Announcements

Libraries to Begin Three-Year Planning Process with ClimateQUAL Survey

 in Announcements

Post written by Josh Been, Director of Data and Digital Scholarship and Digital Scholarship Librarian and Eric Ames, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for ITS/Libraries

Exciting news! The Baylor University Libraries are poised to embark on a 3-year plan to assess our organizational health and diversity so that we can celebrate our many strengths and uncover areas that may be improved.  

Step 1: ClimateQUAL survey 

What is ClimateQUAL? 

ClimateQUAL®: Organizational Climate and Diversity Assessment is an assessment of library staff perceptions concerning (a) their library’s commitment to the principles of diversity, (b) organizational policies and procedures, and (c) staff attitudes. It is an online survey with questions designed to understand the impact perceptions have on service quality in a library setting. The survey addresses a number of climate issues, such as diversity, teamwork, learning, and fairness, as well as current managerial practices, and staff attitudes and beliefs. 

Respondent confidentiality is of paramount concern, given the sensitive nature of the questions and responses. Results are reported back to individual institutions in a way that will not compromise respondent identity. 

When will the survey be administered? 

The first step is for all full-time and part-time employees to participate in the ClimateQUAL survey. This survey will be administered Monday, October 25 through Friday, November 12. 

The timing is perfect to participate this semester. Dean Jeffry Archer recently started in June 2020 and the University Libraries have not engaged in a comprehensive survey like ClimateQUAL before. While library faculty have recently participated in a campus-wide COACHE survey, this was not as useful as it was designed specifically for teaching faculty and did not include the non-faculty employees in the University Libraries. As we hope to hire several new employees over the course of this year, the timing is excellent to gain an understanding of the status of our organizational health. 

Step 2: Evaluate Results, Celebrate Strengths, Uncover Areas for Improvement 

In Spring 2022, an assessment planning committee will be formed to transparently share the results of the ClimateQUAL survey and to come up with new programming to improve areas that may need improving. 

Step 3: Implement New Programming 

The new programming developed by the assessment planning committee will be implemented and its success gauged during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. This completes the first 3-year cycle. 

2024: Restart the 3-Year Cycle 

During the Fall 2024 semester, the University Libraries will re-take the ClimateQUAL survey. 

All full-time faculty and staff will receive access to the ClimateQUAL survey on October 25. More information will be available in “From the Stacks,” our monthly newsletter, as well as via targeted emails in the weeks ahead. Our goal is 100% participation in the survey – which, again, is anonymous and completely confidential – so that we can best plan for a successful 3-year cycle for the Libraries.

Looking forward to what our collective insights will reveal!

The Libraries’ ClimateQUAL Team

University Libraries Unveil Two New Exhibits Highlighting Faculty, Student Works

 in Announcements, Arts & Special Collections Research Center

“A Stitched-Up Life: The Work of Dr. Mary Ruth Smith” and BFA student works showcase two unique additions to the campus art environment

As the Libraries make plans to move into the Fall 2021 semester, the Crosshatch Galleries committee has completed the installation of two new exhibits in Moody Memorial Library and Jesse H. Jones Library.

The Jones Crosshatch Gallery features “A Stitched-Up Life: The Work of Dr. Mary Ruth Smith.” Dr. Smith headed up the Fabric Design concentration in Baylor’s Department of Art and History for twenty-seven years, retiring in 2020. Her work has been shown in numerous national and international venues and often simultaneously on multiple continents. Her tool of choice was the needle, using it to hand-stitch almost all of her work. Smith responds to pattern, whether in the natural or constructed environment, and told committee member Lisa Fehsenfeld that she is inspired by “anything and everything.”

The exhibit is divided into six areas: Early Work, Sabbatical Work, Bojagi, Stitched Statements, Pattern Recall, and Books. Each section signifies a different technique used or period in her career. For example, in her sabbatical work, she began experimenting using French knots as a fabric structure. A one-inch square of a pattern using this technique took two hours to complete, creating patterns and images that look like paintings.

In the Moody1 area of Moody Memorial Library, the rotating exhibit space features a selection of works created by BFA students under the instruction of Winter Rusiloski, assistant professor of art and art history. The works highlight the creativity of a small but vital population of students in the Department of Art and Art History.

