bahn, Lynn Bertoia, Rachel Brill, Ronnie Clark, Tom Cotton, Rhea Garen, Tiffany Howe, Ivy Kim, CJ Lance, Bronwyn Mohlke, Adam Spry, Ken Tiddick.
Anne Kenney
My Citizenship Journey
Virgilio Pinto
Virgilio at the swearing in ceremony; photograph provided by Virgilio Pinto
On May 8, after thirteen years in the making, I became a U.S. citizen in a naturalization ceremony at the county courthouse in Ithaca, N.Y. I invited a close friend, Patty, people from church, and other miscellaneous people whom I know to witness the wonderful and moving occasion.
The welcoming address was given by a local Ithacan and fellow immigrant, Maria Coles. Her words were very inspiring. All attending were treated to a wonderful rendition of “America the Beautiful” by a group of musicians from the Ithaca Talent Education School. After the ceremony we were treated to refreshments as well as flooded with information from fellow citizens eager to get all 46 newly minted citizens registered to vote.
All this started in 1994, in Tanzania, East Africa. My parents had moved here from Goa, India, shortly after their marriage, and so I was born and raised in Tanzania. In November of that year my mother, Cecilia Pinto, received notification that after twenty years of waiting her request for immigration via family sponsorship had been accepted. It was a happy coincidence as I had been accepted to start at St. Lawrence University in the fall of 1995. I immigrated with my family the following summer and started life in America as a permanent resident. Fast forward through college and living and working in the Ithaca area in 2007. Rising taxes that I could not vote for/against as a non-citizen and increasing disenchantment with the current political situation pushed me toward applying. I got my application in before the end of July 2007.
Every couple of months I zipped along the citizenship path: fingerprinting, interview, and finally on May 13, 2008, the goal was obtained. A new citizen was born: Virgilio Pinto.
Unknown to me, May 13 wasn’t the end of this story. Tuesday, August 19, at noon, Brennen, the Fine Arts Library’s evening supervisor, came to my office and said, “Martha would like to meet us in the seminar room.” I was shocked! I knew Martha, my supervisor, was aware that I had hurt my knee, and usually when she calls a meeting she gives me advance warning. I limped my way to the room and halfway there met her as she rushed past. My tentative inquiry was brushed off, leaving me perplexed.
Virgilio with signed certificate and judge who presided over the ceremony; photograph provided by Virgilio Pinto
I was a little out of sorts as I opened the seminar room door and saw that there was some kind of festive gathering. The table had a nice tablecloth and around it were people from Olin and other libraries. Then I turned around and opposite me on the wall was a huge banner saying, “Congratulations on your citizenship, Virgilio!” I was dumbfounded! I had to hold onto the table as I tried to let it sink in. A stupendous spread, a couple of surprise gifts, and many heart warming congratulations—a great way to end this tale.
Virgilio Pinto recently became sworn in as a United States citizen.
The Fine Arts Library would like to recognize this achievement at a surprise reception
next Tuesday August 19, from 12:30 – 2 pm in our Library Seminar Room.
Please join us for some light refreshments.
See here for more party photos.
Women Swimmin’ 2008
Sally Lockwood
When my kayaker and canoeist friends congratulated me on my third consecutive swim for Women Swimmin’ to benefit Hospicare and Palliative Care Services of Tompkins County this past August 9, several told me that they "only did the boating" this year, implying that their role was unimportant. In response, I have a message for all boaters: without your participation, this event could never happen!
It's dangerous to swim in Cayuga Lake unaccompanied for several reasons: one, swimmers depend on you to keep us on course! We can't see where we’re going even with goggles. Two, you keep us motivated! We can't count how many times we felt energized by a few unsolicited words such as, "You're almost at the halfway marker!" "Keep going, you're looking good!" "You're incredible!" Three, you protect us. We could easily be run over by a boat--we're very difficult to see in the middle of the lake even with brightly colored bathing caps. But the main reason boaters are needed is to monitor for swimmers who start to falter. Assistance is immediately available.
Another comment I heard many times was, “But I can only sponsor you for a small amount.” We can’t emphasize enough that this need not be a deterrent to sponsoring a swimmer! The majority of my sponsors donated between $10 and $50. We quickly learn that many donors sponsor multiple swimmers and to be fair they divvy their overall contribution equally between swimmers. Moreover, it’s better for Hospicare to have significantly more small donors than a few large donors because it demonstrates the broad community support this event garners. This year a record $249K was raised for Hospicare.
