Doing More with Less the MU Skeleton Crew

Doing More with Less: the MU Skeleton Crew Eryn D. Roles, Research and Instruction Librarian, Library Instruction Coordinator Kelli Johnson, Associate University Librarian, Head of Access Services and Outreach

The Great Divorce • MU Libraries was part of Information Technology for approximately 18 years. In 2016 MU Libraries was moved back under Academic Affairs with the change in leadership at MU. • Since 1998, MU Libraries has lost 4 administrative staff, 7 library staff/librarians in Huntington and 2 library staff/librarians at MUSC. • Currently MU Libraries has 5 vacant positions as the result of retirements and resignations.

The Great Escape How did a department that was always “IT” make a name for themselves as a separate department? We are… HERE TO HELP each other! All hands on deck! Reimagine our team.

The Evolution of Access Services • Over the years, the circulation and reference departments have gone through many iterations • Circulation with IDS • Circulation without IDS • Circulation with Reference • Circulation without Reference • Circulation as a part of IT Customer Services (with IDS) • Reference with and without a departmental supervisor

Access Services today – Includes all circulation and research staff/faculty Research and Instruction Circulation • 3 full teaching librarians • 1 Supervisor of Operations • 2 graduate assistants • 1 extra help • Help from staff • 10 staff (LTA II, LA, IT Tech, DB Tech) • Responsibilities include building management, all IDS, circulation, tech support, special projects

So, how did we work smarter? Not harder?

We didn’t. We worked smarter AND harder…. • CREDO Information Literacy Modules/Revamped lesson plans/Assignment design workshops • Staff/Faculty training retreats/conferences • Better scheduling practices • Research days for instruction classes (as opposed to individual meetings) • Research consultations through Writing Center • Redistribution of library partners • Working with Student Affairs to combat plagiarism • Faculty Learning Communities

Continued… • Merging positions/identifying the talents of ALL (including MLS students) • Outreach to K-12 groups and MU OCCHS classes • Research guides • Staffing the building for the growing student need • Partnership with INTO • ITL 115 – developed as an intro info lit course – hope to update for all students • Assignment design – hope to make it an official service we provide

Instruction requests are at an all time HIGH • August 2016 – November 2016 • GA (no EH) = 17 • Teaching librarians (Tim Balch, Sabrina Thomas, Eryn Roles, Ron Titus, Kat Phillips) = 100 • Non-RIS librarians = 35 • (152 sessions) • August 2017 – November 2017 • GA/EH = 25 • Teaching librarians (Eryn Roles, Sabrina Thomas, and Ron Titus) = 94 • Non-RIS librarians (minus 2) = 32 • (151 sessions)

We made MORE work for ourselves BUT in the long run – IF positions are reinstated – we will have more efficient practices and protocols.

Questions/Discussions Eryn Roles – roles [email protected] edu Kelli Johnson – johnson [email protected] edu