We have turned a page in the library. Phase 1 of the renovation is complete except for punch list items and minor construction issues that follow with any renovation project. We are starting a new chapter. Now, the hard work and different work begins. By this, I mean translating the vision of the new building spaces we see into new ways of work and programming for and in collaboration with our community. This is the work ahead of all of us as we move forward in 2021.
We started thinking about the work ahead of us a few months ago when our library staff meetings were redesigned to highlight various units in the library. Michelle started us off with a presentation on research and instruction. After a brief pause to use staff meetings in order to relay information about the library reopening plans, we will be resuming our staff meeting programming by highlighting other library units. Our upcoming January all-staff meeting (1/26/21) will feature Emily and Spruill talking about CHOM and Access services respectively. Our February meeting (2/23/21) will feature Len and Scott, who will not only discuss their units but also update us on their collaborative effort regarding web services.
Our March and April all staff meetings will focus on our diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism plan. You have received a draft document and are encouraged to add your feedback. The library management team is gathering your feedback and revising the plan. We will use the March meeting to discuss the plan as a whole staff and finalize it. We are working to identify some librarian experts in diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism to kick off our focus on this important topic for our April staff meeting. More information to come soon.
In May, toward the end of the academic year, we will begin our staff performance evaluation process. During the May library staff meeting the library management team will review the progress we have made on our 2017-2022 strategic planning goals and outline the broad goals ahead of us and library-wide planning initiatives and projects as well as unit-specific ones.
Some have asked about the difference between all staff meetings and town halls. Library staff meetings focus on our overall strategy and goals. The agendas outlined above illustrate this. Town halls are focused on a narrow topic, library reopening due to COVID specifically. The plan going forward on scheduling town halls is to conclude weekly town halls this January (1/28/21) and move to a biweekly schedule in Feb (dates to be determined). The topic remains focused on updates related to reopening. Stay tuned.
I would be remiss in not acknowledging this week's Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday and Wednesday's inauguration of a new president and vice president (the first woman and person of color). Some may say the country is also entering a new chapter and lots of hard work ahead too.
Elaine