The swim itself took less than an hour and I raised a little over $1200.00 toward the record sum. Yet Hospicare’s contribution lasts a lifetime. If you’re unfamiliar with the priceless work of Hospicare check out excerpts of a local documentary in progress by Sue Perlgut, founder of Close to Home productions. Her film brings to life what Hospicare gives to our community--family members, volunteers, staff, patients, and medical personnel are all filmed. One might assume that it is depressing to be around dying people. Well, yes, it is. It is also true that amongst great sadness one finds great joy.
My friend Janie was diagnosed with ALS in July 2007. She entered Hospicare in February 2008 and died July 26, 2008 at 66 years old. Although cheerful and outgoing by nature and bursting with spirit and artistic creativity, I saw her suffer periods of overwhelming anxiety before she entered Hospicare. Once admitted, I noted with great relief that she was relaxed and well cared for. Her skin was soft and supple from the massages the nurses gave her almost daily. Her hair was well groomed and washed. Her eyes lit up when visitors walked in whether she knew them or not. She had always been interested in life around her and ALS never changed that despite the horrible restrictions it placed on her every movement. She loved her room at Hospicare and her artist’s eye appreciated the rolling hills and pond framed by her picture window. The bird feeder attracted goldfinches, cardinals, and blue jays, and even a family of ducks from the pond waddled over regularly to devour what the other birds dropped on the deck.
As ALS ravaged Janie’s body she could no longer speak. Janie was given the letter board originally designed for Carol Buckley, who passed away from ALS in June of 2005, to spell out letter by letter what she wanted to say. Being a poet and anticipating the “locked in syndrome” that ALS patients often suffer, she expressed her appreciation for her surroundings:
If my mind gets trapped inside
Just roll me to my sky-wide view
Where I will feast on cumulous and light
And tell you that art with just my eyes.
Janie always emphasized that she had lived a full life, did everything she ever wanted to do and more, and did not mind dying. For over thirty years, she produced hundreds of portraits, watercolor landscapes, conceptual art, performance pieces, poetry, essays, and photographs. Her musical talents ranged from flute quartet composition to jazz and gospel singing. But, as her ALS progressed, she remarked frequently that she was not ready to go. As the reality of dying becomes imminent, few of us are.
As Janie reached the end of her life, she was emotionally and physically drained. Like so many of our own families, Janie's family is spread out geographically. At Hospicare, professional staff and medical personnel were no more than a few feet away 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Rather than being nervous wrecks coping with the logistics of long-distance care, Janie’s family relaxed and made the most of the time they had left together. Moreover, they had the freedom to take a break when they needed without feeling guilty.
I don't want to imply that visiting a dying person is easy. On the contrary, it is overwhelmingly sad and frightening, especially watching the slow, cruel progression of a disease like ALS. I always went with a friend so we could depend on each other for mutual support. When I visited, I never knew what exactly I was supposed to do so I held Janie’s hand, rubbed her feet, told her what I did that week, and what I planned to do in the coming months. She seemed to love every second of our visits! Somehow, one of the last lines Janie dictated made sense of that sorrowful time for me:
The coin that pays for ecstasy is always stamped despair.
One cannot love empathically until one wanders there.
This past August, 275 women swam, 185 volunteers were in boats, and others volunteered at all sorts of necessary and interesting tasks. The 249K raised makes it possible for people like my friends Janie and our Olin Library colleague Carol Buckley to have the support and care they need when they are terminally ill. For the 2009 Women Swimmin’ Benefit for Hospicare and Palliative Care Services of Tompkins County I encourage you to sponsor a swimmer for any amount you can afford. Alternatively, volunteer to kayak or canoe with the swimmers across the lake. Or register to swim yourself and solicit sponsors. Or volunteer to assist with the logistics of creating such a huge event. 1.2 miles is a leisurely swim; there is no pressure because Women Swimmin’ is not a race. All of these roles make a huge difference in the lives of Hospicare staff, patients, and their families.
This year I recorded the boat ride on the Columbia to the east shore and posted it to YouTube so you can get a taste of how much fun we have at this event! I hope you will join me next August and the Cornell University Library team will be one of the biggest Women Swimmin’ teams ever.
People News
WELCOME
The Library welcomes Don Beyer, who has joined DLIT as part of the arXiv team. Don will be working as a consultant advisor for arXiv. He comes to the library from Cornell's Wilson Laboratory where he worked in the CLEO data acquisition team. He is thus no stranger to one of our core subject areas, high-energy physics. There are 409 articles on arXiv from the CLEO Collaboration. Outside of work, Don is an avid fisherman.
Carol Clune joined the Law Library staff as our night supervisor at the end of August. Carol is a graduate of Fordham University, Marymount Campus with a BA in studio art and art history. She also holds an Associate’s degree in Occupational Studies, Massage Therapy from the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences. Before coming to the Law Library, Carol was the weekend supervisor for Access Services at the Cornell Engineering Library and she worked at the Fordham University Gloria Gaines Memorial Library before coming to Cornell. We are extremely happy to have Carol join us at the Law Library. She is proving to be an excellent night supervisor and we plan to put her artistic talents to work also.
