-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Map collection staffing
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:04:21 -0500
From: Shelly McCoy <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: University of Delaware
------------------
The Map Room in the University of Delaware Library just went from being
staffed from 2 to 5 pm Sun. - Fri. to being able to be "accessed" during
the open hours of the Microforms & Copy Services unit. This unit is on
the same level of the Library as the Map Room and within eye site. This
new policy was done for staffing reasons --it was difficult to schedule
someone to be in there and not enough use in the room to continue it. I
turned this new policy into a positive one by telling people that it is
in fact more accessible now, but I always worry that it is another
reason the Library may decide to close the map room. I also worry that
projects that need done in the room are easily pushed aside since staff
are not scheduled to be in the room (the room is staffed by salaried
staff only but shares maintenance with the Coordinator, Gov. Documents
Processing Unit --a librarian --and his staff.)
I look forward to others' responses.
Thanks, Shelly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shelly McCoy
Head, Digital User Services Department
University of Delaware
Morris Library
Newark, DE 19717-5267
(302)831-6363
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Johnnie D. Sutherland wrote:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: Map collection staffing
> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 09:32:23 -0500
> From: Weessies, Kathleen <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
> ------------------
> We touched on the idea of "de-staffing" a map collection at the 2003 ALA
> conference. The MAGERT research libraries discussion group shared some
> anecdotes concerning thefts and lack of service.
>
> I am grateful that my area is designed in a way that it really needs to
> be staffed. The Map Library is a room within the Main Library having
> its own lockable doors, plus I have a back room full of valuable reserve
> items. Even if the walls were knocked down, there is no other public
> staffing point anywhere near that could pretend to watch over the
> collection. I have myself, a 1/2-time copy cataloger, and 5-7 student
> workers to keep the area staffed during our 91 hours per week that we
> are open.
>
> Maps aren't an easy part of the collection; they are very much a special
> collection. But they are worth the effort! If left unsupervised, the
> collection will devolve to just the items no one has felt like stealing.
> If supervised and nurtured by a librarian, it can develop into
> something the institution can really be proud of.
>
> Kathleen Weessies
> Maps/GIS Librarian
> Michigan State University
> 100 Library W308
> East Lansing, MI 48824
> (517)432-6123 x250
>
>
> At 04:23 PM 3/10/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Map collection staffing
>> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 08:04:14 -0700 (MST)
>> From: Christa Anne Fehrer <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------
>>
>> Our library is undergoing a reorganization of services that involves all
>> staff and faculty moving to a central location rather than providing
>> specialist help on individual floors.
>>
>> This change is to include moving staff, faculty, and student assistants
>> from the Documents and Maps Division on L.1 up to L.3. We are a
>> Regional
>> Depository with a large map collection (over 1/4 million items, with
>> about
>> 10-15% of those being locked).
>>
>> I am wondering how other map collections are staffed. Are faculty or
>> staff located with the map collection to serve and maintain it? Please
>> explain why or why not.
>>
>> I will really appreciate your response.
>>
>> Christa Fehrer
>> Maps Technician
>> Mansfield Library
>> Univ. of Montana
>> Missoula, MT 59812
>> [log in to unmask]
>> 1-406-243-4564
>
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shelly McCoy
Head, Digital User Services Department
University of Delaware
Morris Library
Newark, DE 19717-5267
(302)831-6363
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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