November 2001
Volume 6
(back issues)

In this Issue

New Library Employees

Penny Welbourne: Cataloging 15-Oct-01
Dika Goloweiko-Nussberg: MSSA 22-Oct-01
Daying Chen: Access Services 31-Oct-01
Stephen Deedon: Access Services 02-Nov-01

Employees Who Have Left the Library
Mona Florea: Medical Library 19-Oct-01
Abigail Armistead: A&A Library 29-Oct-01
Mary Tao: LAS 26-Oct-01
Kim Tran: Southeast Asia Collection 26-Oct-01
Sekiko McDonald: East Asia Collection 31-Oct-01
Vera Karpe: Access Services 02-Nov-01

Promotions
Stephen Jones: Beinecke 12-Nov-01
Brian McDonald: Cataloging 01-Nov-01

HR Updates

Yale Calendar

After an extensive 8-month search and review process, Yale has selected a new Employee Assistance Program provider. A committee of representative staff from around the University selected Wellness Corporation, out of a pool of 19 proposals, to provide EAP services to the Yale community. Wellness Corporation has an extensive client list of colleges and universities, as well as unions and other organizations. They have over 24 providers in the New Haven area.

Employees and their families can use EAP services confidentially and free of charge for up to three counseling sessions for almost any issue of personal concern -- ranging from financial to marital issues.

The change went into effect on November 1, 2001. More information will be sent to employees' homes in late November, and new brochures will be sent to key locations around campus.

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Calendar of Events

 

Annual Service Quality Award Ceremony November 29, 3:00-5:00 Lecture Hall SML Staff Holiday Party December 5, 4:00-6:00 Beinecke Tea with Alice December 6, 2:00-3:00 Spoon

 

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Extreme Weather Policy

Annual update regarding the University's policy on staff obligations and pay practices in the face of extreme weather conditions.

As we know, Yale is a complex institution with thousands of residents who must be fed and sheltered regardless of the weather. Health care services to the ill, police protection, and many research projects cannot cease. In short, the University never totally closes. Accordingly, no department or school has the authority to "close". However, the Secretary & Vice President of the University may authorize the release of nonessential employees. If the Secretary authorizes such a release, department and schools may release nonessential employees in accordance with the policy stated herein. At the very minimum those services that are defined as "essential" to the operation of the University must still be provided by staff members.

When the University Secretary authorizes an early dismissal, department business managers will be notified by email, and a notice will be posted online at www.yale.edu/snow. New this year is a Yale inclement weather telephone message at 203 432-SNOW. A brief message will advise if the University Secretary has invoked provisions of this Inclement Weather Policy and refer callers to the website for details. The telephone message is especially valuable for situations that develop overnight, in the early morning hours or on weekends. A new and easy to remember URL has been set up for Inclement Weather info on the web - www.yale.edu/snow.

Department heads and supervisors are responsible for confirming any "rumor" of early dismissal at the above web site, or by contacting the Department of Human Resource Services at 432-5703, prior to releasing nonessential staff with pay. It is important that this policy be applied consistently and fairly across all schools and departments, in conjunction with our current contractual obligations, so that no one group is unduly enriched or penalized.

Current weather status information at: call:203 432-SNOW http://www.yale.edu/snow For more information on this topic: http://www.yale.edu/hronline/exweath.htm

 

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Find It

Find information on the Service Quality Awards Program http://www.library.yale.edu/Administration/SQIC/sqiawards1.html

 

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Library Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

The Yale University Library serves as an important research and educational resource for the students, faculty, and staff of the Yale community. In order to ensure all users equitable access to the library's collections, public services, and web resources, the library has developed a program of services that enable users with disabilities to take full advantage of its offerings.

