Mōrena,
This week we’ll be running some maintenance tasks on Horizon to keep it ticking along for the new year. We’ll try to minimise disruptions to performance, but you may notice Horizon getting a bit slow at times and possibly even freezing. If the freezing persists, please contact Library Systems.
Ngā mihi,
Donna
Library Systems
Ngā Mihi o te wā me te Tau Hou | Seasons greetings and New Year good wishes to everyone.
As the end of the year is upon us, we wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for all that you have done this year in terms of work here in the library and in contribution to the wider university. Omicron came to town, really made its presence felt in terms of impact on the University for both staff and students and of course our ways of working. All your efforts in helping us to plan, maintain services, keeping students and staff safe as far as possible are much appreciated.
This year marked the end of an era with Anne’s retirement, and now we look forward to Kat coming onboard in January. We are excited to see where we will head under her leadership and what her priorities for us might be, in a changing environment for learning, teaching and research institutions in an international covid era environment. We are excited to continue working together and achieving great things. Thank you for all that you do and we wish you all a happy, restful and as far as possible a covid-free holiday period.
Maybe something about taking time to recharge however works best for you… whether that’s spending time with whānau, eating lots of delicious kai, getting out and about, seeing or doing something new or revisiting something you love.
Helen, Aurelia and Tim
Update 16th December
Tim Stedman
Further to my post last week, this is an update provided by Purple Shirt regarding the observational research they are doing in the first couple of weeks in January speaking with different Library staff (depending on who is around). Any queries you are welcome to contact me (Tim Stedman).
Background
UC’s Digital Services team are working alongside Libraries on a piece of research in which they are hoping to engage with a range of Library staff.
UC is currently reviewing the technologies that underpin the Library’s digital experience with the view that the out-dated library management system will be replaced with a more modern alternative. Purple Shirt (UC’s UX partner) have been asked to support UC to define the user requirements for the new system from the perspective of those who will be interacting with it. What does an intuitive, well-designed system look like to you as library staff? It’s less about the technical aspects, more about the human. This work is being led by Rhiannon Josland from Purple Shirt.
While defining the user experience of the library management system is our focus, we’re also hoping to uncover other opportunities that might exist for the future digital experience of the library.
As a side note, some of you have have already met Vinny Ahluwalia (Business Analyst, Digital Services) who is leading research to understand what the technical requirements of the system need to be.
How you can help
To get a better sense of the context our various library staff work in, and the digital systems being used, Rhiannon will be situated around both the Libraries, and the Library offices in January (9-12th, 16-19th).
During this time, she will be roaming the floors and introducing herself, so if you have time and are comfortable having a kōrero with her it would be very welcomed. Even 15-30 minutes would be great.
Alternatively you are welcome to reach out directly in January if you’d like to organise a time that best suits you (Teams or email – rhiannon.josland@canterbury.ac.nz).
For those of us who will be here on the 22nd of December, we will be having the deeply extremely traditional picnic on Level 4 amongst the picture book collection.
Bring your lunch and join us at 12 midday on the 22nd of December.
Kia ora,
I’m holding an improptu Zotero face to face session tomorrow (Thursday 15 Dec.) at 1pm in Poutama. Bring a laptop, but you don’t need to if you just want to see what it is about.
Anton.
To my dear UC family (sorry for the emotional drivel that follows but I think you know me so well and you’re used to it by now!)
Well, another incredibly difficult decision made – though happily, under vastly different circumstances to last time! I only just got back home to UC and I have been like a pig in mud being back here! Despite all the crazy commuting, house-selling challenges and moving exhaustion, I’ve loved every second of being back! This truly is my dream job – I’m not just saying that – it’s actually true! Despite the occasional gripes and frustrations we all have from time to time, I think we all know that UC library is special. We are so lucky to work in a place with such a wonderful, supportive culture. I know I will never find a job and a bunch of colleagues/friends like this again and it’s not something I would ever give up lightly…
As many of you might be aware, I have recently become engaged to my Finnish partner, Jussi. It’s a very big deal for a 36-year old self-declared crazy cat lady spinster who had given up on all that stuff! It was always the intention that he would be moving here – he knows how much my job and this place mean to me and, working in IT, you would think it would have been a smooth path ahead with NZ immigration. However, this has certainly not been the case. It would still take many months and possibly years of job applications, sponsorship applications, trips back and forth, grappling with the visa points system and so on. However for me to go to Finland, it is infinitely more simple and much faster. Therefore, we have decided that this is the only way forward for us. I will be going back to Finland on the 8th of February. Jussi and I will be getting married in Tampere on the 10th of March and I will be staying on whilst my Finnish residency visa is processed.
It honestly pains me more than I can describe having got my dream job back and then having to give it up again so soon. I’m also so very aware of the inconvience all this has caused my wonderful, amazing team, who were so incredibly kind to invite me back into the team. It’s incredibly disappointing in all regards to have me leave so soon and I’m so sorry for everything 🙁 If there’s one thing in life I have learned, it’s that very few people in this world can have everything. To have one great thing in life, often means sacrificing another and I wish I didn’t have to choose in this way. Having my dream job was one goal in life, but there are things outside of work which I have not yet achieved and I feel this is my last and only opportunity to do so. I hope you won’t blame me or judge me harshly for the choice I have made.
My time at UC has meant so much more to me than being just a job and I will miss you all so much. I’m warning you right now, I can’t talk about any of this without bursting into tears, so you are forewarned to not ask me questions or mention it to me unless you actually want to have a blubbering idiot in the room – and nobody wants that!
Please, please, please keep in touch! I will always have such a connection with this place. It will always be home, even if I am on the other side of the world!
Hugs to you all xx
Bronwyn
Kia ora tīma,
For my voluntary hours this year I would like to collect and deliver items for Christchurch City Mission’s Foodbank Christmas Wishlist. If you have a few spare dollars at your next grocery shop and would like to donate a festive item it would be so appreciated.
Any items for donation can be left by the LAC ‘Christmas tree’ (PJH workroom 519 – you’ll see Glenna’s excellent decorating). I’m also happy to swing by EPS and MB, and pop down to ELS.
Items will need to be ready by 3pm Friday 16th December, and I will deliver the goodies the following Monday (long shelf life is a must). Sorry for such short notice!
Ngā mihi nui,
Leah
Kia Ora Koutou,
On Friday 23 December, the UC logistics team will be carrying out fumigation of the libraries – an annual event that usually happens this time of year.
During this time, no staff can be on site due to the chemicals used.
Please open any drawers that have any papers / collections in so they can be covered by the fog as we close up for the year on Thursday 22 December.
However, please turn over any mugs / cups you are leaving here over the break, so no residue can settle inside.
Paul from UC Logistics has been discussing with Fiona at MB their specific requirements.
Hopefully, everyone on the 23rd should be enjoying the start of their holiday break! But, just in case you felt you needed to shoot back in to collect something on that day – or to finish that one pesky piece of work – please don’t.
Ngā Mihi, Simon.