Colleagues,

Kindly note the following:

External Users
The charges will be S500.00 up from $100.00. Users are entitled to five consecutive days.
High school students will continue to pay $50.00 This will become effective December 1, 2009.

Postgraduate Swipe
As of December 1, 2009 overdue cards will attract a fine of $50.00 per day. This will be reflected in Aleph.

Bathrooms
The staff male bathroom on the ground floor is locked. You may collect the key (blue tag) at the reference desk. As soon as the key for the female bathroom is found, it will be treated similarly.

Evadne McLean

Just to inform everyone that Mrs. Neil will be on leave for 1 week from the 23rd to 27th February. Mr. McBean will be acting for her.

More changes

Reprographics
As of January 27, 2008 the Reprographics unit will be open until 10 pm. until further notice. This will put an end to all cash collection and accounting activities at the circulation desk between 7 - 10 pm. Hip! Hip! .........

Staff movements
Mrs. McLean will be moving to the Public Services Section and Ms. Kean will be going to the Periodicals Section for the start of the new semester.

Meet our new 'night administrator !'

Most staff members should know Vaunett Neil by now. Since November of last year, Vaunett Neil has been given the responsibility to oversee the operations of the 10pm to 6am shift during the week. Last year we introduced the then night librarian, Kareen Bourne, on the blog and so we are doing the same for our not so new night administrator (my title!). So for those individuals who don't know her that well, or even those who do, you may just learn something new about this multifacted individual.
Cheryl

____________________________

Vaunett C. Neil gained employment to the U.W.I. Library in 1973, where she worked in the Main Library, transferring to the Science Branch Library as a Clerical Assistant soon after.

She was later promoted to the capacity of Library Assistant, and gave approximately twelve and a half years of service there, until being appointed Administrative Assistant at the U.W.I Bursary.

In 1998 she moved on to work with the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, also as an Administrative Assistant, for approximately three years.

For the period 2001 through 2003, she was the General Manager at Neil’s Manufacturing Company in Kingston.

She holds a Bachelor of Religious Arts in Christian Education from the Jacksonville Theological Seminary, South Florida, a Master of Religious Arts in Christian Education from Trinity Theological Seminary of South Florida, as well as a Doctorate of Philosophy in Christian Pastoral Counseling, also from Trinity Theological Seminary of South Florida.

In September 2007 she rejoined the U.W.I Library. She was one of those who were instrumental in piloting the Extended Opening Hours Project, which has proven to be a success.

She is happily married and is the mother of two successful young adults. She is also an Ordained Minister and an active member of the Church Board at Agape Christian Fellowship.

Open Campus Students

The records for all open campus students have been loaded in ALEPH. Open campus students have full borrowing privileges like any other UWI Mona student at the UG or PG level. Their IDs will look slightly different as they have an orange background colour.

Staff Movements

Colleagues all,

I have only recently returned from leave which is why I have not been able to update you on the recent happenings in the loan and reference section. Well now that I'm back, let us catch up on new and not so new developments since our last post.

Staff movements

There are now 3 new staff members attached to the section (1 clerical, 2 attendants). They are Miss Tracey Edwards, Mr. Kendrick Wray and Mr. Aldean Forrest. Mr. Forrest who is presently working in the Medical Library will be back in the Main Library in December. As of December 1, Mrs. Brown-Housen will be assigned to Loan and Reference. Mr. Albert Stephens is a new student assistant assigned to Loan and Reference since September. His working arrangements are different from the average student assistant and he is giving invaluable assistance at the circulation desk and at the RBC window.

Ms. Andrea Robins is back with us again. She will be in charge of the periodical section until December 2008. Mrs. Karene Bourne has resigned since November 3rd and Mrs. Vaunette Neil is now in charge of the extended hours night shift from Monday to Friday. We wish Mrs. Bourne every success in her career. Congratulations Vaunette.


Cheryl

What's happening for the new school year

Police patrols
Since July the police have been visiting library during the night. A multicoloured book has been placed at the circulation desk for them to sign each time they they complete their patrols. Please note that telephone numbers for the campus police may be found in the cover of this book.

Cashless system
The library has been selected to be the pilot for a cashless system that will be introduced for the start of the new school year. Students will use a swipe card instead of cash to pay for fines, printing etc. Some staff members have begun to receive training for this. When we have more details as to how it will work, we will let you know so keep checking the blog.

Staff meeting
The section will be having the usual beginning of term staff meetings for all staff working in Loan and Reference. You will be informed of the date and time and we are seeking the co-operation of Heads of Sections in allowing their staff to attend these important meetings.

That's it for now folks. As we look forward to the new school year, let us continue to work together to provide exceptional service to the users of the library.

Cheryl