The Thompson Library & Archives Blog

Dean's Notes: First Year Reflections, Higher Ed News, and Standing up for Libraries

Posted on behalf of Dr. Jennifer Dean, Director of the Thompson Library.

As I reflect on my first year as Director of the Thompson Library, I am grateful for so much. UM-Flint has welcomed me with open arms, even as it has challenged me to contemplate a transforming university and library. Our stellar Thompson Library team and our building partners–DPS, EHS, Facilities and Operations, the Honors Program, ITS, the TCLT, and the Writing Center– have supported me, sharing the information I need to help me shape my role, even as they have adjusted to me and transitioned to new roles and ways of thinking. I’m especially proud of the work we have done with our library and archives faculty and their new union, LEO-GLAM, an effort uniting librarians, archivists, and curators at all galleries, libraries, archives, and museums on all UM campuses. The ratification of the contract required new job descriptions for our librarians and archivist and transformed policies. We have more work to do, but we’re off to a good start. Other notable achievements from this year include 

• engaging with colleagues in CGS, DEI, and ICC to discuss DEI in the library; 
• partnering with Advancement colleagues to raise nearly $5,000 for library improvements on Giving Tuesday 2022; 
• partnering with the TCLT and a host of colleagues in our first “spa day” event designed to offer opportunities for faculty and staff to refresh their work and themselves in community with colleagues; 
• a celebration of poetry and river journeys led by Dr. Mary Jo Kietzman and featuring poet Joan Murray and local poets and authors Sarah Carson, Connor Coyne, Kelsey Ronan, and Jan Worth-Nelson; and 
• serving as a host location for the virtual reality exhibit 1,000 Cut Journey.

As we in the library have talked about the work we do to serve you, our students, faculty, and staff, we understood that we needed to step forward and ensure that we are communicating with you, highlighting the work we do in teaching and learning and in support of recruitment, retention, and graduation. And, we need to offer opportunities for you to connect back to us. As library people, reaching out and making ourselves available is part and parcel of the work we do each day, but sometimes we need to be more intentional. This newsletter is part of our intentionality in getting timely library-related news and information to you, and to offer you a means for connecting with us. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us on the Thompson Library team, and I particularly welcome you to reach out to me at jldean@umich.edu, 810.762.3018, or to make an appointment to meet with me online or in person. If you’re on campus, you will find me in the library most days we are open–my office is in Suite 320 on the library’s 3rd floor. Feel free to stop in!

Knowledge Is Power: Keeping Up with the Higher Education Ecosystem

I don’t know about you, but not much time goes by in which I don’t hear someone say “Hey, did you read that article in The Chronicle?” Or, wearing my librarian hat, a colleague will ask me, “Can you help me access an article in The Chronicle? My supervisor sent me a link, but I have to login to read it.”

I’m referring to The Chronicle of Higher Education, arguably the first source of journalism by, for, and about the higher education community.  The Chronicle reports on the world of higher education via its daily news, a series of newsletters, and special reports. The Chronicle is a daily read for me, even if it’s just a quick check of the headlines. As a member of the higher education community, I rely on it to stay informed, help me connect to higher education scholars and practitioners, and keep up with trends that may affect our institution and our students and employees.

Good news–current UM students and employees on all campuses have access to The Chronicle’s daily news and newsletter at no additional cost, thanks to your UM-Flint library, in partnership with libraries in Ann Arbor and Dearborn. Of course, you may access The Chronicle directly through the library. But if you get set a link and you’re on campus–you’re set! You’ll have access to all available content even if you don’t go through the library’s website.

However, many of us work and read from home, and your library has you covered. To ensure you can read The Chronicle wherever you are, using the device of your choice, we recommend you create a login at any Chronicle page

1. Click the Sign In link in the upper right corner.
2. Click the link to Sign Up for an account.
3. To sign up, you’ll need to enter your first and last name, your UM email, and a password. Using your UM email is critical - this is how The Chronicle will recognize you as a registered UM user. 
4. Once you’ve set up your login, you can use this login on any device you choose.

You may also sign up to receive newsletters tailored to your interests, from teaching tips to career opportunities. A caveat–much of the news and information at the The Chronicle site is included in our subscription for current UM students and employees; however, The Chronicle does publish some data and special reports under a separate license, requiring an additional fee. If there is something you’d like to access and our general subscription does not cover it, please do get in touch with us so we can investigate options for access.

Standing up for Libraries

The lazy days of summer are prime reading days for people of all ages, and I for one can’t wait to start on my summertime reading and explore what my public library has to offer. Public libraries are go-to places to find the latest beach read or to sign the kids up for Summer Reading Programs. The last couple of years have been tough in public libraries, including our libraries here in Michigan, as organized groups have orchestrated large-scale efforts to ban books and limit the role of library workers. Ariel Aberg-Riger recently published a meaningful update through Bloomberg called The Fight for the American Public Library that shares some history, the current state of affairs, and ideas for getting involved in your community. Public libraries need our support now, whether it is voicing support at a public meeting or running for a spot on the board. Schools and school libraries are facing similar challenges and also need our support. However, here in Michigan, many communities no longer have a school library or librarian, due to budget cuts and changes in funding priorities over the past decade. In these communities, the local public library may also serve area schools.

The efforts to ban books have potential long-term implications that may particularly affect college-bound students who no longer have access to diverse, expertly created collections, leaving them uniformed and underprepared to engage with complex materials at the college level. Limited access to librarians in schools and public libraries has already resulted in incoming students who spend much of their time online but have had little to no opportunity to engage meaningfully with scholarly and other credible resources, let alone know how to find them, understand how to detect bias and misinformation, and use the works of others’ responsibly. We are in this together, though–our Thompson librarians are standing by to assist students, faculty, and staff in finding, accessing, and using information.

If you’d like to join together with others to support libraries, the Michigan Library Association has organized a grassroots coalition of Michigan residents under the umbrella of MI Right to Read. National efforts include Unite against Book Bans and the Freedom to Read Foundation. And don’t forget to join your own public library’s summer reading program!