Kia ora koutou
It’s been a while since my last update, and there is plenty to share and celebrate!
Let’s start with some milestones and key achievements:
* The FOLIO contract with EBSCO has been finalised, and we’re now moving into the project kick-off phase – yay!
*Henry Field Store has now been fully emptied of library items. What a great achievement – ka pai!
* We have a new addition to the library team – a Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta Splendens) now ensconced on Level 2 of PJH, who needs and prefers to live alone (see Dale’s post and pic from Wednesday this week). There’ll be a pet naming competition for this piscine pugilist in due course!
* The Research Student Showcase held on Tuesday night this week, featuring the Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) Award Ceremony. It’s such an uplifting testament to the breadth, depth, quality and talent in place across our postgraduate student research cohorts. And felt very much like the Oscars! Such fabulous mahi from Rachel and the VYT Library Team – on behalf of us all, ngā mihi nui for your sterling efforts! And the winner is:
Finally, just bringing the Library External Peer Review back to mind, following the panel’s very successful and engaging site visit back in June. The panel are currently working away at the review report, and have been in contact with a few managers this week to fact-check and request additional information, about some sections. We expect the report to be delivered by the end of this month, for sharing with SLT, the Library Committee, and us all throughout the Library team. It is due to be tabled at Academic Board before their November meeting, so we are well ahead on the timeline here.
Just an assurance and reminder that the report will comprise findings and recommendations. The recommendations will likely include some commendations for great work underway, as well as areas for us to develop further. These recommendations will also give us a unique opportunity to shape our future direction through next year and beyond. It’s an exciting time, but I appreciate it can be somewhat unsettling as we sit on the cusp and wait for the report to arrive.
On this note, a heads-up that we’ll be focussing our August Staff Forum on change and wellbeing, with Tracey Robinson joining us from P&C Wellbeing as well as our MLM Project Change Manager (Nicola Adams) from Digital Services. We’re also wanting to focus on the chance to come together, share kai and have some breakout/group kōrero. More details to come!
For now, stay warm! Happy and safe weekend,
Kat