Welcome to 2016
2016 is upon us and I hope you will join your colleagues as we take some time to celebrate ourselves and recognize the work we have accomplished in 2015 at our ‘Hats off to 2016’ party. Hosted by Vice Provost’s Council, the event will include current and former employees including an opportunity for us to publicly thank recent retirees Bill Miller and Janet Swift for their years of service. There will also be fabulous prizes for your creative hats that represent what 2016 means to you.
Avery Point Staffing
There has been some staffing changes at Avery Point that I would like to share. Beth Rumery has requested new roles and responsibilities, and has stepped down as Director to fill the position of Research & Instruction Librarian. As you are all aware, Beth just received at 2015 Love My Librarian Award from ALA which is further recognition that her true passion is helping students and her community. I am pleased to announce that Sheila Lafferty has stepped into the leadership role as Director of Avery Point as well as her duties as Director of the Torrington Library. Also, as I mentioned in a prior message, Nanette Addesso is now full time in Avery Point, taking over the duties as Access Services Assistant.
Employee Appreciation Committee
At this week’s VPC meeting the Employee Appreciation Committee presented their final report, which you can find here. I want to thank the members of the Committee for all of their work in helping to encourage more respect and participation across the organization through various activities. The committee included Co-Chairs Brian Coleman and Barbara Mitchell, and members Janice Christopher, Jennifer Eustis, Khara Leon, Carolyn Mills, Tony Molloy and Jean Nelson. Their work was of benefit to the organization and they have left a wonderful legacy of ideas for the new group to consider. I would like to put out an official call for a re-population of the committee and welcome those who were on it last year as well as new members to join. I have asked Khara Leon to take leadership of the committee moving forward so if you are interested, please let her know.
New Communication Strategies
As we continue to work at improving our internal communications as laid out in our Purposeful Path Forward, I am pleased to see that there are several initiatives coming together in 2016. Francine has already begun conversations among our unit heads for ideas to update and strengthen the expectations regarding the nuts and bolts of our communications. For example, expectations for usage of calendars, when is it appropriate to Skype/Lync, our emergency notification systems, and other protocols to help with the daily communications among colleagues. We are also working on the formation of a workgroup to help improve the flow of information throughout the Libraries. While this is still in a preliminary draft stage, activities such as town hall meetings and in-service brown bags where we share information and expertise are possibilities for this workgroup charge. Finally, on a more personal note, I would like to hear more about the ideas and activities happening from staff so I will be working with directors and unit heads to join your meetings periodically so that I can hear more of what is happening around the Library. I am excited to see these initiatives working together towards the same goal – to improve our internal communication strategies.