Staff Events
July 16, 2008
NUL Team Rides to Victory—Again!
For the second year in a row, NUL's bike-to-workers have won our classification in the 2008 Bicycle Commuter Challenge! |
More than 18% of the staff committed to biking to work. And what does that mean? Another trophy, another glory ride…and cheesecake! The Chicago Bicycle Federation has posted a complete list of the challenge results online.
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April 21, 2008
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Library Events
Now you can plan ahead! As a result of collaboration among NULSA, the Assembly, and the Staff Development Committee, from now on Libstaff Links is going to include a helpful list of upcoming Library events.
April 24—Thursday—Library Security and Safety Presentation—2-3 pm, Forum Room.
Led by John Brdecka and Suzette Radford, this workshop covers the basics of how to deal with safety and security situations you might encounter on the job: an awkward situation with a patron, a power outage at work, walking to your car at night. Registration suggested.
May 5—Monday—NULSA’s Fabulous Wine-and-Staff Pairing Event—3:30-5 pm, Ver Steeg Lounge
You and the NUL staffer of your choice pair up to bring a food, and a beverage specially paired with that food. Full details are on SharePoint. Sign up ASAP on SharePoint or the bulletin board in the staff lounge.
May 13—Tuesday—What’s New in Circulation—10:30-11:30 a.m., Forum Room
Did you know that NUL has eliminated daily fines? That we've opened our doors to Evanston borrowers? Or that we've shifted thousands of volumes in preparation for the Life Safety Program? Come hear Suzette Radford, Caitlin Savage, and Robin Ortenberg discuss these and other recent changes taking place in Circulation Services. Registration suggested.
May 15—Thursday—Assembly’s Monthly Meeting—2 p.m., Ver Steeg Lounge
May 20—Tuesday—Block Museum Tour—time to be arranged
NULSA’s annual guided tour of current exhibitions at the Block Museum
Celebrating Spring, the Completion of ClimateQual—and Us!
This year, NULSA teamed up with Library Staff and Development and The Assembly to throw a bigger, better Spring Party & National Library Worker’s Day celebration in Ver Steeg Lounge on April 15. During the festivities, Sarah Pritchard announced the winners of the six ClimateQual incentive prizes, each of whom receives a $50 American Express Gift Card. Congratulations to: James Hobbs, Qiana Johnson, Janet Olson, John Russell, Juanita Sanchez, and Sharon Smith!
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February 25, 2008
Announcing: The First Ever NULSA International Wine-and-Staff Pairing Event
This year, NULSA has decided to re-tool its historic annual Potluck Event into an extremely glamorous and fabulous International Wine-and-Staff Pairing Event, to be held Wednesday, March 26 in Ver Steeg from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The nature of this event is still essentially pot-luck; that is, everything is being provided by staff members who attend. Conversely, if you want to attend, you have to bring something.
But the point is to have some fun pairing whatever kind of food you bring with a complementary beverage, for example: Greek wine with feta cheese; micro-beer with German sausage; port with chocolate. You’re welcome to make the dish yourself, as you might have for the old potluck, especially if there’s some wonderful old family recipe you want to share. But if you don’t feel like cooking, go buy something instead. Just make it something that would really be interesting for people to taste, not something they’d be buying for themselves for dinner at Jewel on the way home. Same with the wine: don’t bring a jug of Almaden or a six-pack of Bud Lite. Look for something out-of-the-ordinary.
The other point is to pair yourself with someone on the NUL staff, who may or may not be from your own department. That way, you can have some fun figuring out what a good combination would be, and no one person has to bring both wine and food. We’re suggesting that people spend in the range of $10-$15 on each item, just to keep everything on a level playing field.
If you’d like advice about specific wines, varietals, or craft brews that would make good pairings, feel free to contact NULSA officers Elizabeth Adamczyk (Schaffner, 312-503-8423, e-adamczyk@northwestern.edu) or Nina Barrett (Main, 847-491-4321, n-barrett@northwestern.edu) , both of whom have professional wine experience and would be happy to consult.
There will be sign-up sheets in the staff lounge beginning in March so you can see what other people are intending to bring, and we can all make plans accordingly.
