Kia ora koutou

It’s so great to be back fulltime again now after my extended absence of late for health reasons.  On which note, I’m really delighted to report I have the all-clear for both breast and skin cancer, and no further treatment is required.  Needless to say, celebrations and gratitude have been the order of the day! And this extends to you all, for your wonderful collegial support, well-wishes and willingness to take care of lots of pieces of work on my behalf, as I went through this journey.

Since coming back, I’ve been focussed on getting up to speed again, noting some constraints now in place for our budget.  This means we need to re-scope some of our planned activities and initiatives for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025, in particular the implementation of our Library Review priority recommendations.  I’m working with Library Managers to put some shape around this, and to identify together what *is* possible. It’s also great we have Dale in post and well underway with our Strategy and Vision work, to give us a framework and mandate for our future.

We’re seeing illness (Covid and flu in particular) cut a swathe through our teams just now, so I urge you all to take care and rest up as possible while winter does its wretched thing.

On a brighter note, I’m aware there have been some great training & development opportunities take place, or about to take place, for many in our teams.  I’m looking forward to share-backs and learning more about these experiences in due course!

For now, happy and safe weekend all,

Kat

Management musical chairs continues.

Aurelia Arona will be acting UL next week (16-23 March).
Sara Roberts will be covering Helen’s Associate University Librarian role from 18 March – 30 April.

If you are interested in joining in the fun, please look out for an EOI to cover Sara’s role, to be released shortly!

Kia ora koutou,
The management team has a fixed term secondment opportunity available from now until 30 April 2024 for Associate University Librarian: Research. Position Description – AUL-Research-2022-06

The purpose of this 37.5 hpw (1 EFT), Band 8 role is to:
• In partnership with the Pou Tuatahi | University Librarian lead the strategic planning and leadership of Ngā Puna Mātauraka | UC Library in a way that reflects the values and strategic intent of the University, and the changing tertiary and information environment.
• Lead research support services for Ngā Puna Mātauraka | UC Library with a strong focus on research impact and access to knowledge.
• Foster strong relationships with academic and general staff to support learning, teaching, research, and bicultural practice.

We are looking for someone with the following skills and attributes:
• A proven ability to effectively lead change across libraries or other organisations.
• A minimum of 10 years’ work experience in a library or education related environment, including management experience.
• Experience of influencing and negotiating effectively at a senior level.
• Demonstrable ability to manage and be accountable for financial, human and material resources.
• Demonstrable experience in service development and innovation, including monitoring and evaluating service delivery.
• A thorough understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and implications for libraries.
• Awareness of current developments in provision of library resources and services.
• Awareness of current developments in learning, teaching and research.
• Strong interpersonal and team working skills, including ability to work collaboratively across cultures and build trust.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Sound project management and planning skills.
• An understanding of the digital technologies related to libraries and the educational sector.
• Recognising Te Ao Ngāi Tūāhuriri – values, tikanga (processes), kawa (rules) of cultural practice and traditions and valuing Te Reo Māori.

If you are interested in dealing with the wierd and the wonderful whilst developing your skills and experience in an environment of supported autonomy, please email me your Expression of Interest (e.g. a brief para explaining why you’re suitable, CV optional) by 5:00 p.m., Wed 13 March. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short interview.

Let your inner Byronic* tendencies run wild and compose an ode to Horizon, a sonnet to Summon or fill a folio with fulsome words for FOLIO. Help us bid farewell to our old library systems and welcome in the new.

Competition dates:
Opens: 21 February 2024
Closes: 21 March 2024

How to enter: Compose your poem and submit via comments to this Counterculture post.

Judging Criteria:

• Originality
• Structure
• Relevance to library systems

Competition Rules:

• Unlimited entries
• No backsies
• AI and other tools are permissible

Prize: Your poem read out at the Farewell to Horizon/Welcome to FOLIO event, bragging rights and some chocolate

Why Participate?

• Polish your poetic prowess
• Immortality (of a sort)
• Chance of delicious chocolate treats just before Easter (re-gifting is allowed)

[*insert your poet of choice]

Kia ora koutou

Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we are now live with FOLIO (Horizon replacement) and new MultiSearch (replaced Summon with EDS).

Feedback from the online training sessions was that some in-person, hands-on training on our version of FOLIO and EDS would be helpful. As a result, we have scheduled 3 training sessions this week:

• Tuesday 11-12
• Wednesday 2-3pm
• Thursday 9-10am

Come along to the EPS Library training room for a chance to practice, play or share any issues you might be experiencing.

Ngā mihi
Helen

The Love to Ride challenge starts on Wednesday 1 Feb. Information : Love to Ride NZ. We currently have 24 library riders in our team.

The aim of the challenge is to help people discover the joy of riding and get out there and try it.  If that’s not your thing, but you still have access to a bike, logging one ride still puts you in the running to win prizes (e.g. sweet turntable, clothes vouchers plus bike stuff)

If you need help registering, some advice on the best commuter routes, or just where nearby is fun to take your whānau for a weekend pootle, I’m happy to help.

Ngā mihi, Helen

Kat Cuttriss will be starting with us on Monday. She’s looking forward to meeting more of the Library whānau and managers will be taking her out and about to meet people as part of her first day.

Tim, Dale, Isabella and I (Helen) will be returning to our usual roles the same day so all back to normality.

Ngā mihi o te tau hou! Happy new year!

The above position has been posted on the UC job board with a closing date of 6 Feb 2023. You can apply on SnapHire here: https://jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/recruiter/?&p=0&r=dbx8pqru3s80&reload=true

Please do tell anyone you know who might be interested in the role.

Ngā mihi, Helen

We have had two additional COVID cases

• Daniella Grimberg – tested positive on Tuesday 6 December. Last day on campus Monday 5 December
• Margaret Paterson – tested positive on Saturday 4 December. Last day on campus Tuesday 29 November

This brings the Library’s active cases up to 5. My thanks to everyone who when feeling sick has then stayed at home. This is really helping!