Services available to persons with disabilities:

• Finding and Using Library Materials
• Assistance to facilitate the use of finding aids (online and physical)
  Paging of books from stacks and shelf areas (may be on a delayed basis)
• Assistance in ascertaining the availability of books and periodicals housed in Yale libraries
  Extension of reserves or loan periods or modification of other lending rules on an individual basis when possible
• Telephone assistance with finding out the status of an item on Orbis, the online catalog. On an individual basis, library staff will check to see if an item is on the shelf (may be on a delayed basis)
• Ensuring of access to microform readers, computers, and other information technology
  Assistance with photocopying of a limited number of pages from books and journals (may be on a delayed basis)
• Reference Assistance
• Advice about access to specialized online information sources
• Explanations and descriptions of sources of specialized information
• Help with numerous bibliographic citations
• Instruction on how to use available library technologies located at adaptive workstations with
  Proxy Cards. Users with disabilities are eligible to obtain a proxy borrower's card from the Privileges Office for a specified friend or attendant to borrow library materials on their behalf. Proxy cards for non-students/staff will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on an applicant's particular circumstances.

Public services representatives from each of the Yale libraries should be contacted with any questions you may have regarding these services. For more information on university-level assistance for Yale students and staff with disabilities, contact the The Office for Equal Opportunity Programs.

Public Service Representatives from each of the Yale libraries
Access Services/Circulation [Sterling Memorial Library/Cross Campus Library]
Cindy Greenspun, Evening & Weekend Access Services Supervisor
Tel. 432-1852

Area Studies [African, East Asian, Judaica, Latin American, Near East, Slavic & East European, and Southeast Asia collections]
César Rodríguez, Curator, Latin American Collection
Tel. 432-1835

Arts Library [including Arts of the Book Collection, Classics Library, Drama Library, and Visual Resources Collection]
Laurel Bliss, Librarian for Architecture
Tel. 436-8052

Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Christa Sammons, Curator, Collection of German Literature
Tel. 432-2964

Divinity Library
Susan Burdick, Circulation Manager
Tel. 432-5288

Library Administration Services/Human Resources
Kate Reynolds, Staff Training/Org Dev Officer
Tel. 432-1818

Manuscripts & Archives
Danelle Moon-Geraci, Manager, Reference Services
Tel. 436-0116

Medical Library [including Epidemiology and Public Health Library]
Obianuju Mollel, Reference Librarian, Medical Library
Tel. 737-1537

Music Library
Kendall Crilly, Music Librarian
Tel. 432-0495

Research Services & Collections [Sterling Memorial Library/Cross Campus Library]
Lucille Houde, Library Service Assistant
Tel. 432-1778

Science libraries [Kline Science, Engineering & Applied Science, Geology, Sterling Chemistry, Forestry, and Mathematics libraries]
Lori Bronars, Science Reference Librarian
Tel. 432-6213

Social Science libraries [including Government Documents and Information Center, Seeley G. Mudd Library, Statistics Library]
Denise Hersey, Social Sciences Librarian and Coordinator of Access Services
Tel. 432-6121

Library Systems Office
George Ouellette, Workstations Support Specialist
Tel. 432-1847

The Professional Mentor

New Staff Orientation Schedule

"Elm and Ivy"
Thursday, November 15, 2001 10:45-11:45
Lecture Hall, Sterling Memorial Library

Human Resources & Business Office
Tuesday, November 27, 2001 2:00-3:00
Lecture Hall, Sterling Memorial Library

Call Library Human Resources at 432-1810 if you have any questions.

Scholarship Awards

The Yale University Women's Organization offers Scholarship Awards for Continuing Education for women whose formal education has been interrupted or delayed and who wish to resume their studies, enhance present careers with supplemental courses, or change careers entirely. Applicants are judged upon merit and need/family income. The award may be used for course tuition and related expenses.

The number and amount of awards vary. In May of 2001, thirteen women received awards totaling $10,000. One special scholarship is awarded in memory of Magee Fenn, who was the first chairperson of the YUWO Scholarship Committee.

Members of the Yale community and their family members are eligible to apply for these awards. Present staff members, and wives of staff members, will be given first consideration. Current members of YUWO and their families are not eligible for scholarships.

