Goal 1: Develop talent, resources, and experiences that facilitate community.

Talent Management – Staff Recognition: Workgroup members created and administered a staff survey to gather feedback on existing recognition and appreciation events. Based on survey results, they created a quarterly appreciation event - Donuts with the Dean. The workgroup also explored staff anniversary recognition, expanding on the work that the University does by aiming to honor Library-specific service. By laying the groundwork for a permanent committee, this workgroup has created conditions for continual positive change for our staff.

Goal 2: Transform the Libraries’ environment and user-centered experience to anticipate evolving modes of learning.

Library Recognition: The workgroup completed an environment scan of academic library awards to pursue and enacted plans to apply for select awards. The workgroup  submitted and drafted multiple applications for recognition of the Libraries’ recently-renovated Sidley Lounge space and has other applications in progress for submission in 2026. The processes created by this workgroup for identifying and applying for awards and other forms of recognition will help raise the national profile of the Libraries.

Goal 3: Forge meaningful partnerships that foster affordability, ensure relevancy, and cultivate life-long connections.

External Funding: This workgroup completed an environment scan for project ideas across the Libraries and created a project tracking tool to monitor grant projects from inception to completion. The workgroup also met with University Advancement’s Corporate and Foundation Relations staff to explore new routes for funding. The contributions of this workgroup have allowed the Libraries to quickly adapt to changes in the external funding environment.

Planning for Catalyst ‘26 is well underway, with this year’s initiatives being developed in intentional alignment with MiamiTHRIVE, the University’s strategic plan.

More information on Catalyst can be found at Lib.MiamiOH.edu/Strategic.

Join us to hear Don’s firsthand stories — from his journey to enroll at Miami and the inspiration for his life’s work to highlights from his enduring relationships with Miami’s past and current Presidents. You’ll hear why he characterizes his continuous service with such passion and generosity, and why he’s one of the most decorated volunteers in Miami history.

A former varsity athlete inducted into the Miami University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019, Don’s tireless commitment includes serving on the Board of Trustees, teaching classes in the Farmer School of Business, and twice receiving the Don Loss Volunteer of the Year award. He’ll also share the joys of his Miami family legacy, having a wife and two daughters who are all proud Farmer School of Business graduates.

EVENT DETAILS

• Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025

• Time: 11:00 A.M.

• Location: King Library, Room 320

• Virtual Option: The event will also be presented virtually. Register to attend

As the Business Librarian, Erica will be helping students across all disciplines at Farmer School of Business in their research and study needs, including identifying and helping them navigate business resources and databases available here at Miami. This includes the departments of Accountancy, Business, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, and Marketing. She will collaborate with Abi Morgan, Social Sciences Librarian, in Entrepreneurship and Marketing especially to help students in market and industry research.

Erica ran across the Miami University Libraries’ job posting while she was running a jobs list for her cohort at UNC. She says she leapt at the opportunity to come back to Ohio. “I loved working with the business students at UNC and enjoyed my time working and living previously in Columbus. I knew I wanted to be back in the Midwest.”

We recognize how lucky we were to be able to find and hire a candidate like Erica. Kevin Messner, Head of the Advise and Instruct Department, said, “We’re thrilled to be able to bring Erica to MUL as Business Librarian. In her interviews Erica showed great awareness of what our subject specialist librarians need to focus on – namely our students and instructional mission – as well as facility with the technical knowledge resources we provide for the FSB academic programs.”

When she isn’t teaching, Erica enjoys cooking and hosting dinner parties and taking yoga classes. She says, “Exploring Hueston Woods and the surrounding areas of Oxford has been such a welcome surprise- summer in Ohio is undefeated. I really appreciate living in town because it’s all walkable and there are lots of local businesses.”

Students can reach Erica by email at freede@miamioh.edu or by scheduling an in-person or Zoom appointment through the library website. She is also available for drop-ins at her office, located at 201 King Library.

Donna joined the Libraries 12 years ago after seeing the job on the Miami University job website and realizing it was an opportunity she couldn’t afford to miss. Her interview was not without drama — a fire alarm went off and she had to evacuate the building. After moving her interview the Art and Architecture Library she persevered. “Right then and there, I discovered the flexibility and adaptability and the consideration of the Library.”

For anyone else considering a job with the Miami University Libraries, Donna encourage you to come with an open mind. “Know the value statements, the mission, and really embrace it.” She says she will miss the human element in the Libraries. “It’s the people and their personal stories,” she said. “The way we all work together and contribute to the space and the work environment. Particularly for the library, I will miss the innovative surprises.”

