VPC Retreat
The Library has been asked to participate in the University’s upcoming budget hearings. The documentation we need to provide is in three main areas – our current financial status, how we will manage permanent budget reductions next fiscal year (FY’16) and our outlook for the following fiscal year (FY ’17) in terms of staff hiring plans and management of operating deficits or surplus’. Based on the short turnaround time we have, the directors will begin a targeted discussion of this tomorrow at an off-site retreat. Our agenda includes discussion of potential revenues, what methodologies we will use to evaluate our current services and resources, and specific short-term budget reductions. After our retreat this week I will open up the conversation to all staff through open meetings.
I believe this process is another opportunity for us to prioritize where our resources should be focused and plan our approach to reach out in new and innovative ways. This will all be the base of our Purposeful Plan of Action so I encourage you to look over the agenda and begin thinking of ways we can continue to move forward. If you would like to see the actual guidelines for the 2015 budget hearing, they can be found here.
VPC – January 7
VPC went on the road this Wednesday to the Trecker Library to visit the campus and attend the afternoon retirement reception for Bill Uricchio. I think everyone that was able to attend will agree that the reception was truly a fun and meaningful event.
We are approximately half way through the fiscal year and are beginning to look at both the equipment and travel budgets. We will be starting the equipment budget process again in a few weeks which will follow the same process as we did this past fall. As we prepare for that we will provide more information and accurate timelines. We will also be reviewing the allocations made in the travel budget. I encourage all supervisors to discuss individual travel allocations and upcoming plans with staff at mid-year reviews to determine if there are any changes that need to be made for spring. Please note the UCPEA allocation has changed from $650 to $350 per person so we will need to adjust our figures based on that change.
Staffing Changes
It is with regret that I announce the resignation of Anna Kijas. Anna has accepted a position at the Boston College Libraries to build their digital programs. It will allow her to follow her passion for digital scholarship and I wish her well. We will be working with the School of Fine Arts on how to address her liaison work. As for her Scholars’ Collaborative responsibilities, we have an opportunity to work with Tom Scheinfeldt in the Digital Media Center on an short term solution. This semester long arrangement includes sharing the supervision and work of one of Tom’s Ph.D students, Susanna Aho. Susanna will work with Anna over the next month to get up to speed on projects currently in the works and continue our own work in digital scholarship.
AUL for Collections & Discovery Candidate
You have all received the announcement for the upcoming candidate Patrick Carr, but I wanted to take a moment to encourage you all to attend the presentation which is scheduled for Monday at 9:00 in the Class of ’47 room.