*Cross posted to multiple lists*
Core webinar: To Open or Not Open: Academic Library Building Management and
Decision-making During a PandemicDate: Wednesday, December 16, 2020
All webinars are one hour in length and begin at 11 am Pacific, noon Mountain, 1 pm Central, and 2 pm Eastern time.
Description: Closing, opening, and/or reopening academic libraries during a pandemic requires library decision-makers to take on new roles, learn new things, and apply new knowledge to decision making for their facilities and employees. These decision-makers find themselves in need of real-time information — not only about their own institution’s practices, but also how other libraries are responding. Some are thrust into leadership positions on their own campuses. Others struggle for guidance.
This webinar will present strategies used on several campuses during COVID-19 to manage risk in the face of uncertainty – on campuses that have reopened their libraries. The presenters will discuss the resources referenced, experts engaged, processes undertaken both external and internal to the library to support the decision to reopen, preparations to reopen and staying open. The architect on the panel will also explain COVID-19 planning and design strategies for campus learning environments, including campus-specific variables that may impact strategies as well as how these planning strategies may be applied to library environments. This academic library-specific discussion is meant to help participants in their own planning, synthesizing generalized information that is out there, and making it applicable to libraries, considering space, building systems, health protocols, custodial support, security, staff and student employee safety and other topics. The webinar isn’t intended as best practices, more of a guide to decision-making and planning, combined with some lessons learned and a primer for the future.
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to apply case studies, information, and advice from academic library decision-makers and planners to current and future decision-making at their own institutions during COVID-19 and similar situations.
Who should attend?
Academic librarians, academic library facilities personnel and academic library decision-makers
Moderator: Sharon Murphy
Presenters:
Luke Voiland is a principal at Shepley Bulfinch, leading higher education and library design projects including the award-winning Ringling College Alfred R. Goldstein Library and several revitalizations of mid-century modern buildings. Luke is the lead architect for the on-goingg Emerson College COVID-19 space planning efforts. A member of the Board of Directors, Luke has led many important initiatives for the firm, including the Summer Design Fellow program.
Jennie Gerke is the Associate Dean for Success and Engagement Strategies in the University Libraries at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she manages the services of Norlin Library and the three branch libraries. Her research interests are on mentoring and library leadership. Her research focuses on how users of libraries and their spaces interact, as well as mentoring and library leadership. Jennie chaired the restart group in Norlin and coordinated implementation of the reopening of contactless pickup, transformation of library spaces into classrooms, and reopening of study spaces.
Amy Kirkland is an architect and planner for the University of Colorado Boulder, where she has served as a liaison between the Library and the Facilities Management Division. As a licensed architect, Amy brings design and construction knowledge to the early planning phases of projects. Since 2014, Amy has been instrumental in the development of planning studies, program plans, and overseeing the initial design phases of capital projects for a variety of campus constituents.
Steven Escar Smith is professor and dean of libraries at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He also currently serves as special assistant to the chancellor for the COVID-19 response. In the spring of 2020, he co-chaired the Re-imagine Fall Task Force, which made campus-level recommendations for the resumption of classes, research, and other activities.
Rebecca A. Richardson, Assistant Dean, Libraries and School of Information Studies, Purdue University
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Registration Fees: Core Member $43; Non-member $59; Group rate $129
For additional information and access to registration links, please go to the following website:
Core webinars are recorded and registrants receive a link to the recording shortly following the live event.
For questions about registration, contact ALA Registration by calling 1-800-545-2433 and press 5 or email registration@ala.org
For all other questions or comments related to the webinars, please contact freuland@ala.org
Posted on behalf of the Core Continuing Education Committee.