Please join us in welcoming Brennen Feint, the Fine Arts Library's new evening supervisor. Brennen comes to us as a recent graduate of Canisius College, where he majored in Management and had a minor in Human Resources. While at Canisius, Brennen worked in the library and eventually became the supervisor of his fellow student employees. Brennen is a native of Cortland, N.Y., and has some familiarity with the campus, but is still learning his way around the library system. FAL staff are delighted that Brennen decided to join us here at Sibley and wish him all the best in his new position.
Laura Krasnow has joined DLIT as part of the Digital Media Group. Laura will work as a digital photographer, project manager, and audio/video editor for DMG. Laura holds a degree in Film & Video Preservation from the George Eastman House's School of Film Preservation, as well as an MFA in Photography & New Media from the Art Institute of Chicago. She has an impressive work history, and has held such diverse positions as digital imaging specialist at University of Kentucky's Library for Special Collections, media asset manager for Kentucky Educational Television, and sound and picture editor for numerous Hollywood films. She is also a practicing artist and an expert cook. A native New Yorker, she is thrilled to be back in the area.
Welcome to Elena MacGurn, the new reference specialist at the Management Library. Elena brings tremendous industry experience from her position as senior marketing specialist for SHIFT Communications in San Francisco, California. She will serve as a member of the instruction and reference teams, and she will also be the library’s Webmaster. Elena received an MBA from San Francisco State University and her BA from University of Alaska and Far Eastern State University. She is a former Fulbright scholar and is an avid member of Toastmasters.
Rachel McCarthy has joined Library Alumni Affairs and Development as program assistant. She replaces Alex Wolf who left in July to attend Harvard. Rachel has worked reunion for the past four years and is a Cornellian at heart. She holds both a BS and MPS from Cornell in Landscape Architecture and Floriculture & Ornamental Horticulture, respectively. With a strong customer service orientation, event planning experience, and program management success, Rachel will be an asset to Library AA&D.
Eisha Prather joined the Division of Rare and Manuscripts Collections as a collections assistant on September 10th. Eisha holds an MS in Library and Information Science from Simmons College ('07) and a BA in English literature from Maryville College ('96). Former jobs include working in the Cambridge Public Library and the Beatley Library, Simmons College. Most recently, Eisha was employed by the Departments of Classics and Romance Studies at Cornell.
The Library welcomes Steve Rokitka, who has just joined DLIT as part of the Digital Media Group (DMG) Web Development Group. Steve will be working as a Web and print designer for DLIT. Steve holds a degree in professional and technical communication from RIT, and has been working as a Web designer in various Cornell University departments including University Communications and the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Steve also has his own design company, Spinetree Media, and is an accomplished musician.
Kathryn (Kate) Wilkinson accepted a position as a technical services assistant in the Music Library on September 8th. She has a Master’s in music--cello performance from the University of Montana ('03) and a BA in music education from Syracuse University ('01). Prior to CUL, Kate worked at Hickey's Music Center in Ithaca, as well as serving as a substitute cellist for the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Before that she was an adjunct instructor of cello in Montana. She has performed with the Syracuse Symphony, the Boise Philharmonic, and the String Orchestra of the Rockies.
PROMOTIONS/TRANSFERS
Carole Clune has transferred from the Engineering Library to the Law Library.
With Michael Friedman's departure from the Veterinary Library Cindy Lamb has increased her hours to full time and has taken over interlibrary loan and document delivery duties, combining that with some of her former technical services duties. This leaves a 30 hour a week position that is being redefined and will be posted when funding allows.
Mary Newhart has transferred from the Catherwood Library to the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution as the Assistant Director.
CONGRATULATIONS
The Weill Cornell Medical Library is pleased to announce Rhonda Allard, manager of the Myra Mahon Patient Resource Center, is an American Library Association (ALA) 2008 Spectrum Scholar. Rhonda is one of two recipients chosen to receive an award of $6,500 pledged jointly by the Medical Library Association (MLA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM). MLA and NLM are committed to supporting minority students in their goals of becoming health sciences information professionals and to addressing the vital need for minority representation in health sciences libraries. Ms. Allard is currently enrolled in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and expects to complete the program and receive her Master of Library and Information Science in April 2009.