We hope you enjoy these exhibitions highlighting Dr. Smith’s endless experimentation and curiosity and the burgeoning skills of our student artists! Please visit baylor.edu/library/exhibits for more information on these and upcoming exhibits in the University Libraries.

(A&SCRC) News from Crouch Fine Arts and Special Collections – Fall 2020

 in Announcements

Greetings from the staff of this newly integrated group!  Did you miss this news?  The special collections team in Moody (Frank, Andrea, and Beth) have now joined forces officially with the group in Crouch (Alison, Jamie, and sometimes Sha).  I thought it would be helpful to send out this update, feel free to contact me or the rest of the team if you have questions.

There are a lot of synergies between these two groups including the highly specialized nature of music and art materials.  Research in these disciplines can be different than other disciplines, even compared to other humanities areas.  The creation and performance aspects are interesting in considering what research looks like.  Special collections follow many of these same specialized features.

In the next several months, this team will be considering common ground, services, and integration.  We don’t have final decisions on much of anything right now – we want to be thoughtful and inclusive in our actions.   We’ve started with a SWOT analysis –  with everyone contributing their ideas.   Here is a word cloud of our Strengths.

Meet our team!  With a variety of responsibilities, most of us are cross trained to step in and help in any capacity, but here are our main responsibilities.

Alison Larson – Manager of students and daily operations.  With her art background, she is the point person for art questions.  Kudos for her working through Ignite changes to get our students hired!

Andrea Turner – Special Collections manager.  Andrea is responsible for daily operations with donations, pulling materials, and special projects.  Many thanks to her for her work on our new Baylor Biblical Art database and helping to get classes online.

Beth Farwell – Director of this new group.  I’ve spent a lot of time this fall working with faculty, instruction, special projects. and planning.

Frank Jasek – Preservation manager.  Frank is responsible for collections care and assists with building custom storage for rare collections for all the special libraries.  So thankful for his careful stewardship of these unique resources.

Jamie Duerksen – Music reserves manager and more.  Jamie’s music background is invaluable in his work with the School of Music faculty.  He is the ‘go to’ person for all music questions and I am so thankful for his patience with all the work he did to help curbside services and moving testing & courses online.

Sha Towers – Art/Theatre liaison and artist book collection curator.  We are all thankful for his leadership and really glad he knows how to open the new artist books when they come in.  😊

We will keep you all updated as we come up with new ideas.  Thanks to everyone for supporting each other!

Beth

Back to School Special: Read Up on What’s New and Improved at the Central Libraries

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The sun is shining, the Pat Neff bells are ringing, and students are returning to Baylor! We are so excited to have our spaces filled with the hustle and bustle of the fall semester.
Over the summer, we made improvements to the Central Libraries based on campus feedback. Whether you’re returning as an upperclassman or beginning your freshman year, read on to learn about what’s new in the libraries and the free resources that are available to you.
There’s No Place Like Jones

We’ve worked closely with our student advisory group to listen and learn about your library needs. Student feedback indicated that Jones Library needed both technological and physical upgrades to facilitate a productive work environment.

This summer, the entire building received new carpet, the walls were refreshed with an engaging paint scheme, and the furniture in the open study area on the first floor was greatly upgraded. The area now features “pods” for individual studying; tables that are height-adjustable to accommodate sitting, standing, or wheelchairs; and areas of “soft seating” for relaxing between classes. The renovated Jones Library now showcases a modern, functional look that welcomes students, visitors, and researchers to the Central Libraries.

In the near future, the library will also feature an innovative exhibit space for various library collections.
HelpDesk+ Launches at Moody Memorial Library

As the fall semester unfolds, a significant transformation will take place on the garden level of Moody Library. For the first time, there will be a Baylor ITS staffed walk-up technical support service point for all students, faculty, and staff: HelpDesk+.

HelpDesk+ brings together the services that have been provided at the TechPoint service desk with the technical support resources of Baylor ITS. Along with enhanced technical support, HelpDesk+ will also be the central laptop checkout location for faculty, staff and students. ITS will also work closely with the Baylor Bookstore’s Campus Technology Center to refer cases that will require warranty repairs or services beyond what can be provided. 

