As Director of the Rodney A. Briggs Library, I have a number of privileges and responsibilities. I have the privilege of working with knowledgeable and dedicated Briggs Library coworkers, working for the University of Minnesota, an institution with a long and proud tradition of excellence, scholarship, research and service to society, and working at the University of Minnesota, Morris, a nationally recognized public liberal arts college that is developing its own proud tradition of excellence in scholarship and research. More importantly, I have the privilege of interacting with wonderful, bright and curious students who allow librarians to share in their search for information. Add the privilege of interacting with noteworthy faculty, administrators and staff as well as community patrons, and its clear that I have an exciting job. My responsibilities include:
• Coordinating access to print and electronic sources
of information
• Providing assistance in the utilization of the information
•
Managing library personnel
• Managing the library budget
• Making sure the library building is serving the needs of the people
who use it for study and research
• Organizational oversight of the UMM Archives
Being a “working manager” means that I have the opportunity to participate in providing reference assistance and end-user group instruction, serve as back-up to the Circulation and Interlibrary Loan Managers, assist in processing electronic and paper course reserve materials, and manage the acquisition processes of the library. I have the honor of serving as liaison to the Economic/Management, Education, French, History, Political Science, Psychology and Women’s Studies disciplines.
As with many other UMM staff and faculty, I also have the opportunity to participate in campus governance and serve on various committees.
For the 2008-2009 academic year, my committee responsibilities include: Campus Resources and Planning (ex-officio), Academic Support Services (ex-officio), Rodney A. Briggs Library Associates (ex-officio), UMM Campus Assembly Executive Committee, Higher Education Commission UMM Self-Study Committee, Post-Gateway Facility Planning Task Force and Computing Services Advisory Task Force.
I also have the exciting opportunity to participate in two projects that involve partnerships with other UMM units and colleagues: UMM Digital Collections and the Indian School Service Database Project.
University of Minnesota system-wide committee service includes: University Senate Faculty Library Committee (ex-officio) and the Policies and Planning Group for the Aleph Library Automation System.