December 17, 2007
July 30, 2007
NUL Team Victorious in Bicycle Commuter Challenge
Northwestern University Library pedaled to victory in the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s 2007 Bicycle Commuter Challenge, taking first place in the competition’s "College/University 100-499" category. Held during the week of June 9-15, the Challenge required participating companies and institutions to recruit teams of staffers who would commit to riding their bikes to work at least one day of that week.
“I knew that wouldn’t be a problem for us,” says NUL team leader and Multimedia Specialist Dan Zellner. “We have some pretty hard-core people here, at least five, who bike to work every day.” Rising to the challenge, 25 staffers signed up for the team, giving NUL a 14.71% participation rate, and winning the category.
During the week of the competition, the team (pictured) met one day at lunchtime for a 1K Glory Ride around the Lagoon. This Friday, August 3, the team will reunite for a celebratory 1K Victory Lap around the Lagoon, leaving from the Fish Bridge at 12.30 p.m.
(Photo by Tom O'Connell)
They Took Time to Smell the Roses...NULSA's Annual Garden Walk
Staff members enjoyed touring the hidden and not-so-hidden Evanston Campus gardens earlier this month on NULSA's Garden Tour.
From the Shakespeare Garden to the private garden at the Allen Center, many colorful blooming plants and bushes were discovered.
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Fun for All at NULSA's Annual Barbecue
Mother Nature supplied a warm, sunny, picture-perfect day for NULSA's annual summer barbecue on July 12.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, and brews were enjoyed at Deering Meadow. Active staff participated in volleyball and croquet matches. Thank you again to all NULSA staff for organizing this fun event!
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July 16, 2007
June 11, 2007
Library Recognizes Staff Milestone Anniversaries
At the Annual Staff Service Recognition Awards ceremony on June 5, University Librarian Sarah Pritchard and Personnel Librarian Peter Devlin formally thanked and honored staffers who have reached five-year milestone anniversaries at the Library.
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Honorees included:
5 Years
Jesus Barin, MARC Department
Kathleen Brown, MARC Department
Jeanette Casey, Music Library
Frank Cervone, Information Technology
10 Years
Kenneth Brown, Circulation Services
Elizabeth Fraser, Resource Sharing & Reserve Collections
Harriet Lightman, Collection Management
15 Years
David Easterbrook, Africana Library
Joe Ellison, Transportation Library
Crystal Martin, Africana Library
Paul Olson, Catalog Department
John Russell, Catalog Department
20 Years
Bridget Canavan, Information Technology
Maureen Montgomery, Catalog Department
Patricia Ogedengbe, Africana Library
Sherie Stein, Administration
25 Years
James Hobbs, Music Library
30 Years
Mary Haugness, Serials & Acquisition Services
Elisa Sanchez, Serials & Acquisition Services
Margie Wood, Music Library
35 Years
Catherine Feeney, Circulation Services (retired)
(Photos by Nina Barrett)
April 17, 2007
January 29, 2007
November 6, 2006
Early-bird shopping for staffers at the Library book sale
Monday, November 13 (11 am to 4 pm) is NUL staff day at the Librarys annual book sale in the Ver Steeg Loungeyour head-start on browsing a fabulous selection of more than 14,000 new and used books, plus CDs, DVDs, VHS cassettes, vintage record albums, and periodicals. This years sale features an especially strong selection of books in literary criticism, journalism and media, business, science and technology, and Northwestern University Press overstock. Hardcover books cost $3 each; quality paperbacks are $2; and mass market paperbacks are $.50 apiece.
The sale opens to the Northwestern community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni (with a valid WildCard or alumni ID), on Tuesday, November 14, and then to the general public on Wednesday the 15th. On Thursday, remaining inventory will be marked down 50%, and on the closing day, Friday, whats left will be even more deeply discounted. For more information, including each days hours, check the book sale web page at www.library.northwestern.edu/booksale/ .
A large crew of volunteers is required to make the book sale happenbefore, during, and after the actual saleso anyone with an hour to spend setting up, cashiering, or bagging should be sure to sign up on the sheets posted outside the staff lounge. Jessica Bartlett promises that, besides the sheer satisfaction of having helped make the sale a success, volunteers will be treated to a pizza party after its all over.
July 24, 2006
Library recognizes staff milestones
At the Annual Staff Service Recognition Awards ceremony on July 5, 2006, University Librarian David Bishop and Personnel Librarian Peter Devlin formally thanked and honored staffers who have reached five-year milestone anniversaries at the Library.