The Makerspace and Media Lab will be still available at this location, as well. These spaces are designed to take curriculum to the next level by encouraging collaboration and creative uses of multimedia in the classroom.

Additionally, students can check out media equipment from the Media Lab with their Baylor ID. Items include – but are not limited to – chargers, projectors, cameras, microphones, and light-kits. 

University Writing Center Looks Forward to Second Semester in Moody

In the spring, the Writing Center made the move from Carroll Science Building to the second floor of Moody Memorial Library and became the University Writing Center (UWC). 

The center’s centralized location provides easier access for students of all disciplines to get help with a variety of writing projects, including academic, technical, scientific, multimodal, and digital writing, along with job application materials and theses. Writers are welcome to bring their work at any stage in the writing process.

The UWC’s services are free to students, faculty, and staff. Walk-in hours are also offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and noon to 2 p.m. on Fridays. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit www.baylor.edu/UWC.

Coming Soon: More Moody Study Space

As student enrollment continues to increase, we knew we needed to make more room for study sessions.

Bookshelves on the first floor and the stacks on the second floor have been removed to expand study space in Moody Library. While plans for the first floor are in the early stages of development, the second floor now features an open floor plan with new carpet and paint. New furniture is scheduled to be delivered in early September. 

Personnel News and Notes

 in Announcements

November 1, 2018

New Arrivals

Amy Runyon joined the CAMU (Cataloging and Metadata Unit) team in mid-October as the Rare Books Catalog Librarian. She holds a BA in Art History from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois and graduated with her MA in Library and Information Science from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, in the Spring of 2018.

After graduating with her BA and uncertain of the career path she wanted to follow, Amy moved to Chicago, Illinois and tried out teaching, as a Youth Development Specialist at a charter school. She then went on to work as a retail manager, until finally deciding in 2016 to follow her passion for books and history and enroll in library school. While in school, Amy worked in both Circulation and Technical Services at a public library. She also interned at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library and Chicago History Museum, where she completed original and some copy cataloging of monographs and realia. Most recently, Amy worked as a Project Archivist at the library of her alma mater, Lake Forest College.

Growing up in Indiana and living in the Chicago area the past 13 years, Texas is a new adventure for Amy. She is enjoying getting to explore all the fun things Waco has to offer and the warmer weather! In her spare time, Amy enjoys doing puzzles, horseback riding, traveling, and spending time with friends, family and her cat Aria. Amy is excited to get to know the faculty, staff and students at Baylor and work at an academic institution that places importance on community, scholarship and faith.

 

Laura Jane Kilgore is one of the newest members of the CAMU team, currently training as an Information Specialist III. With a degree in professional writing and a life-long love for fiction, she’s always appreciated good books but never considered working in a library until recently. Now, you’ll find her next to the big windows looking out into the Gregory Garden in Moody Library, very happy to be surrounded by stacks of books.

After her graduation from the University of Houston – Downtown, Laura Jane spent three years working as a technical writer in the aerospace, real estate, and energy industries in Houston. She gained valuable experience there, but two years ago she became a freelance writer and editor, working on projects ranging from editing autobiographical, fiction, and academic works, to researching and writing journalistic content for Christian organizations. After all the long days and hard work, Laura Jane is very glad for a steady job with rewarding work, happy people, and in the Baylor academic environment. She still plans to keep up with some of her freelance clients in her spare time, but also hopes to pursue some other hobbies like baking, making paper flowers, and writing creatively.

Last summer, Laura Jane moved to Waco from Houston, hoping to escape the traffic and find a solid community in and around Baylor. Here, she enjoys hanging out at Pinewood, hiking in Cameron Park, shopping at the Waco Farmers’ Market, and spending time with her grad-student friends on campus. She is inspired by the community here, loves her church, and looks forward to many happy years at Baylor University in good old Wacotown

October 1, 2018

Returning Faces
Cyndie Burgess has returned to work part-time at the ABL. She will primarily be helping us eliminate our book cataloging backlog. Cyndie will office in room 325.
New Arrivals, Promotions
Janell Wellbaum joins the Libraries as the new Assistant to the Dean of Libraries.  Janell, the current temporary Admin. Assistant will officially begin her new role on Monday, October 8. Janell will be coordinating and providing support for all activities in the Office of the Dean of Libraries to include special events and projects for the Dean’s Office.  You can reach Janell at extension #3590 or by email at Janell_Wellbaum@baylor.edu .
 
