Public Services Committee Meeting: September 14, 2022

Zoom / Conference Call

Members attending: Steve Brantley (Eastern Illinois University), Chad Kahl, co-chair (Illinois State University), Ashley McMullin (DePaul University), Arlie Sims (Columbia College Chicago), Simone Williams (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville), Lesley Wolfgang, co-chair (Saint John's College of Nursing)

Members absent: Jennifer Lau-Bond (Harper College), Katie Maier-O'Shea (North Park University), Anne Shelley (Illinois State University)

CARLI Staff attending: Elizabeth Clarage, Denise Green

Decisions

• The August 22 minutes approved.
• The committee will finish brainstorming and decide on committee annual agenda at October meeting.
• Chad will present at CARLI annual meeting.
• Plan to meet in person (maybe at ISU) for longer meeting to plan and develop programming, likely November meeting, likely hybrid.
• Elizabeth will create poll to determine best dates for the in-person meeting.

Tasks Assigned

• Minutes taken by Steve Brantley.
• Chad Kahl will develop the committee’s presentation for CARLI Annual Meeting.

Announcements

• Member Announcements:
  • Chad Kahl (Illinois State University)
    • A new Outreach and Student Engagement librarian starts in November at Milner Library.
    • ISU has its highest freshman enrollment in 35 years.
  • Lesley Wolfgang (St. John’s College of Nursing):
    • St. John’s College of Nursing is interviewing for a Dean.
  • Arlie Sims (Columbia College Chicago)
    • The library has a search for a User Experience / Electronic Resources Librarian.
  • Steve Brantley (Eastern Illinois University)
    • The library has begun a Dean search.
    • First Year Experience/Social Sciences librarian doing very well.
    • Eastern Illinois University has increased freshman enrollment.
  • Ashley McMullin (DePaul University)
    • The library is hiring an AUL for Collections.
    • They are in the last stages of hiring for a Metadata librarian.
    • There will be a Technology Checkout hire.
    • DePaul University has its largest freshman enrollment of all-time this year.
    • New President began this fall – he's everywhere on campus!
    • Welcome week push has concluded.
• CARLI Announcements:
  • The CARLI Board met last week.
  • OER grants available via the Illinois SCOERs grant program.
  • Several CARLI events approaching, esp. OER grant training. When available they will be on the CARLI calendar.
  • Professional Development alliance has several helpful events approaching for Heads/AULs/Directors, etc. All are noted on the CARLI calendar.
  • Denise is leading an Electronic Resources troubleshooting workshop aimed at management and patron troubleshooting.
  • CARLI is working on review of its strategic priorities. Anne Craig is holding listening sessions with directors and open Zoom meetings upcoming.
  • The CARLI Annual Meeting is 11-4-2022 at the I Hotel in Champaign. It will be live only.

Discussion

• Last meeting ideas listed, with new comments below:
  • Blended services/Staffing models: chat email, student workers at Circ., mix of in-person and virtual-- what is reference service now?
  • What have people done so far and how have these things been assessed?
  • Tools like Springshare’s new platform, or screen capture video, Zoom (consults by appt.)
  • Fewer student workers due to campus changes and minimum wage increases.
  • Undergraduate or graduate students doing reference. Service model has become much higher percentage of virtual only Reference services.
  • Access Services/Circulation are also affected by staff shortages and changes.
  • Combining service points like Circulation and Reference.
    • This was a sub-topic of PSC work in 2017-2018 on Library Public Service Models.
  • How engage students in post-Covid world? Ex. Business classes or freshman common courses online only.
  • Role of the library building to build library foot traffic and library services.
  • Topic of conversation has been burnout – higher education working from scarcity models, higher enrollments does not translate to hiring.
    • “quiet quitting,” “the great resignation”
    • Challenge to this programming is to focus on solutions rather than “shared pain”  
    • How do we make real changes to our services in the reality of fewer personnel
    • Is this a generational issue? Simone as millennial expressed strong boundaries between work and life and identity. Is this an institutional cultural issue?
  • How do we prioritize student success and a personal connection in a higher ed environment that emphasizes retention, mental health, and success?
  • How does remote or hybrid work impact the work/life boundaries?

Next Meeting Dates and Deadlines

The Public Services Committee will next meet on October 12, 2022 at 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Committee Meetings:
October 12, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Lesley Wolfgang
November 9, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Jennifer Lau-Bond
December 14, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Katie Maier-O'Shea
January 11, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Ashley McMullin
February 8, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Anne Shelley
March 8, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Arlie Sims
April 12, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Simone Williams
May 10, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: Chad Kahl
June 14, 2022, 10-11 a.m., Minutes: to be determined

Deadlines:
Determine committee projects in October meeting