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Honorees included:
35 Years
Leslie Bjorncrantz, Tom Mann
25 Years
Stu Baker, Melissa Jacobi, Bob Michaelson, Sigrid Perry, David Strain
15 Years
Reinessa Neuhalfen, Lou Ann Temkin, Dan Zellner
10 Years
Bruno Fast, Ishamea Harris-Wolff, Emily Head, Virginia Kerr, Sibylle Mittelsdorf, Anna Ren
5 Years
Michael Babinec, Daniel von Brighoff, Chris Davidson, Steve DiDomenico, Ann Duncan-Gibbs, Scott Garton, William Melody, Erena Mogill, Erik Ponder, Streedevi Prasad, Shoshanah Seidman, Alla Shagall, Victoria Zahrobsky
Congratulations to all!
(Photos by Catherine Wirth)
NULSA barbecue sizzles
Thanks to the valiant efforts of NULSAand some last-minute heroics of Dave Strain, the annual staff barbecue occurred once again.
To the best of my knowledge it was a success. The food was much better than last year, quipped one employee. Like many, he or she wished there was more beer, but few of us considered the Donald factor. The former mailroom employee made a surprise appearance, guzzled a few, and accounted for the most physical contact seen at the barbecue in nine years. A volleyball was bumped, at least one Frisbee was tossed, and several staff members showcased their hitherto unknown athleticism. (Photos by Mary Bradley)
Ivan Albertson
Stacks Management
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July 10, 2006
Staff encouraged to stretch on Enrichment Day
If you see one of your colleagues bent over in her desk chair with her forehead on her knees and her arms dangling to the ground, dont assume you should call 911. Shes probably just practicing a little Desk Top Yoga, as demonstrated by Catherine Boskovic of Tyler Wellness at the Librarys seventh annual Staff Enrichment Day, June 13, 2006.
From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Library Staff Development Committee sponsored an array of enlightening lectures and presentations including John Blossers talk about serials in the electronic age, Jeanette Caseys tour of online audio music sources, and Virginia Kerr and Paul Cloughs demonstrations of the Kirtas robotic book scanning wonder. Jay Baehr, Project Manager in Facilities Management Design and Construction, led about 40 staffers on a fascinating tour of the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center, the campuss first green building. And presumably, the content presented at The Health Conscious Consumer did not seriously interfere with anyones appreciation of either the heaps of breakfast pastries or the magnificent buffet at the afternoon break in the Ver Steeg Lounge, where everyone had a chance to meet incoming University Librarian Sarah Pritchard. (Photos by Mary Bradley and Nina Barrett)
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June 12, 2006
Appreciation is sweet for student workers
Each year during Student Appreciation Week (May 22-26 this year), the Staff Development Committee distributes goodie bags filled with juice, cookies, candy (some healthy some not so healthy) to student workers in appreciation of their wonderful contributions to the Library. Also included in each bag is a letter from the University Librarian thanking the students for their work in the Library.
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May 22, 2006
NULSA's International Pot Luck Dinner: Bring the recipe and the dish!
With only 15 days left before the annual International Pot Luck Dinner, NULSA offers some helpful tips on how to dazzle and delight your hungry colleagues.
No tuna casserole, Shoshanna Seidman says firmly. You should bring something you like to make thats really special. Traditional ethnic or family dishes are a good idea, or dishes that show off your particular area of culinary expertise, such as making pasta from scratch, or bread-baking.
As a way of honoring the spirit of the NULSA Cookbook (http://staffweb.library.northwestern.edu/nulsa/cookbook/index.html), Shoshanna proposes sharing the recipe as well as the dish. Blank recipe cards will be made available before the dinner (Shoshanna will send around details later) so that all the recipes can be recorded in a standardized format. NULSA will duplicate the cards and make a dinner cookbook available.
The NULSA International Pot Luck Dinner will be held Tuesday, June 6 at 3:30 p.m in the Ver Steeg Lounge.
Staff tours the May flowers
On May 4, the library staff enjoyed a perfect spring morning with a tour of some of the gardens around campus, guided by landscape architect Ann Ziegelmaier and groundskeeper foreman Tim Spahn.After a stop at the Arts Circle, where everyone admired almost 5,000 tulips in full bloom, they visited the grounds above the Library storage facility and the garden plaza outside the Crowe Cafe. Other stops included the Shakespeare Garden, which is maintained by the Garden Club of Evanston, and the enclosed garden in the Allen Center, which contained a number of unique conifers. Staffers were able to get tips from the experts on their own gardens and discover new plants that work well in our climate and soil. Everyone came away with an appreciation for all the work the Northwestern landscape staff and grounds crew do to keep our campus looking beautiful.