I have always been able to count on Donna to keep the Dean’s Suite organized and running right,” said Jerome Conley, Dean and University Librarian. “She exemplifies the values of the Libraries.”

Looking back on her time at Miami, Donna is proud of the work she accomplished as a coordinator. “Coordinators coordinate,” she said. “We bring people together, resolve issues, enhance the experience, and maintain a sense of unity and consistency.” We are grateful to Donna for her hard work over the years at Miami and especially at the Miami University Libraries. We will miss her and wish her the best in her retirement.

The biggest but least visible change has been coming for a long time. During the summer months, librarians at MUL and all over the state of Ohio tested and troubleshot to get all of the OhioLINK libraries moved to a brand-new Alma system. As a member of OhioLINK, we took advantage of this software overhaul and transition. It will make accessing resources easier for Miami students — no matter what library the materials are found in.

Another exciting change is the expansion of our Textbooks on Reserve program. Last year we were able to offer books on reserve at the Library for our 50 most popular classes. This year, we were able to double those efforts. We are now offering textbooks for the top 100 classes at Miami.

Building updates are currently ongoing in King Library as well. The air handlers in our library have long needed upgrades. Throughout the summer and into the fall we’ve been investing in them, preparing a comfortable environment with less fluctuations in temperature, in order to be the welcoming space that our students and scholars expect.

We’ve also said goodbye during the summer. After many years, the King Café on our ground floor will not be reopening this fall. While we will miss the accessibility of having a café in the building, we are already planning for the opportunity this new vacancy provides us. What will we use this space for? Stay tuned for more exciting details.

Technology remains on the forefront of our minds at King Library. We have invested heavily in tech for our scholars, purchasing new Chromebooks for students to rent. We have also increased our spend in technology rentals, purchasing more software and more licenses. This will enable more students to have access to programs that will increase their learning opportunities.

In addition, the Makerspace has made some significant upgrades for this semester. Their new Panda DTF Printer will print directly to a film that can be placed directly on almost any fabric, allowing users to create colorful fabric prints, t-shirts, and other projects. The green-screened video studio they have created will enable students to create professional photography and film assignments in the Makerspace.

Whether you’re looking for assistance with research, resources, or creation, King Library has been working hard all summer to get our space prepped. Stop in to visit us today.

As a pilot member of OhioLINK, the statewide academic library consortium, our scholars have long taken advantage of the innumerable resources that OhioLINK provides. For several weeks this summer, access to physical OhioLINK materials will be limited as all OhioLINK members across the state upgrade their lending systems. 

Though this process is running smoothly, Miami scholars will notice some temporary changes to their access and Libraries experience this summer. Please see the key dates listed below:

May 23, 2025: OhioLINK lending freeze begins 

• Miami scholars will be unable to request any OhioLINK or SearchOhio books or renew any books that are already borrowed. 
• If you need an item during this time, request the book through interlibrary loan instead of OhioLINK to ensure you can maintain access through this transition.

June 10, 2025: OhioLINK upgrades for Miami begin

• Self-checkout at King Library will be disabled, but items can be checked out in person
• “My library account” will be inaccessible
• Items cannot be renewed

June 23, 2025: OhioLINK Go live date

• New search interface launches
• Miami scholars will be able to use self-checkout at King Library again
• OhioLINK lending resumes

(We anticipate the return of SearchOhio later in the fall semester.In the interim, SearchOhio books can be requested through the public library)

Throughout this process, the Libraries will work with you to make sure you have access to the materials you need to succeed.

If you have any questions, please contact the Circulation desk at (513)529-4141. 

This upgrade will help not only Miami, but all of the OhioLINK member libraries. It also ensures that the resource sharing we depend upon can continue smoothly, no matter what library your materials might be found in. It’s good for Miami and good for OhioLINK. It also speaks to the vision that OhioLINK was founded upon – collaborative work that helps Ohio students, faculty, and citizens achieve their academic goals and aspirations.

“We are grateful to have these librarians as a part of the staff here at King Libraries. They represent years of hard work and dedication,” said Jerome Conley, Dean and University Librarian. “We are honored to have them on our team.”

