RENAISSANCE TIMES
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE GELMAN LIBRARY SYSTEM
Volume XIX ● Issue 10
GLS NEWS
Starbucks Construction
Update
RENAISSANCE
TIMES
Renaissance Times
(RT) is the official
bi-weekly newsletter of
The Melvin Gelman
Library at The George
Washington University.
R.T. is proofread by
Valerie Emerson and
Chris Granatino. R.T.
is published every other
week by Teena Bedola.
Comments and
questions should be
directed to:
Erica Aungst
Editor
aungst@gwu.edu
Starbucks Construction
Underway
by Andrea Stewart
Administration
You’ve heard about this for a long
time, but now the delays are over.
Preliminary construction work will
begin on Monday, August 23rd at 7:00
a.m. The Sigal Company and other
sub-contractors will prepare the
24-Hour Reading Room space for the
next phase, which is the Starbucks
contruction.
We will post signs to alert our patrons
and staff about this project at each
stage.
How will this affect the staff?
The Melvin Gelman Library
2130 H Street, NW
Room 201
Washington, DC 20052
Voice: (202) 994-6455
Fax: (202) 463-6205
http://www.gwu.edu/gelman
The corridor to the 24-hour Reading
Room and the back door from
Circulation will be locked beginning
August 23rd. The first floor restrooms
will be unavailable to staff and the
public as well.
Gale is working with Peggy to install a
swipe card lock on the second floor
stairwell door to enable staff to use the
August 26, 2004
staff room and restrooms on the second
floor.
There will be a lot of noise for the next
several months up until the fall reading
and exam period.
How will this affect the public?
In addition to the construction noise,
the students and other patrons will be
redirected to use the restrooms on the
other floors.
Since students will lose most of the
24-Hour Reading Room for study, we
will assess that impact and discuss
options for other 24-hour space with
our student liaison, Damien, and the
new SA President, Omar.
What can you do to help?
Please let us know of complaints or
issues associated with this construction.
We have a supportive University
liaison who will work with the
contractors to minimize the disruption
as much as possible. Send your
GroupWise messages with questions or
concerns or complaints to Jessica,
Andrea and Gale.
RENAISSANCE TIMES
AUGUST 26, 2004, PAGE 2
Volume XIX ● Issue 10
Reference Department Update
Welcome to Two New Librarians
by Jennifer Nutefall and Judy Solberg
Reference
Ann Brown is the new Reference and Instruction
Librarian who comes to us from Utah State
University where she has been a reference and
instruction librarian with special responsibilities
for the College of Business. In addition to
instruction, collection development and reference,
she coordinated the library’s freshman orientation
program. She also worked with the Student
Housing Office and participated in the Focus
Interest Group (FIG) initiative that allowed
students to arrange housing based on subject
interests. This experience provides a wonderful
background for Ann’s responsibilities in working
with PSG to help us design new outreach
initiatives. She will also serve on the EIG group
and work in reference.
Before going to Utah, Ann worked at the
University of Illinois at Chicago where she was an
Academic Resident Librarian and Visiting
Instructor. She coordinated the Main Library
Workshop Program and worked in Reference and
Instruction.
Ann has her library degree from the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BA in English
with a minor in German from the University of
Wisconsin at Whitewater.
received her Master of Library Science degree this
year. In addition to that degree, she holds a Master
Fine Arts from the University of Maryland and a
Ph.D. in Literature/Creating Writing from Ohio
State University. She has a wide variety of teaching
experience, having taught introductory English,
creative writing, popular culture, EFL, and abroad
in Chile. She is an accomplished poet who recently
opened her own press.
At Gelman, Cathy will be a member of EIG and will
be participating this fall in partnering with faculty in
the University Writing program. She will also be
responsible for collection development in film
studies, philosophy, and romance languages and
literature.
Her office is located in the Reference Department,
cubicle 8 and you can reach her by phone at
x4-9508.
Please join us in welcoming both Ann and Cathy to
Gelman!
GLS Human Resources Update
Vacancy Listing
Please see Attachment A for the Gelman Library
System’s Vacancy Listing.
Exhibit & Reception
Shalom/Salaam Exhibit by Tom Block
Her desk is in cubicle 7 in 104 and her phone
x4-1351.
by Erica Aungst
Administration
Cathy Eisenhower is our new Instruction and
Collection Development Librarian and will be
joining us from Catholic University where she
Please see Attachment B for information on Tom
Block’s Shalom/Salaam exhibit installation and on
the September 9, 2004 exhibit opening event.