NULSA thanks all who came out to participate.
(Photos by Mary Bradley)
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April 24, 2006
Library caters to staff on National Library Workers Day
The hundreds of people who make the Library appear to function effortlessly from day to day are not always visible toor, alas, appreciated bythe public. But on Tuesday, April 4, the Library Staff Development Committee and NULSA joined forces to recognize them.
On National Library Workers Day, University Library patrons were greeted at the foot of the entryway stairs by a plasma screen monitor displaying a continuously shifting montage of photos of about 60 Library staffers, identified by their first names and departments. A sign posted nearby reminded viewers that it takes a lot of people to keep a large research library running, including student assistants, catalogers, bibliographers, security guards, systems engineers, and web designers.
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December 21, 2005
Annual holiday party enjoyed by all
The holiday spirit was alive and well at the Library's annual party on Tuesday, December 13. The Guild Lounge at Scott Hall provided a warm and gracious setting for a wonderful evening filled with holiday cheer.
NULSA committee members Shoshanah Seidman, Ivan Albertson, Catherine Grove, Voula Pantelias, and Daniela Vassileva did a fabulous job arranging the evening, selecting delectable hors d'oeuvres, and coordinating desserts supplied by Library staff.
The evening provided an opportunity for staff from all parts of the Library to meet and celebrate together. Shoshanah Seidman toasted David Bishop, who will retire next year, and Roxanne Sellberg raised her glass to acknowledge the work and spirit of the Library staff. Happy Holidays to all!
Mary BradleyLibrary Administration
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(Photos by Mary Bradley and Gary Slezak)
November 9, 2005
NULSA hosts fun-filled Halloween Party
On Thursday afternoon, October 27, the staff celebrated Halloween at a party organized by NULSA.
A few courageous people came dressed up in beautiful costumes and it was fun to vote for the best one. Ishemea Harris won first prize for showing up as a vampire hunter. She received a gift certificate. Rebecca Routh was very cute as a "Pierrot" (clown). Kevin Randall stunned everyone when he came the closest (by one) to guessing the number of candies in two different jars! Incredible flair! The Serials Department was awash in candy the next day.
The food nicely prepared and artistically displayed by Voula Pantelias, Daniela Vassileva and Catherine Grove was very satisfying, so much, that very little was left over. Thank you for all the bakers, Amanda Bakken, Mary Bradley, Pam David. It was a lot of fun and now the NULSA committee is preparing for the Holiday Party. We hope it will be even better. See you there.
Shoshanah Seidman Monographic Librarian Catalog Department
(Photos by Mary Bradley)
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August 17, 2005
Let them eat pizza!
It has been a long summer for staff at the Main Library, sort of a "storm" before the "calm." Offices and computers have been moved; traffic has been disrupted; and the sounds of construction, inside and out, have made everyone's job more challenging. But as the tarps are pulled away, we can start to see the beginnings of our new "Forum" (the redesign of what we used to call "The Street"). New lighting and a new project room in the Information Commons, renovation of Circulation Services, and a relocated new book alcove are emerging.
To thank library staff for their patience and perseverance through these months of construction, David Bishop and the Library administration threw a pizza party on Wednesday, August 10 in the VerSteeg Lounge. Many staff attended and no one left hungry! Here are some photos from the afternoon...
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July 27, 2005
Sunny NULSA Summer Barbecue
Despite a forecast for rain, and fear of a repeat of the storm that occurred during the 2004 NULSA Summer Barbecue, sunny skies prevailed on Thursday, July 14!Many staff contributed sweets and fruit to the barbecue buffet, and we thank those staff members, as well as those who helped to set up and clean up. The NULSA officers thank everyone who came for taking time out of their busy schedules. The turnout this year was great!
Amanda, Deb, Natalie, and Voula
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July 13, 2005
Bring on the barbecue!
Don't forget to take some time out for the NULSA Barbecue tomorrow afternoon, from 3 to 5 p.m. As usual, the barbecue will take place by Deering Meadow, west of Deering Library.