Janell is long time Waco area resident and has worked for the past 18 years as an educator for several local ISD’s.  She earned her bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. She and her husband David are the parents of two young daughters, 12 and 8 years old, who attend Midway ISD where David has worked as an educator for the past 16 years.  Janell and her family are active members at First United Methodist Church of Waco.

 

Neonel Rodriguez has joined the LATS team full-time as an Academic Consultant as of September 10. Neil will continue to be responsible for providing support for Canvas, WordPress, and other services offered by Online Teaching and Learning Services.  Previously, Neil gained several years’ experience in this capacity as a temporary employee. If you would like to reach out to Neil, his email address is Neonel_Rodriguez@baylor.edu and his office phone number is 710-4525.

 

Kacie Morgan Collin is the newest employee at the ABL, working as a part-time Library Information Specialist I. Kacie will work in the afternoons on the main floor greeting visitors. She will also assist in the Gift Gallery and with after-hours events and will work assigned Saturdays. Kacie is new to Waco. She is originally from Washington State. She has a BA in History with minors in French and Biblical Studies from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon.

 

Two new staffers have joined the Research & Engagement Services: Connie Hill is coming to us from the surrounding Central Texas area where she has been involved in teaching, library services, and geology studies for the past several years. Jonathan Scruggs has been in Waco since August of last year. He was most recently employed at the Writing Center while completing a year’s worth of doctoral coursework in Baylor’s English department.

 

Jennifer Ringer joined the Crouch Fine Arts Library staff in late July.  She is the new Evening Supervisor, working the closing shift on Sundays through Thursdays.  In her role, Jennifer trains and supervises student workers, provides reference assistance to patrons, and helps with promotions and special projects.  She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from Texas Tech University, and has experience in both K-12 education and retail.

 

Laura Kilgore joins the Cataloging and Metadata Unit of Library Collections Services on October 11th. Her primary job responsibilities will be to collaborate closely with Allison Yanos and Chason Disheroon on a variety of database maintenance-related duties, such as bibliographic record cleanup, withdrawals, inventories, and other related tasks. Additionally, Laura will input bibliographic metadata for the various digital collections. Laura graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown with a degree in Professional Writing, and comes to us with extensive experience in technical writing working for a real estate firm, BP, and NASA. Laura’s phone extension will be 4401 and her email will be Laura_Kilgore@Baylor.edu.

Andy Clark has joined LATS as TechPoint Desk Coordinator. Andy will be responsible for coordination of the TechPoint service desk, the Study Commons, and the student staff that support those areas. Andy is joining us from recent work as a Barista at Common Grounds in Hewitt, but gained experience with academic technology at Truett while recently completing his M.Div. If you would like to reach out to Andy, his current email address is Andy_Clark1@baylor.edu and his office phone number is 710-6157.

Nifty Fifty: Moody Memorial Library’s 50th Birthday Party in Pictures

 in Announcements

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the day Moody Memorial Library opened its doors to the Baylor community, the Libraries hosted a “birthday party” for the ages, complete with a custom cake, tons of food, music from 1968, architectural talks, giveaways and – of course – a visit from the Baylor mascots, Bruiser and Marigold! Take a look at some of our favorite photos below, and if you were one of the almost 500 people who came out to celebrate, Thank You! You made Moody’s special day even better for your presence. And if you missed the party, don’t worry! There’s still three more months of Moody’s 50th year left, so you’ve got time to swing by and show your respects before 2018 is on the books (pun intended).

A big party deserves a big cake, and this custom piece came from our friends at Simply Delicious (http://www.simplydeliciouswaco.com/), complete with the Moody 50 logo!

Mingling with food and friends in Allbritton Foyer

Visitors explore the exhibit “Sixty Eight: Built for the Future.” The exhibit explores the origins of Moody Memorial Library and places them in the setting of world events in 1968.