RENAISSANCE TIMES
AUGUST 26, 2004, PAGE 3
Volume XIX ● Issue 10
Collection Management Services
(CMS) Update
Staff Association Committee
(SAC) Update
New Copy Cataloger
GLS Staff Retreat
by Steven Watson
by Chris Granatino
Administration
CMS
James D. Scott has joined the CMS staff as our new
part-time Copy Cataloger as of August 16th. James
who prefers to be called Dan, comes to us from
Pensacola, Florida. If you happen to be in our area,
please stop by and say hello.
Eckles Library/MVC Update
Farewell to Frank Janicki
by Cathy Zeljak
This past Friday, August 20th, was the Gelman
Library System's Annual Staff Retreat. This year
the retreat was held at the picturesque GW Mount
Vernon campus, and featured a "Carnival" setting.
On the Mt. Vernon Quad staff enjoyed cotton
candy, and snowcones, and played carnival
games, including a dunk tank. Inside Post Hall,
staff enjoyed catering by Quizno's and a spirited
karaoke competition. Over in the Eckles
auditorium, staff were able to relax and watch
Shrek and Moulin Rouge and enjoy freshlypopped popcorn.
SEEARR/MVC
Frank Janicki has accepted a new position at
Venable law firm in DC and will be departing
Eckles on August 27. Frank's creativity and
commitment to his, at times, challenging job will be
greatly missed. We are very sad to see Frank leave,
but wish him much success in his new career.
This year SAC tried very hard to put forward
something new for staff to enjoy, and we hope
you all had a great time!
Attached are photos of the event taken by Karen
Greisman (Attachment C), and a brief feedback
form (Attachment D) so you can tell us what you
thought about this year's Retreat. Thanks again!
Volume XIX ● Issue 10
ARL Update
June/July 2004 E-News
email from
by Duane Webster
Executive Director, ARL
The table of contents on the full E-News is listed
below and is posted on the ARL Web site at
http://www.arl.org/enews/.
Table of Contents:
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
1. ARL Board Actions: Includes highlights of
decisions made during the July 26-27 Board
meeting in Washington, D.C. http://www.arl.org/
enews/june july04.html#1
2. Positioning ARL for the Future: A strategic
planning retreat held July 27-28 was positive and
constructive. http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.
html#2
3. ARL Membership Meeting October 13-14: A
significant portion of the meeting will be devoted to
discussion of governance and strategic planning.
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#3
4. ARL/CNI Forum on Cyberinfrastructure Set for
October 15: Dan Atkins (Michigan) will be the
keynote speaker at this non-technical forum.
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#4
5. U.S. House of Representatives Supports NIH
Taxpayer Access Measure: Calls on NIH to place
authors' final manuscripts in PubMed Central six
RENAISSANCE TIMES
AUGUST 26, 2004, PAGE 4
months after publication. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#5
6. New Brochure Introduces Open Access: SPARC,
ARL, and ACRL help librarians reach out to faculty
and academic researchers. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#6
7. ARL Publishes Results of E-Journal Surveys:
Findings confirm libraries should be tough when
negotiating uses of e-resources. http://www.arl.org/
enews/junejuly04.html#7
8. Serials Trends Reflected in the ARL Statistics
2002-03: Libraries appear to be getting more for
their serials money. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#8
9. Research Libraries Leadership Fellows Program-Applications Due Sept 1: Five ARL libraries designed and are sponsoring this pilot to prepare
the next generation of directors. http://www.arl.org/
enews/junejuly04.html#9
10. IMLS Grant Funds ARL Academy: Careers in
Academic and Research Libraries: ARL is
partnering with three library schools to recruit,
educate, and train graduate students with advanced
degrees. http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.
html#10
11. Allied Organizations Endorse Digitization as a
Preservation Reformatting Strategy: ARL released a
paper to facilitate development of policies, standards,
guidelines, and best practices. http://www.arl.org/
enews/junejuly04.html#11
12. Educating Campus Policymakers on Copyright:
ARL is participating in this effort led by AAU.
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#12
OTHER PROGRAM UPDATES
13. Portal Applications Working Group Issues Final
Volume XIX ● Issue 10
Report: The report summarizes how ARL libraries
have implemented such services as cross-resource
searching, customized data mining, and Web page
personalization. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#13
14. Latin Americanist Research Resources Project
(LARRP) Transition: Scott Van Jacob (Notre
Dame) is now chair of the Advisory Committee.
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#14
15. AAU/ARL Global Resources Network 2005
Financial Strategy: To date, 43 ARL libraries have
contributed. http://www.arl.org/enews/ june
july04.html#15
16. LibQUAL+ Update: Includes notes on spring
2004 survey results, project evaluation, and two
R&D projects. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#16
17. Libraries Register to Participate in Project
SAILS Phase III: This phase runs from August 2004
through July 2005. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#17
18. New Partnership between ARL/OLMS and
MLA Announced: The two associations are pleased
to offer reciprocal membership benefits for
Web-based continuing education courses.