Photograph provided by Rhonda Allard
Congratulations to Library Communications for their work on the Library's 2007 Annual Report which recently earned a design Award of Excellence in the category of annual/donor report by the University and College Designers Association (ucda.com). The judges of the 38th annual design competition evaluated 1,600 print entries, awarding 178 an Award of Excellence. The report will be on display, along with the other winners, at UCDA's annual conference this fall. Writers on this project were Ellen Marsh and Chris Philipp. Special congratulations go to Carla DeMello for her unique and inspiring design. Copies of the Mind Body Soul annual report can be found throughout the libraries or can be requested from Lynn Bertoia.
Photograph provided by Carla DeMello
Congratulations to all who had a part in the New Student Reading Project. Once again CUL staff made significant contributions to this Project. The graphics for the Web site, posters, and bookmarks were created by Carla DeMello and the Web design is by Jenn Colt-Demaree, both from Library Communications. CRIO librarians Wendy Wilcox and Lance Heidig contributed information and links about the book to the Web site, and also co-authored the Reading Project blog. Bob Kibbee and his department created the map exhibit, Lincoln at Gettysburg: Mapping the Paths to the Address, mounted on the back wall of the Media Center, to put the ideas and events discussed in a geographic context. You can read about the exhibit on the blog, but special thanks go to the Preservation Laboratory for mounting the display in this challenging location. Susann Argetsinger, Map Assistant and Preservation Technician, and Karen West did a spectacular job of making this exhibit come alive. Thanks also to Nij Tontisirin, Student Map Assistant, who once again helped with scanning, plotting and massaging the map images you see in the exhibit. Howard Brentlinger helped with map selection and wrote the annotations for the section on Lincoln's route to Gettysburg. Have a look at the Web site, map exhibit, and the blog, and don’t forget to visit RMC’s Web site on the Gettysburg Address, celebrating our rare copy in Lincoln’s own hand. Lincoln at Gettysburg is a fascinating book and the Library’s contribution to the New Student Reading Project is substantial.
Photograph by Bethany Silfer
Happy Birthday to Carmen Blankinship! We won’t say how old she is, but we do know that 65 brightly-colored balloons adorned her office ceiling on Friday morning, September 19, thanks to Bethany Silfer and her Access Services folks. See here for more photos of Carmen's celebration.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New CUL Organizational Structure
Take One: August 12, 2008 (excerpts)
Anne Kenney
I want to thank those of you who were able to make one of the All Staff meetings this week for attending and for your questions on the new administrative structure for the Library. For those of you who were not able to attend, you can find a link to my Power Point presentation at (http://www.library.cornell.edu/staffweb/Aug.%2011&12,%202008%20All%20Staff%20Meeting.pdf). For those of you with very limited time, here are the highlights from the reorganization. There will be five major divisions for the library system, each headed by an Associate University Librarian. These include:
1. Scholarly Resources & Special Collections
We will conduct a search for the AUL who will lead this division. Staff who will report to this AUL include those in RMC and Kroch Asia as well as Terry Ehling, Peter Hirtle, and Kizer Walker. Until that search is completed, John Saylor will continue to serve as the Interim AUL for Collections and Scholarly Communication and the Kroch Asia curators will report to him; Elaine Engst will continue to report to me until the AUL is appointed.
2. Teaching, Research, Outreach & Learning Services represents the public face of the Library and all unit libraries will report to this AUL.
Effective Oct 15, Janet McCue will become the AUL for Teaching, Research, Outreach & Learning Services. She will step down as Director of Mann Library (information about interim arrangements at Mann Library will be forthcoming soon). Effective September 1, Kornelia Tancheva will become Director of Olin/Uris libraries, with an initial portfolio consisting of the Department of Collections, Reference, Instruction, and Outreach (CRIO) and Access Services. She will report to me until Janet assumes her new position. Deborah Schmidle will become the Director of CRIO. Effective Oct 15, I am abolishing the positions of AUL for Life Sciences and AUL for Subject Libraries Group. Jean Poland will focus her efforts on leading some special assignments, beginning with developing a library program plan for the Fine Arts Library, in collaboration with Martha Walker.
3. Division of Information Technology
Effective September 1, Oya Rieger will become the Associate University Librarian for Information Technology.
4. Central Library Operations
Effective September 1, Scott Wicks will become the Associate University Librarian for Central Library Operations.
5. Administrative Services
Effective September 1, Lee Cartmill will become the Associate University Librarian for Administrative Services. Xin Li will become Assistant University Librarian for strategic initiatives, reporting through Lee to me (in much the same way that I report to the Provost, but through the Vice Provost who is able to respond to issues and provide administrative guidance on a daily basis). Zsuzsa Koltay will become the Director of Research & Assessment; Ellen Marsh will continue to report to me but through Xin Li; Pat Schafer will remain Director of Service Strategies, reporting to Lee and focusing her efforts on Olin renovation and the library annex planning.