The event will feature typical barbecue food and drink (including delicious desserts and other treats brought in by your colleagues) as well as opportunities to show off your athletic prowess. If you'd like to bring a dessert or other treat, or would like to help set up or clean up, please sign up in the Staff Lounge.
Next week on Voyager Upgrade Day 2005 (Friday, July 22), there will be a NULSA break in the afternoon in the Staff Lounge. Watch LIBSTAFF for more details next week.
Please talk to any of the NULSA officers if you are interested in volunteering with NULSA during the 2005-2006 year. There are many opportunities, from volunteering at events or bringing in desserts for parties, to working as part of the team of officers.
Thanks,
Amanda Bakken, Deb Fenwick, Voula Pantelias, and Natalie Pelster
April 6, 2005
Staff Enrichment Day activities...a hit
Thanks again to all who organized, presented, and participated in a very successful Enrichment Day on March 23, 2005.
It is a challenge to come up with new ideas each year, but from the accompanying pictures, you can see that we met the challenge this year. We hope that all enjoyed the day!
Peter Devlin
Library Personnel
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January 5, 2005
Library holiday party ...a big hit!
NULSA appreciates the work of all those who made the 2004 holiday party such a success. Approximately 130 people joined us at Hardin Hall in the Rebecca Crown Center on December 17. Thanks to all those who participated in the planning, setup, and cleanup, and to those who brought the delicious desserts. And, of course, thanks to everyone who came to the party!
Amanda Bakken
Monographic Cataloger
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NULSA afternoon tea
Thanks to all who joined us for the NULSA tea on the afternoon of December 8. The NULSA officers enjoyed having a chance to see and talk with so many people from all areas of the library! The event was also the kick-off for the Library's holiday food drive.
This year NULSA participated in the Chicago Food Depository's drive, "Gain A Million Pounds," dedicated to raising one million pounds of donated food. Library staff donated canned food, cereals, and personal care items that the depository will distribute among persons in need around the Chicago-land area. We donated 600 pounds in all, which will provide 451 meals, according to the depository's coordinator. Many thanks to all who participated!
Please contact any of the NULSA officers with ideas for future NULSA events and activities.Amanda Bakken
Monographic Cataloger
Caroline DeVane
Acquistions Assistant/Bibliographer Editor
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November 10, 2004
Fall fun at the NULSA Halloween Party
Library staff showed off their creativity at NULSA's annual Halloween Party on Thursday, October 29. The event was attended by a strange and wonderful cast of characters.
The NULSA officers would like to thank everyone who helped in the planning, set-up, or clean-up of the Halloween Party, as well as all those who brought food to share at the party.
We would also like to thank all of the participants in the pumpkin-decorating contest and costume contests. We congratulate the winner of the costume contest, Ish Harris, who came as an elf, and runner-up Kevin Randall, dressed as a victim of the "Chicago River Boat Tour/Dave Matthews Band Tour Bus Incident of 2004." The Circulation Department took top honors in the pumpkin-decorating contest, with the MARC Department and Business and Finance tying for second.
Amanda Bakken, Monographic Cataloger |
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July 14, 2004
NULSA Barbecue...a wet and wild time!
Librarians have long been revered as being very resourceful people. That certainly was evident on Friday during the preparation for our annual NULSA barbecue.
Through rain, thunder and lightening our fearsome NULSA committee members and staff reacted quickly and moved the event from the open Deering meadow to the protective arches of the Deering Library. What could have been a disaster ended up to be quite fun. The small space provided more opportunity for everyone to chat. The food was substantial and delicious thanks to caterers and contributions by staff members. Some adventuresome staff even ventured out in the meadow for rounds of croquet and badminton! We were glad to see such a great turnout and enthusiasm! Thanks to NULSA officers who organized this event! Here are some photos capturing the afternoon...
Mary Bradley
Department Assistant,
Library Administration
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Library honors staff at annual Service Recognition Awards Ceremony
The Annual Staff Service Recognition Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the Ver Steeg Lounge. Staff were honored for having reached their fifth, tenth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth, thirtieth, and thirty-fifth anniversaries of employment with Northwestern University. Those who were honored and received the Universitys Staff Recognition Awards are listed below. Please join us in honoring these employees:
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| ************FIVE | *********** ***********TWENTY YEARS********* Susan Lewis – Special Collections ***********THIRTY YEARS********** |
