Kia ora Koutou,

With Dale having been successful in the Library Strategy Navigator role, the ELS team now has a vacancy for a Fixed Term team leader.

This role would extend from 15 April (or as close as possible) to the 15 October – when Dale’s fixed term role is due to come to an end. It is a 37.5 hour per week band 5 role. The successful person will look after 13 direct reports.

So, if you have ever wanted to gain experience in a supportive environment to learn how to coach, people manage and lead in a library team, and you love timetabling, this may be the opportunity for you!

If you wish to apply, please email your expression of interest along with your CV to both Aurelia and me by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday 2 April.

I have attached the PD to Teams post. If you have any questions, please feel free to talk to me, Dale, Isabella, or Aurelia.

This will be cross posted on Teams.

Ngā Mihi,

Simon Burge
Kaiwhakahaere Ratonga Kiritaki | Manager Engagement and Learning Support

If you have ever had to go through a bunch of data, maybe in a spreadsheet, and you need to tidy it up somehow, let me introduce you to Open Refine, the most amazing tool for managing messy data.

I use it all the time.  As part of our Software Carpentry training I’m leading a half day course on it.  I’d love to have a few librarians in the mix, along with researchers

https://canterbury.libcal.com/event/5629109?f=h

Anton.

Kia ora koutou,

Our welcome event for new Library staff is on Thursday morning at 11am. Come along to Undercroft 101 to share some kai and welcome our new colleagues in person!

If you are planning to join us please RSVP to juliet.lackersteen@canterbury.ac.nz for catering purposes.

Kia ora koutou,

On behalf of Kat and the interview panel, I am very pleased to let you know that after a vigorous recruitment process, Dale will be moving into the fixed term Library Strategy Navigator Role. This role will report directly to Kat and work closely with the Library Management Team. The role will be responsible for facilitating the formation of the library’s strategic plan – which is one of the primary tasks to come out of the external review we had last year.

Dale will commence in the role on 15 April and it is due to go through until 18 October at this stage.

Simon will be starting an EoI process for an acting Team Leader within ELS in the next week.

Due to an internal secondment, expressions of interest are invited for the fixed term role of Acting Manager, Learning and Teaching. This will run until the 30th April.  Reporting to the AUL Learning and Engagement the role of Manager, Learning and Teaching Services is to:

• Take a leadership role for the delivery of Learning and Teaching services ensuring high quality, innovative services are delivered in line with the University Learning and Teaching Plan and to meet the needs of student and academic communities.
• Ensure an integrated, user-centred approach to service provision in collaboration with the wider Library team, academic staff and other service providers.
• Take a leadership role for the management and development of the Learning and Teaching team.
• Manage the provision of information and digital literacy programmes. This position will work collaboratively in a matrix structure with the Manager, Research Services to deliver services that support Learning, Teaching and Research.

This opportunity will run through until the 30 April. Please submit a short written EOI and a copy of your CV by 5 pm Friday 22 March.

If you are interested in this opportunity and would like more information before you submit an application, please feel free to be in touch with me directly.

The full position description is available here. K:\Operations\HR\Position descriptions

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

A couple of important updates to share.  Firstly, thanks to Māori and Pacific staff for your feedback over the last month on our draft Library Ops Plan 2024.  We have incorporated all suggestions and uploaded the latest version of our Plan to the Library All Staff Teams site, in the General channel, under Files | Key Documents.

Please take a look as you can, and have a chat with colleagues and your manager if you’d like to feedback or discuss further.  We look forward to your input.

Sending our best wishes and thanks to Erin for this afternoon’s “Drawing Connections – Exploring the Architecture of Cecil Wood” exhibition opening at the Southbase Gallery, Tuakiri at Tūranga. This exhibition uses the architectural drawings of Cecil Wood from our UC Archives collection to explore the cultural and historical context of Ōtautahi’s built environment, and is a partnership between CCL, UC Art History and the UC Library – ka pai!