Additional Changes in the Library's Reorganization
Hello all-- I wanted to update you on some additional changes in the Library's reorganization as they relate to the establishment of the Central Library Operations portfolio under Scott Wicks. Effective Oct. 15, 2008, Barbara Berger Eden will assume oversight for the Library Annex, working directly with Cammie Wyckoff, in addition to her management of Preservation and Collection Maintenance. In tandem, to consolidate the supervision of all public service points in Olin/Uris, the Maps and Media collections, which were part of the Department of Preservation and Collection Maintenance, will be combined into a single Department of Maps and Media, headed by Bob Kibbee. This unit will report to the Director of Olin/Uris, Kornelia Tancheva. Behind-the-scenes support for processing, preservation, and collection maintenance for this new unit will continue to be provided by the Department of Preservation and Collection Maintenance. I am grateful to Scott Wicks, Kornelia Tancheva, Barbara Eden, Cammie Wyckoff, Bob Kibbee, and others for assisting in this realignment. If you have any questions or comments, please let me, Scott, Barbara, or Kornelia know. Thanks, Anne (To cu-lib, Fri, 03 Oct 2008)
Interim Director of Mann Library
Dear Colleagues, I am very pleased to announce that Mary Ochs will become the Interim Director of Mann Library effective October 15th. Mary is uniquely qualified for this new role. Not every librarian can claim experience in almost every department of the library but Mary can. In her 20+ year career, she has left her mark on collection development, instruction, reference, interlibrary loan, and cataloging. In addition, she has compiled an impressive track record in grant writing, including awards from the Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Mary who doesn't like to fly has conquered her fear and travelled to Zambia, India, Bangladesh, and . . . Seattle--sometimes in the same month! Mary's undergraduate degree is from CALS (BS, '79) and she did her graduate work at Syracuse (MLS, '82). To help her stay connected to Cornell students, she keeps encouraging her kids to come to Cornell. (Andy graduated from Cornell last year and Dan is currently enrolled in the AEM program.) I can't imagine a more "uniquely qualified" person for the position of Interim Director and I hope you agree. Please join me in congratulating, Mary, and wishing her much luck in her new role! Janet (To cu-lib, Mon, 15 Sep 2008)
Second Annual ALS Walk
Bethany Silfer
The second annual ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) walk was held Saturday, September 20th, 2008. A group of roughly 150 people, including some past and present library staff, came out on a beautifully sunny day to raise awareness and much needed funds for research and treatment of patients afflicted by ALS. This year the Ithaca Walk brought in approximately $25,000 to help patients and their families, as well as researchers to find a cure for this debilitating disease.
Photograph by Bethany Silfer
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.” It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal chord--targeting in particular the motor neurons, those which control muscles throughout the body. As the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. For people living with ALS, essential functions such as walking, speech, swallowing, and breathing are significantly diminished. In its advanced stages, the disease often leaves victims completely paralyzed, and as it progresses eventually leads to death. As you can well imagine, ALS is a devastating illness for its victims and their loved ones.
The ALS Association provides wide ranging assistance to those affected by the disease, including research and advocacy efforts on local, state, and national levels. Many of the 2008 participants of the ALS walk in Ithaca were walking in memory of Carol J. Buckley. Carol died of ALS in June of 2005. She had worked for the Access Services department of Olin/Kroch/Uris Libraries since 1990. We hope to spread the word sooner next year and have more of you join us in September of 2009.
Library Events Calendar
This is a reminder to enter your events on the Library events calendar. The calendar has several purposes. Public Viewing: this allows everyone in the world to view an event offered by the Library that is open to the public. These types of events may include exhibitions and openings, lectures, workshops, etc. This public view will help make sure that people are aware of your event (in some instances, you might also want to enter your event in the Cornell University calendar as well) and help you choose a date for your event that does not conflict with other library activities. Staff Only Viewing: while you will also be able to see all public events, this option allows you to enter or view meetings or other types of events that are open only to library staff and can be viewed only by Library staff, not the public. This is a great tool designed to help you avoid conflicts not only with public events, but with other library meetings that may be vying for the same attendance (an HR training session that is scheduled the same day as Academic Assembly, for example). After you log in, you will be able to view all events, with staff-only events highlighted for ease of identification. If you do not have access to the Library event calendar or need quick training on how to use it, please contact Bonnie Bailey in Library HR or call 5-7021. The university is currently testing a new open source calendaring system and at some point we will be evaluating its suitability for our purposes. In the meantime, please continue to use our current event calendar that, while a bit clunky to use, serves the goal of maximizing attendance at an event, whether for only staff or for the public.