Associate Librarian is the second of three ranks within the Miami University Libraries Appointment, Rank, and Promotion System, and it recognizes librarians for their professional performance, scholarship, and service. Evaluation is conducted by the Libraries’ Personnel Committee, the librarian’s supervisor, the Dean and University Librarian, and the Provost. The evaluation also includes four external reviewers who also review the candidate’s service and scholarship. Upon recommendation from the President, the Board of Trustees ultimately votes on whether to confer continuing contract.

At Tuesday’s event, Jennifer Hicks, the Circulation, Reserves, & ILL Supervisor at Gardner-Harvey Library was honored for her 15 years of service to the university, and Donna Richardson, the Administrative Services Coordinator at King Library, was honored for 30 years of service.

“As I reflect on my 30 years at Miami University, I realize just how fortunate I’ve been,” Donna Richardson said. “The administration, faculty, staff, and students have been the best! We’re all still learning together.”

We are so grateful to these two employees for their steadfast dedication to Miami University Libraries. We know that this organization would not be able to continue the good work that we do without their support and the support of the many others just like them.

Congratulations and thank you to Jennifer and Donna!

HathiTrust is a global, not-for-profit organization founded in 2008 aimed to collaborate with academic and research libraries to create and curate a publicly accessible online database with millions of resources. Miami University Libraries recently joined HathiTrust in December of 2023, connecting with universities across the globe like Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth and Harvard as contributing members of the network. HathiTrust has developed a variety of emerging public services- the HathiTrust Digital Library, home to millions of online books and publications, their Accessible Text Request Service, where visually impaired users can request any publication in an accessibility-friendly format, and the Copyright Review Program, where a team of copyright experts works to open resources around the globe to the public domain. 

The board that Myers was selected to serve on, the Program Steering Committee, works to oversee and guide HathiTrust’s development agenda, making recommendations to the Board of Governors for future initiatives and programs. They also provide input and direct day-to-day activities throughout the organization. The committee is composed of various academics, researchers, and librarians from a range of institutions across the country, such as M.I.T., UC Berkeley, and NYU. 

Myers is proud and excited to serve on the Program Steering Committee, saying “I will be able to use my knowledge and experience working with copyright and scholarly communications issues to help expand access to works through the digital library and provide input on new projects and initiatives… I am also excited to serve as an ambassador for the HathiTrust to the Miami University campus community and help them learn more about how this valuable resource can be used by them for research and instruction.”

Goal 1: Develop talent, resources, and experiences that facilitate community.

Talent Management - Onboarding: Workgroup members developed a new LibGuide to aid in onboarding new Libraries staff members. The guide includes “New to the Area” information, a cheatsheet of Library terminology, acronyms, and listservs, and dedicated information for different staff groups. The group also created and implemented a pilot Buddy Program to pair new staff with colleagues who can help them feel at home at Miami.

Goal 2: Transform the Libraries’ environment and user-centered experience to anticipate evolving modes of learning.

Collection Policy: The Libraries’ completed work towards developing a process for updating its collection policies and assessing the content of its current collections.

Recruitment and Hiring Practices: This workgroup made progress in updating the Libraries’ hiring and recruitment tools.

Accessibility Training: Workgroup members outlined and began building standardized accessibility training for library staff. This training and supporting documentation will be incorporated into onboarding for all new library employees.

Signage and Documentation: This group completed an assessment of the Libraries’ directory signage and wayfinding maps and began the design process for updating stacks signage. Signage improvements, including posted hours for ground floor access to King Library, have improved accessibility to the building.

Physical Accessibility: Workgroup members completed the planning and funding process for two sensory study rooms in collaboration with student consultants. The construction of these sensory study rooms is in progress, and completion is expected in fall 2024. The usage patterns of the new rooms will be assessed in hopes that these spaces will act as proof-of-concept plans for further renovations of study spaces in King Library. The Libraries’ also added adjustable height workstations and high weight-limit chairs to improve accessibility.

Goal 3: Forge meaningful partnerships that foster affordability, ensure relevancy, and cultivate life-long connections.

External Funding: This workgroup partnered with the Office of Research and Innovation on workshops for GrantForward and SciEnCV tools for grant searches and applications. A Library staff grant writing LibGuide and grant pre-proposal form were created to support and encourage external funding proposals.

Planning for Catalyst ‘25 is well underway, with this year’s initiatives being developed in intentional alignment with MiamiTHRIVE, the University’s new strategic plan.

More information on Catalyst can be found at Lib.MiamiOH.edu/Strategic.