To receive an application form for the academic year 2002-2003:
Include your connection to Yale and send a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope to:
Connie Marsden
32 Hunting Ridge Farms,
Branford, CT. 06405-6131

Completed applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2002.
If you have any questions, you may call Mrs. Marsden at (203) 481-1795,
or e-mail her at DCMoof@aol.com

Wellness Now

Depression

Definition
An emotional state in which there are extreme feelings of sadness, dejection, lack of worth, and emptiness. Depression is a term that people commonly use to refer to states involving sadness, dejection, lack of self-esteem, and lack of energy. In this overview, several types of depression are identified:

Depressed mood: An emotional state dominated by feelings of sadness, gloominess, or emptiness, which may be associated with lack of energy. This mood state may be a temporary response to an unhappy or stressful event, or it may be persistent.
Chronic low-grade depression: (dysthymia) Depressed mood is present most of the time for a period of two years, and is accompanied by changes in energy, appetite, or sleep, as well as low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness. These symptoms cause distress and difficulty in functioning, but are not as severe as in major depression (see dysthymia for further information).
Major depression: Severe, persistent depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, accompanied by decreased energy, changes in sleep and appetite, and feelings of guilt or hopelessness. These symptoms must be present for at least two weeks, cause significant distress, and be severe enough to interfere with functioning. If the depression is very severe, it may be accompanied by psychotic symptoms or by suicidal thoughts or behaviors (see major depression for more information).

Taking Care of Depression

Taking Care of Depression
In those cases where a difficult life situation has led to depression,
self-help steps can be taken to control it.

Face Up to Depression
Guilt and denial waste energy and do not help solve the problem.
Acceptance of the depression relieves pressure.

Recognize the Problem
If your depression is the result of a loss, try to identify the exact time when the loss and feelings of depression began. What was the cause? Why did it happen? What do you need to do now?

Take Action
Often depression responds to structure. Combine structured activities with opportunities to release the turbulent feelings that often accompany depression.

• Get busy doing things you previously enjoyed. Don't cut yourself off from family and friends. Attend activities with others even if you don't feel like talking.
• Stay active. Counteract the physical slowdown of depression by exercising (examples: walk, jog, bowl, play tennis).
• Watch your diet. Include raw vegetables and fruits to increase your energy level.
• List ways you can let go of your depression.
• Listen. Tapes offer a relaxed way to listen to helpful information. There are excellent "self-help" videos available through libraries, book stores, and special catalogs.
• Read. There are many self-help books and pamphlets that can help you understand your emotions and give suggestions on overcoming problem areas in your life.

Answer these questions:
Do I really want to change?
What benefits do I get from being depressed?
What does it do for me?
What payoffs would I get if I let go of my depression?
If I were not depressed, what would I be doing?

Seeking Help
You should seek help from a professional in dealing with your depression if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Severe mood swings;
• Suicide
• You think your depression is related to other problems that require professional help;
• You feel you would feel better if you talked with someone; or
• You don't feel in control to handle things yourself.

To Find Help:
Ask people you know (your doctor, clergy, etc.) to recommend a good therapist;
Try local mental health centers (usually listed under mental health in the telephone directory);
Try family service, health, or human service agencies;
Try outpatient clinics at general or psychiatric hospitals;
Try university psychology departments;
Try your family physician; or
Look in the yellow pages of your phone book for counselors, marriage and family therapists, or mental health professionals.

Think Now

Understanding the true cost of college

College tuition prices are continuing to rise. Many parents start to worry about college education when the child is first born. At Yale we are fortunate to have the tuition program. More details about the program can be found at the following link. http://www.yale.edu/hronline/benefits/11mp.html

Even with the Yale Scholarship program, parents still need to plan for the additional costs of college tuition. A four-year college education can cost more than $100,000. To meet your educational goals, you need to know the real cost of the colleges your child might attend. Over 70 percent of college students attend four-year colleges where tuition is less than $8,000 yearly, according to the College Board. The average annual cost (tuition and fees) of a four-year public college or university is $3,510. The average annual cost (tuition and fees) of a four-year private college or university is $16,332.

The differences in prices will astound you. According to the College Board, costs, including tuition, room and board, books and fees, will total $31,427 at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and $12,783 at Charles Drew University in nearby Los Angeles. A year at Yale will top $35,670, and Harvard might run you $36,200. For an instate student, Western Washington University will cost $11,784 a year. Recent surveys report that the average family pays 30% of the typical public college costs.

 

Suggestions and Comments
Send all comments to the Editor, Jessica Linicus

If you would like something or someone featured in the next Library Links, please contact me. Library Human Resources hopes you enjoyed this issue of Library Links.

jessica.linicus@yale.edu