Director of Human Resources Search
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008
To: cu-lib
From: Lee Cartmill
Subject: Director of Human Resources search update
Dear CUL,
I am disappointed to have to tell you that the search for Susan Markowitz's successor as director of library human resources has not yet reached a successful conclusion and I have closed the initial search. While I decide on how to proceed from here, I want to announce plans for the interim. I have asked both Linda Bryan and Lyndsi Prignon to serve as acting co-directors of library human resources and am grateful they have accepted this additional responsibility.
Linda will continue to have primary responsibility for organizational development, library training initiatives, and employee development services. Lyndsi will continue to have primary responsibility for operations (including payroll) and will add support for academic searches to the search support she currently provides. Lyndsi will also serve as the Library's representative to the university HR council. During this interim period, Lyndsi and Linda will share responsibility for employee relations and anyone needing such support is encouraged to contact either one of them.
The three of us will discuss and address any new or existing policy issues or questions that may arise during this time. You should, however, feel free to contact any of us with any HR related items as we will be working together closely to ensure all of the library's needs are met. I will keep you posted as future plans develop. Thanks for your support and understanding.
Fine Arts Library Review
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008
To: cu-lib
From: "Anne R. Kenney"
Subject: Update on the Fine Arts Library/Knight Visual Resources Facility review
I want to update you on the report of a task group to consider the potential merger of the Fine Arts Library and the Knight Visual Resources Facility. Task Force members included Lee Cartmill, Danielle Mericle, Jean Poland, and Martha Walker from the Library and Judith Bernstock (Department of History of Art and Visual Studies), Christian Otto (Department of Architecture), Eric Rebillard (Classics), Peter Turner (College of Architecture, Art, and Planning),and Margaret Webster (Knight Visual Resources Facility).
Stan Taft, interim dean of the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, and I charged the task force to assess the advantages and disadvantages of merging administratively the Fine Arts Library and Knight Visual Resources Facility under the direction of Cornell University Library. We asked for a recommendation on the process, time line, and costs associated with such a merger in response to a recommendation from consultants who had reviewed the operations of both facilities.
Association of Research Libraries directors and Visual Resources Association members were surveyed about their current administrative and support situations regarding visual resource facilities. While respondents reported change is underway in their institutions, there emerged no obvious, single, appropriate way to combine library and visual resources facilities. Advantages and disadvantages of combining library and visual resources facilities seemed to center on maintaining user satisfaction and control and concerns about embracing new models.
Essentially the same issues surfaced in regard to Cornell University. Faculty and librarians consistently repeated that it is paramount to maintain the currently satisfactory level of instructional services for faculty. The task force reviewed current budget information and thought combining the budgets might provide some opportunities for synergy.
The task force did not reach consensus around a single set of recommendations. In addition to the recommendations from the Consultants' Report to merge FAL and KVRF under the Library, the group considered incorporating KVRF activities into the Library's Digital Library and Information Technology division (DLIT) as well as developing a media service that would eventually serve all of Cornell's image and audiovisual needs. The task force developed three possible scenarios:
1) combine FAL and KVRF in an overarching unit with an administrative head,
2) incorporate KVRF into the DLIT structure,
3) create a CU-wide Media Center/Media Services unit building on DLIT and KVRF expertise.
Given the group's inability to reach a consensus, Stan and I agreed to defer any decision on a possible merger of FAL/KVRC at least until the recommendations can be reviewed with Kent Kleinman, the new Dean of AAP.
Olin Library Renovation
As plans for the Olin renovation reach the design phase, you may want to keep the Web site url handy (http://www.library.cornell.edu/RenovateOlin/). There you will find links to the recent article in the Cornell Chronicle, Guiding Principles, Focus Groups, and information as it becomes available.
GOOD-BYE
Good-bye and good luck to the following staff who recently left the Library: Linda Mapes, Engineering; Staci Rogers, Hotel School; Elizabeth Stewart-Marshall, LTS-ERM; Mary Newhart, Catherwood Library; Theresa Wells, Mann; and Jane Znamirowski, Library Administrative Operations.
Farewell
Karen Brummund, Fine Arts
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Karen Brummund, Digital Image Instruction Assistant for the Fine Arts Library and the Knight Visual Resources Facility, will be leaving Cornell. Karen's last day will be Wednesday, September 3. The positive news in all of this is that the art world, and art education in general, will have greater access to Karen's considerable artistic/creative/teaching skills. Karen has accepted a teaching position in the art department at the University of Rochester. I know that the staffs of both the KVRF and the FAL are delighted with Karen's appointment and wish her every success in her new role. (Martha Walker)
Zoe Stewart-Marshall, LTS
Zoe Stewart-Marshall left LTS on August 1, 2008. Zoe has become Assistant Director of Library Systems, User Services Development at OhioLINK in Columbus, OH. Zoe came to Cornell from the University of Hawaii in 2001 and was most recently electronic resources librarian in the Electronic Resources and Serials Management (ERSM) unit. We wish Zoe much success in her new position.
