How the UWSP Libraries Prepare for a New School Year

The start of the semester is soon approaching, and the librarians are busy preparing for a successful start to the new academic year.  Here are some things we are up to:

Archives:

• Scheduling archival instruction sessions for classes, meeting with professors to discuss class sessions, and designing sessions around topics or assignments.
• Returned Area Research Center materials to their repositories to make room for students’ new requests.
• Hiring new student workers to help with special projects throughout the academic year. Hiring a career-focused Pathways intern.
• Acquired new titles to add to our video games collection in anticipation of student and class use.
• Relocated Rare Books to the Archives to facilitate easier access to researchers.
• Processed archival records from UWSP at Wausau to make their collections available to students beginning this academic year.

Cataloging:

• Completed the migration of branch campus records into one single catalog.
• Processed books, eBooks, and DVDs for Reserve, in addition to regular materials.
• First batch of video games were cataloged for Archives.
• Processed educational games for Reserve, including coding robots and Legos.
• Cataloged popular games for the IMC, such as Catan, Exploding Kitten, Sushi Go Party, and
• Cards Against Humanity.

Circulation:

• Ensured collection is in useable condition with maintenance such as minor book shifts, inventorying, and shelf-reading.
• Acquired new board game/party game collection in the IMC. The collection includes classics like Scrabble and Catan, as well as newer games like Unstable Unicorns and Sushi Go.
• Responded to requests from faculty for teaching and research materials.
• Integrated Marshfield and Wausau branch library collections, which expanded resources. 

E-Resources/Collections:

• Assisted faculty – teaching both face to face courses and online courses – with the process of adding library materials to Canvas.
• Made the 50+ new Gale databases accessible in our catalog and in the database list.

Instruction/Assessment:

• Developed the first year student success collection and resource guide http://libraryguides.uwsp.edu/firstyearstudents
• Continue to collect data on the LRES 101 course from 2004-2017 in connection with GPA and retention rates.

General Library/Library Administration:

• New name is UWSP Libraries to reflect branch campuses.
• Deep cleaning (thank you to our custodial staff) and updating our spaces.
• Reviewed student employee compensation. Increased starting wage from $7.25 to $8.00. Still must have work-study.
• New display areas in lobby.

Marketing/Outreach:

• Prepared information and schedules to welcome students and faculty and staff for a variety of campus orientations, fairs, picnics, and other events, such as our “Game Party” during Welcome Week.
• Created display for Banned Books Week in September that includes challenged and contested books to shed light on this year’s theme, “Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark.”

Reserve:

• Reviewed E-reserve materials migrated from D2L to Canvas.
• Prepared physical and electronic reserves for fall.
• Renamed courses in Alma (library services platform) to reflect the branch campuses.
• Continue to work on requests for reserve materials.

Marshfield Library:

• Integrated policies, procedures, signage, and trainings with UWSP.
• Scheduled upcoming displays and outreach ideas for the upcoming year.
• Worked on two grant opportunities.
• Preparing for fall student ID distribution and “selfie” area set up.

Wausau Library:

• Integrated policies, procedures, signage, and trainings with UWSP.
• Physical updates - painting and new furniture.
• Fully incorporated The Learning Center.