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

3 full teaching librarians 2 graduate assistants 1 extra help Access Services today – Includes all circulation and research staff/faculty Circulation Research and Instruction 3 full teaching librarians 2 graduate assistants 1 extra help Help from staff 1 Supervisor of Operations 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 – roles1@marshall.edu Kelli Johnson – johnson28@marshall.edu