Staci Rogers, Hotel Library
Please join the staff of the Nestlé Library to say farewell to Staci Rogers on Thursday, September 11, 2:30-4:00 in the Nestlé Library, Statler Hall. Staci joined the Nestlé Library in January 2006 as Circulation Supervisor and became Assistant Librarian in September 2006. She is leaving Cornell to accept the position of Director of Collection Services at the Four County Library System in Vestal, NY. In the Nestlé Library, she has been a great team player who strived to provide students and faculty with excellent library service. At the Four County Library System, she will have the opportunity to provide library services to a much larger constituency. At the Nestlé Library, we will miss her contribution and her collegiality. Please join us to wish Staci the best of luck. (Don Schnedeker)
Retirements
Nancy Dean, Rare and Manuscript Collections
At an elegant retirement party in July (photos), close to a hundred colleagues, friends, and family joined to wish Nancy well. Elaine Engst opened the remarks and presented Nancy with several gifts from RMC. Others who spoke included Sandy Lipsky, now retired, and Gould Colman, former University Archivist, who reminisced about the early days with Nancy in the basement of Mann Library. Burton Huth, long-time staff member and colleague in Manuscripts and University Archives, told the story of a difficult patron requesting a genealogy for a confirmed bachelor, and only Nancy was able to convince the patron no genealogy for his (non-existent) offspring would be found.
The theme of the party was flowers as Nancy loves them. Her gifts from RMC staff reflected that theme. Nancy was given a necklace sporting a sea shell with real miniature flowers encapsulated in it; a lacquered top; a designer silk scarf to match; a miniature rose tree to provide everlasting memories of CUL; a gardening bag, complete with tools, gloves, kneeling pad, seeds, wind chimes, and an azalea to grow in a pot indoors; a framed print of Nancy with President Skorton from last year’s Recognition Dinner; a gift basket put together by RMC, with chocolates, Snoopy lemonade, (she loves Woodstock, who was also on the tin), yet another scarf, preserves, potholders, trivet, towels, Italian frizzante soda, chocolate biscuits, and more chocolate; the flower bouquet and corsage, which were beautiful, were from Tom Hickerson; memory book signed by her colleagues; and a lovely cake, a quarter of which she took home. She also had a champagne toast to wish her well. (Eli Brown)
See below for some of the speeches and tributes from this celebration.
Nancy Dean has worked at Cornell for forty-six years, and it’s been my pleasure and honor to have worked with her for almost thirty of those years. I have so many happy memories of our times together in the Department of Manuscripts and University Archives. Nancy taught me so much about the collections and about dealing with the whole range of patrons. Every month, she and I would review the “monthly report” that we produced of new collections and additions to collections. I was always amazed at the depth of Nancy’s knowledge. She enabled me to see connections among manuscript and archival collections and to see how they fit together.
Nancy and I also worked together on the department’s exhibition program. We compiled major exhibitions on the 40th anniversary exhibition of the department, on the history of city planning for the 50th anniversary of the City and Regional Planning at Cornell, for the Ithaca Centennial, for Cornell’s 125th anniversary, and on women’s history. This generally consisted of my madly pulling materials, and Nancy suggesting items, making sure that they were properly signed out, and creating detailed maps of each exhibit case, with every item carefully identified with its collection number and location. We always had too much material and had to agonize over what to include and what to leave out. Julia Parker typed each card and label, and typed them over if there was a problem. When everything was just right, we would install the materials in the many cases throughout Olin--easy for the flat cases, but hard for the wall cases in the old Rare Books Department, outside of Olin 101, and outside the Map Department. Those cases were backed in plywood, and putting in those little push pins that just caught the edge of the item always made deep dents in our fingers. It was a lot of work, but Nancy always stayed cheerful and kept me organized.
Since moving to Kroch, Nancy has remained one of the stalwarts of RMC. She continued to help generations of genealogists, with expertise, patience, and unfailing kindness. She probably knows more about Cornell family genealogy than most Cornell family members. For her achievements, she was honored with one of the Library’s first distinguished service awards, the Staff Outstanding Performance Award in 1999. Most of all, Nancy is one of the nicest people I know, and all of her colleagues would agree that her presence has made their work lives easier and more pleasant.
Last year, for her 45th anniversary, I was privileged to accompany Nancy to the University Service Awards dinner. As the longest serving employee present for that year, we were seated at President Skorton’s table. While I cannot match the honor for Nancy of having some of the University President’s undivided attention, I am, nevertheless, delighted to acknowledge Nancy’s many accomplishments upon her retirement today. But this is not a good-by; we’re looking forward to continuing to see Nancy many times over the years, in the Reading Room and at RMC and Library parties and events.