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#18
19. ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce
to Hold Leadership Symposium in January in
Boston: The symposium will be open to 100 MLIS
students funded through the IMLS 21st Century
program. http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.
html#19
20. ARL Diversity Program's Graduate Student
Database Grows to 180 Candidates: Library
administrators and human resource specialists are
encouraged to view resumes for openings.
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#20
RENAISSANCE TIMES
AUGUST 26, 2004, PAGE 5
21. ARL Statistics and Measurement Program:
Status of Annual Surveys http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#21
22. Coalition for Networked Information (CNI)
Update: Includes notes on conference held with
JISC in the U.K. and Lippincott award presented to
Clifford Lynch. http://www.arl.org/enews/june
july04.html#22
ARL PUBLICATIONS RECENTLY RELEASED
23. SPEC Kit 280, Library User Surveys. Tom
Diamond. June 2004. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#23
24. ARL Statistics 2002–2003. Martha Kyrillidou
and Mark Young. 2004. http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#24
25. ARL Bimonthly Report 234 (June 2004).
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#25
26. ARL Bimonthly Report 235 (August 2004).
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#26
OTHER MEETING & WORKSHOP NOTES
27. SPARC and SPARC Europe to Host
"Institutional Repositories: The Next Stage,"
November 18-19, in Washington, D.C.: Participants
will gain a practical, non-technical understanding of
strategies critical to the success of institutional
repositories. http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.
html#27
28. ARL/OLMS Associate University Librarian
Institute to Be Held October 27-29 in Boston: This
institute has been redesigned to focus on the most
current leadership issues and provide participants
with an opportunity to assess their leadership
competencies. http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.
html#28
Volume XIX ● Issue 10
RENAISSANCE TIMES
AUGUST 26, 2004, PAGE 6
29. ARL/OLMS Library Leadership for New
Managers Program to Be Held September 28October 1 in Washington, D.C.: This cohort
learning program is designed for people with less
than three years of management experience.
http://www.arl. org/enews/junejuly04.html#29
30. Upcoming Online Lyceum Courses:
Professional Writing Skills, Effective Decision
Making, Library Conflict Management, Measuring
Library Service Quality, Accessible Web Design,
Licensing Review & Negotiation, Power Dynamics
& Influencing Skills http://www.arl.org/enews/
junejuly04.html#30
SIMPLE TIPS
How to Thrive in the Gelman Library System
(or any other organization)
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE
31. U.K. House of Commons Committee Releases
Report on Journal Prices and Open Access:
Summary provided by Peter Suber, editor of the
SPARC Open Access Newsletter. http://www.arl.
org/enews/ junejuly04.html#31
32. Information Commons--A Report on Online
Communities: This report by the Free Expression
Policy Project links the vitality of 21st-century
democracy to online information communities.
http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.html#32
TRANSITIONS
33. ARL Transitions: Chicago, Library and
Archives Canada, North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
Penn, Utah http://www.arl.org/enews/junejuly04.
html#33
HONORS
34. ARL Statistics 2002-03 Published in
Recognition of Kendon Stubbs http://www.arl.org/
enews/junejuly04.html#34
Jack Siggins
University Librarian
“When giving presentations,
read the audience
continuously. Change the
tenor, subject, or speaker if
you are losing them.”
rt/08/26/04/Attachment A
GLS Job Vacancy Listing: Updated August 12, 2004
Congratulations to the following GLS New Hires
Req #
Position
Title
Department
12650
12795
Library
Specialist II
CMS
Library
Manager II
SEEARR
Grade
FT – PT
11-PT
14-PT
Incumbent
Randi
Robinson
Aaron Beaver
Vacancy
Posting
Date
Date
05/18/02
08/04/04
Department/Status
04/23/04
Congratulations to James Scott
who accepted the position of
Library Specialist II, beginning on
August 16, 2004. Congrats, and
welcome aboard, James!!!
06/11/04
Congratulations to Oksana
Prokhvacheva who accepted the
position of Library Manager II,
beginning on July 26, 2004.
Congrats and Welcome Aboard,
Oksana!!!
rt/08/26/04/Attachment B
rt/08/26/04/Attachment C
rt/08/26/04/Attachment D
SAC Debriefing
Survey
(Please return to Chris Granatino, GLS Admin Office, Room 201)
What were your favorite parts of the Retreat?
What were your least favorite parts of the Retreat?
What should we keep, if anything, for next year?
What should we not keep, if anything, for next year?