Retired dean of libraries Pattie Orr (center) talks with faculty and staff as guests line up for refreshments in the background.

Nothing says “birthday party” like a slice of cake!

Guests reading a poster featuring memories from former library staff and faculty.

Cake for all!

A poster documenting current faculty and staff with 20+ years of experience and memories of former employees …

… proved to be the perfect place for a Bruiser Bear photobomb!

Fresh off his photobomb, Bruiser makes sure the mic is ready for formal remarks.

Bruiser waves to the crowd as interim Dean of Libraries John S. Wilson delivers his opening remarks.

Baylor alumna and Libraries Board of Advocates member Linda Brian delivers remarks on her memories of Moody’s inaugural year.

Dr. Bruce Muskrat, alumnus and student at the time of Moody’s opening in 1968, delivers remarks as Bruiser listens intently.

The crowd listens to remarks from guest speakers – a small part of the approximately 500 folks who showed up to celebrate!

Marigold and Bruiser took time to staff – er, “bear” – the exit desk during the celebration.

Marigold makes the rounds as students celebrate the awesomeness that is “Club Moody.”

It wouldn’t be a 2018 party without a selfie!

Many thanks to Libraries/ITS interns Mary Grace Schmid and Kelsey Cazares for their photos of this event. Be sure to follow Baylor Libraries on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more on Moody’s 50th anniversary year.

All Signs Point to Success: Announcing a Student Contest to Reinvent the Libraries’ Directional Signage

 in Announcements

The Baylor Libraries welcome students  to participate in a unique new project to create freestanding directional signage towers for Moody Memorial Library and Jesse H. Jones Library. The goal of the program is to create informative, eye-catching signs that will direct patrons to various locations around the Central Libraries campus.

Project Background

As part of our campaign to upgrade the directional signage of the Central Libraries, we wanted to give our students a chance to participate in the process of making finding what our patrons are looking for easier and more stylish. So, we partnered with Baylor’s Sustainability initiatives and the Libraries’ Makerspace to create an opportunity for Baylor’s artists, craftspeople and tinkerers to create some new directional signage towers using upcycled, recycled or “found” materials.

The inspiration behind the project came from these signs made by Studio Dumbar. The simple, striking towers are both attention-grabbing and subtle, conveying basic direction information in a clean, easy-to-read format.

Image of Studio Dumbar product via Retail Design Blog. (http://retaildesignblog.tumblr.com/post/98793080424/signage-wayfinding-tnt-green-office-signage)

These signage towers inspired us to look at creating similar signs for Moody and Jones. Using recycled materials and giving students oversight of the process seemed like relevant, important ways to connect with our patrons in a new and unexpected way, and using the tools available in the Makerspace was a great way to spread the word about this exciting new service.

The completed signs will stand in the elevator lobbies of the Central Libraries, replacing the flat, acrylic signs seen here.

Students of any major and grade level are invited to submit applications to create one of the new towers, basing their designs on the guidelines below.

Project Guidelines and Specifications

The proposed designs must meet the following guidelines:

Signs must be made of at least 50% recycled content
In line with Baylor’s mission to encourage judicious stewardship at all levels of the university, the Libraries request that the materials used to construct the signage towers contain at least 50% found, upcycled or recycled content. Using the Libraries’ connections with campus sustainability partners, designers will be given access to this post-consumer content as it is available.

Creators must make use of tools offered in the Libraries’ Makerspace or Maker’s Edge
The Libraries’ Makerspace offers tools for faculty, staff and students that can be used to support their prototyping, early production and testing needs. In addition, Baylor Libraries’ partnership with Waco’s Maker’s Edge allows students to make use of the tools available in their facility as well. Winning applicants will be required to make use of the tools, technology and support available in the Makerspace and/or Maker’s Edge. The project need not be completed entirely in the Makerspace or Maker’s Edge, but a significant portion of the project should include content created in the space.

Must contain specified text provided by library
The Baylor Libraries Marketing & Communications team will provide required text for application on the signage towers. Designers will have control over certain text-based elements including font, weight, layout and color.