Also best wishes and thanks to Fiona and Lydia, who have done much hard work on a review of our Art Collection Policy.  The revised policy has been presented to and endorsed by Library Committee, and goes to Academic Board for discussion (and we hope approval) later today.  Ka rawe!

Finally, an update on my whereabouts over the next couple of months.  I’m clear to fly to Hawai’i this weekend for the IFLA 2024 Library Buildings mid-term conference: Storytelling and Imagination Embracing Indigeneity in Architecture and Transforming Difficult Library Buildings

Then will return to Ōtautahi for one day prior to breast cancer surgery booked for 20 March.  There’s a 6-week recovery time for the surgery I’ll be having, so assuming all goes well, I’ll be back to work from 1 May onwards.  Helen is Acting University Librarian from next Monday 11 March up until Tuesday 30 April, and you’ll have seen the EOI to back-fill her substantive role (AUL – Research) posted to Counterculture earlier this morning.

I want to thank you all for your wonderful well wishes and aroha as I knuckle down to deal with what’s ahead – it makes a world of difference to know how much support is out there.

Kia pai te mutunga wiki,
Kat

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.

Steinn Sigurðsson is Scientific Directorat arXiv, Professor in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Pennsylvania State Unversity, Science Editor at the Astrophysical Journal, Board Member at Aspen Center for Physics, and a Board Member at ScienceCast.

At this seminar Professor Sigurðsson will talk about open science/research and the “state of the arXiv”, followed by a Q&A session and afternoon tea.

UC Library and UC Meta are thrilled to host this seminar. Afternoon tea is brought to you by UC Meta.

It’s on Tuesday 19 March, 1.00-2.30, Puaka-James Hight Room 224 (next to the main entrance of Central Library)

See https://canterbury.libcal.com/event/5637904 to register.

Kia ora koutou

Keeping this brief as know how busy everyone is.
Our student numbers have increased again this year, as well publicised in the media lately, and we are all seeing it firsthand in demand for study spaces, our services, and our welcome.  Just moving across campus at the moment needs additional time built in, to weave a path through the flash mobs of eager ākonga!

My gratitude and admiration to you all, for doing your utmost to deliver great service and high quality learning experiences, while pressure is all around.  I appreciate also that our upgrade to FOLIO, and the changes we’ve made to our Discovery services, is adding complexity at this time.  We’re continuing to build our understanding of the issues while working closely with the vendor, to resolve any issues identified.

My thanks too to the team who participated in, and led programme sessions, at the NDF / Cantage / ARANZ community day on Wednesday.  Attending were Fiona, Cherilyn, Hannah, Sarah and Helen, with Damian helping with set-up.  Erin and Lydia both presented – ka rawe!

A reminder that our Library Strategy Navigator fixed-term role is still open for applications, closing this Sunday 3^rd March.  Noting that for an existing member of the team, we would explore setting up a secondment.  More info, and the position description, available here: Library Strategy Navigator – University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Finally, I’m excited to share with you the IFLA Library Buildings Section Seminar Programme, to be held at the University of Hawai’i in two weeks. The seminar theme is: Storytelling and Imagination Embracing Indigeneity in Architecture and Transforming Difficult Library Buildings

And we have keynote sessions as follows:

• Whare Timu, Warren & Mahoney, Aotearoa – Voices of Indigeneity: The Potential of Co-Design
• Robert Iopa, WCIT Architecture, Hawai’i – Native Hawaiian architecture
• Elisabeth Martin, MDA-Design Group, New York Transforming and Renewing Existing Libraries: Examples and Field Notes from the Field
• Gili Meerovitch, Pfeiffer Partners, Los Angeles – Beyond Renovation: Turning Constraints into Opportunities in Library Transformations

I look forward to sharing back insights from these sessions and speakers, when I return.  I’m leaving for Hawai’i on Sunday 10 March.  Aurelia will be Acting UL in my absence.  Ngā mihi, Aurelia!

Kia pai te mutunga wiki,
Kat