Elaine Engst, July 24, 2008
Congratulations Nancy on an excellent career. You have contributed greatly to Cornell University; you have managed the collections with expertise and care; and most importantly, you have effectively served many students, faculty, and others, enriching their experience through the combination of marvelous materials and your own extensive knowledge. It was wonderful to work with you for so many years. We did good work!
Wishing you the very best, Tom Hickerson
From: "Rebecca Davidson"
To: "Nancy Dean"
Cc: "Elaine Engst"
Subject: Re: Nancy Dean Retirement Party
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008
Dear Nancy,
Congratulations on your retirement and all praise for your many contributions and accomplishments! It was always such a pleasure to work with you, and I am grateful for all you taught me and in awe of your vast store of knowledge about Cornell, especially as reflected in RMC's collections.
I'm so sorry I cannot be there for your party on Thursday, as I'm in North Carolina visiting my mother. I'll be there in spirit, however, and wishing you every happiness (plus more time for gardening and lunch with friends).
Always your friend and admirer, Rebecca
P.S. My gardenias were in glorious bloom when I left--and they deserve it after living in my house all winter! Since I can't bring you one in person right now, here's a virtual token of my esteem . . . until we meet again:
![[]](images/clip_image002_000.jpg)
Linda Mapes, Engineering and ASTech Libraries
It doesn't seem possible, but Linda Mapes, our friend and colleague for 29 years at the Engineering and ASTech Libraries, will be retiring later this month. Please join us for a celebration in her honor on Monday, Aug. 18 from 1:30 - 3pm in Hollister Hall, McManus Lounge.
A celebration in honor of Linda Mapes was held on August 18. There were speeches and presentations and much merriment. See here for photos. See below for a tribute in verse by Engineering resident poet Joanne Leary and Linda's thank you to CUL.
The Saga of Linda Mapes
This is the saga of Linda L. Mapes
The keeper of monographs, journals and tapes.
For thirty-odd years she worked at Cornell
And, by all accounts, worked exceedingly well.
There wasn't a problem that ever got past her,
Whether back-order claim, or flooding disaster.
Rodents and silverfish, grunge in the fridge,Mold in the stacks or ice on the bridge,
Should anything be out of apple-pie order
She'd fix it at once, just like mother taught 'er.
That's not to deny she wouldn't complain:
The bindery's not right! The weather is rain!
She'd fuss and she fume -- she'd even say Fudge!
When fiche were misfiled, or carts wouldn't budge.
But even with outbursts of sailor-like swearing,
What really upset her was what she was wearing:
Her blouse had a spot, her skirt was too short,
Her shoes didn't look as good as they ought!
However, she never stayed angry because
In another existence, she was Mrs. Claus!
Her pixyish smile and baby-blue eyes
Appealed to the children (as well as the guys)
Admirers all, from Anwar to Harry,
Eugenio, David, and (dare we say) Larry.
From comrades in Shipping to folks on the bus,
Everyone liked her, and that was enough.
When all's said and done, that's the best way to end:
With memories full of good times and good friends.
Joanne Leary
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008
To: cu-lib
From: Linda Mapes
Subject: THANK YOU!
For the lack of better wording, all I can say is a heartfelt thank you to my friends and colleagues for the amazing retirement reception held in my honor. Your attendance has touched me in more words then I can express. I left the party feeling happy and most appreciated!
The choice of gifts was outstanding. Your thoughtfulness will definitely be one of the fondest memories I have of my many years here at Cornell. Each time I turn the computer on, I will be reminded of your generosity. The clock will be a constant reminder of time well spent at Cornell. Please know when I kick back, rest my head on the Cornell pillow, enjoy a glass of wine and relax, you all will be in my thoughts!
Joanne, the poem was perfect, I thank you! Only you would think to put an honor plate in Oil and Gas Journal--what a hoot and when I think about it, it will bring a smile to my face! What an amazing memory you have. Little did you know but the male names you used are actually people whom I have had the pleasure to know and work with!
Jill, Jean, Joanne, and Annemarie, how can I possibly express my appreciation for all the time and effort put into planning the party? Everything was perfect!
I am humbled that so many co-workers took the time to stop by and wish me well. If I have missed anyone, please know my thanks goes university-wide! I consider myself fortunate to have worked with such a wonderful group of people.
Saying good-bye is too final . . . so let me close by saying, I'll see you around!
Credits: Kaleidoscope is published bi-monthly except June and July
by Cornell University Library. Editor: Elizabeth Teskey, Photography: Cynthia Lange, Layout: Carla DeMello and Jenn Colt-Demaree
