MIT
Reports to the President 1994-95
ADMINISTRATION
Administrative Services staff were involved in a number of re-engineering
efforts including the new accounting system and new mail procedures. Within
the Libraries, the staff were deeply involved in activities related to the new
library operating system especially in those aspects dealing with acquisitions,
fund accounting, financial reporting, and audits. Administrative Services
participated in a Physical Plant Pilot Program entitled "Operational
Communications Model" that will initially involve the Dewey and Schering-Plough
Libraries in a new repair and maintenance system.
The Audit Division completed an audit of the Libraries during the year and the
final report was highly favorable.
Administrative Services staff were heavily in the successful renovation of
space in the Hayden basement that became the Libraries' electronic training
facility. Another major successful renovation was that of the conference room
on the third floor of Hayden Library. This room is now a showplace for the
Libraries and is in almost constant use for meetings.
The Safety and Security Task Force completed work on a Patron Relations Manual,
intended as a resource to assist staff members in dealing effectively and
courteously with library users and to provide uniform procedures to ensure the
safety and well-being of library staff and users. The completion of the manual
was an occasion for the Task Force to meet with Anne Glavin, Chief of Campus
Police to review the procedures and discuss safety matters in general.
The Staff Programs Committee organized a wide range of well-received offerings
for the entire staff this year including tours of MIT and other local libraries
units, a tour of the MIT Press, a poetry reading, a slide show, and a pizza
party.
On May 16, 1995, the Libraries sponsored a program on "Recruiting, Hiring, and
Working with a Diverse Staff" presented by Kriza Jennings, the Program Officer
for Diversity and Minority Recruiting at the Association of Research Libraries.
The program included an open session for all interested staff on "Diversity in
Higher Education - Terminology, Concepts, Why the Emphasis, and Making it
Happen." This session was followed by working sessions for supervisors of
professional staff and of support staff respectively. These sessions were
devoted to discussion of recruiting and hiring practices and general issues
surrounding diversity in the workplace. In addition, there was a lunch session
attended by selected Institute staff with personnel responsibilities, including
the Assistant Provost for Administration and the Libraries' Personnel Officer.
The day's program provided participants with a useful introduction to concepts
and practical methodologies related to promoting diversity in the workplace.
In March, the Institute issued its Performance Evaluation Form for
Administrative Staff. Several Library Council discussions were devoted to
discussing the use of the form in the Libraries. Comments on the form were
sent to the Vice President for Human Resources. Council agreed to use the
form, with minor adaptations, for the Libraries' Administrative Staff beginning
in FY1996, and to comply with the Institute's requirement to do written
evaluations for all staff annually.
Jay K. Lucker
COLLECTION SERVICES
MIT
Reports to the President 1994-95