Did you ever worry that you just had your last new, good idea? I do. I worry that the Library will run out of ways to improve or develop collections, services, and facilities for UTC students and faculty. Sometimes it’s due to our budget limitations when we can’t afford the database you need, other times it is due to limitations encountered when we don’t have enough staff members to provide a needed service, and sometimes it is just running into road blocks because someone did not like an idea or the campus processes would not support it.
And then each Fall and Spring I write an article for this newsletter and I am struck by how much “new” news there is to share. Some are just small changes we made to the facility, while others are big developments like the new library. Some relate to the collection make-up, other projects underway to make the library more usable, and then there are the new folks we hired who are psyched to be part of our engaged UTC community (and who look at our Library and campus with fresh new eyes). And then I let out a sigh of relief, and start making a list of what I need to include in my article!
The articles herein update you on new Library initiatives and projects, as well as describe some of our ongoing services. In the area of new initiatives you will find an update on our Circulating Collection Evaluation Project, a progress report on our transition to a new, user-friendly Library Catalog, an introduction to our new Subject and Department Resource Guides, dates for our array of new workshop offerings, changes in our database offerings, special events for the year ahead, and brief biographies of our new library faculty and staff. We also reintroduce some of our familiar offerings such as research assistance in all its many forms, as well as course reserves, circulation, and technology services.
Here are three quick updates, not covered elsewhere in the newsletter.
The New Building
It really is going to happen with a tentative completion date of Spring 2012. You can follow the actual building process via our new building webcam at http://building.lib.utc.edu or visit our new building wiki at www.library.utc.edu/building for more details.
Materials Budget
The Library materials budget began the year $275,000 in the red (red=bad=not enough money to cover resources). But, on a positive note the Library received a $100,000 addition to the base acquisitions budget, and $175,000 in one-time funds to cover the deficit. So, another year of holding steady, with little growth, but no cuts required.
Library Staffing
For the first time in over two years, we are fully staffed with 16 faculty librarians and 14 staff specialist ready to help you with your curricular and research needs.
And on that note let me welcome you to Fall 2010, our University’s 124th year! Thanks so much for taking the time to read our library newsletter and please let me or any of my library colleagues know what we can do to help you and your students. To get in touch, just drop me a note at Theresa-liedtka@utc.edu or give me a call at 423-425-4508. All the best for a productive, happy, and healthy Fall semester.