Must fit within specific measurements
The signage towers should fit the following dimensions:

  • Width of no less than 18 inches and no more than 24 inches
  • Height of no less than 62 inches and no more than 70 inches
  • Base dimensions of no more than 20 inches x 20 inches square

Must offer three specific “zones” for different types of information
Each tower must be designed to accommodate three “zones” for information. They are 1.) welcome verbiage (provided by Libraries), 2.) permanent directional text (provided by Libraries) and 3.) flexible space for easily updatable signage, such as flyers printed on paper up to 11″x 17″. The schematic below offers a rough sketch of the layout for these zones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the Libraries’ staff will work closely with the chosen designer(s) to ensure both artistic freedom and clarity of messaging are the end results of the completed project.

A total of six signage towers are requested for this project. Depending on the level of interest, students may be asked to create one or multiple towers.

Ideally, we would like to see the towers completed and installed by the conclusion of the Fall 2018 semester.

Students chosen to produce their designs will be provided with raw materials (as available), access to the Makerspace and assistance from Makerspace staff. Finished products will include the maker’s information – name, contact info (if desired) and link to online portfolio – to encourage contact from patrons interested in hiring the maker for future work.

Submit Your Ideas!

Interested students may submit a letter of interest to university_libraries@baylor.edu. Letter should include your basic contact information (email and phone number) as well as a rough sketch or design rationale for your design. Winning entries will be selected by a panel of faculty and staff from the University Libraries.

Back and Better Than Ever: An Update on Summer 2018 Renovations in Moody and Jones

 in Announcements

Today marks the start of the Fall 2018 semester, and the University Libraries are celebrating with a whole slate of updated physical spaces for our faculty, students and staff to utilize all year long.

Moody 104 Active Learning Lab (ALL)

We’ve been updating our readers on the process of creating the Active Learning Lab (ALL) all spring and summer, so read here for the details, or just enjoy this photo of the innovative flexible classroom space in all its Leapfrog Green glory. (That’s the official name of the Sherwin-Williams paint color you’ll see throughout the Central Libraries in areas where we’re updating and refreshing spaces.)

 

 

New Carpet in Jones Library

 

 

We added some much-needed new carpet throughout Jones, giving the space an updated, clean look and feel. We’re also working to rearrange the furniture into groupings that are perfect for individual and quiet group study, so be on the lookout for a completed look to arrive soon. Oh, and new signage for the welcome desk (seen here) is on the way!

 

 

 

Directional and Welcome Signage (Moody and Jones)

Speaking of signage, the entire Central Libraries campus got lots of new directional and welcome signage throughout Moody and Jones. Using the color palette and font families of our current marketing and communications strategy, we’ve added signs to the entry doors, major area dividing doors and elevators, as well as refreshed standing signs in the elevator lobbies. More exciting signage executions will come in a second phase, but for now, we’re excited to help make everyone’s navigation of the buildings – especially our 3,300 new first year students – that much easier. (And yes, we repainted the space about the Moody 1st information desk, too. We’ve been very busy!)

 

 

 

Prichard Study Commons Refresh

One major space got a total makeover this summer as we put new artwork – drawn from the Harding Black collection – up on the walls in the Prichard Study Commons, as well as installing an updated display panel at the entrance, and new lighting fixtures on the walls. Updated seating and study tables are on their way as well, giving this 17-year-old quiet study area a modern, updated look.

Art in the Carrels (Moody 2nd)

During the process of refreshing Prichard, we wanted to find a new home for a collection of student artwork that was purchased for installation in the space when it opened in 2001. We decided adding them to a set of study carrels on the second floor of Moody would be a good way to fresh up the space and give users something to inspire them as they work on their studies. Each piece includes a caption label and a custom hashtag that we hope users will add to their social media when they tell us how the piece inspires them as they study. Look for Art in the Carrels next time you’re walking between Moody and Jones on the second floor corridor.

 

 

 

Light and Power Ports in the Harvey Garden (Moody Garden Level)

Finally, next time you’re looking for a power boost as you study in the Harvey Garden, look no further than these light towers. Slide up the panel on the front and you’ll find power outlets and USB ports perfect for keeping the study session going when your batteries are running low.

 

 

 

 

We’re excited about all the new touches we’ve put on the Central Libraries campus in the past six months, and we hope our users enjoy them as much as we do!