It's Academic

In my last blog post, I discussed the preparation my library was making as a first-floor renovation project was in its final stages of approval.

This preparation included meeting with the contractors, trips to pick out furniture, consultations about paint and electrical specifications, internal meetings for finalizing furnishings and removal of outdated fixtures. Along with those meetings, there were (and still are) email chains, quick in-person visits to confirm details, and the afternoon spent moving everything out of the space where the construction was set to begin.

And begin it did!

I am happy to report that a large section of our first floor is enclosed and being transformed into a space where a key service will become more visible to our student population. As mentioned previously, tutoring services will move into the new space, improving accessibility to our Math and Writing Centers as well as becoming a central hub for subject tutors to meet and work with students.

Even though the construction is not complete, what has been done so far has totally changed the feel of our library space. I liken it to a jigsaw puzzle, actually. We’ve got the outer frame shaped along with one quarter of a corner section. The rest is just filling in the remaining pieces of furniture and fixtures to make one cohesive unit!

One service our library had to rethink this summer was assistance at our circulation desk, which is right next to the construction area. We didn’t feel it was feasible to have the desk staffed because of potential noise and dust disruption. Also, with those jigsaw pieces all over the floor, it isn’t necessarily safe for our patrons to be walking through regularly.

Our solution was to turn off ID access to our building and require patrons to call ahead or make an appointment to use the library. Doing this allowed our Access Service Staff (me!) to move to a temporary location in our back-office area. Another reason we asked our patrons to call is so all staff would know who was in the building during this process for safety reasons. Staff are on hand to provide services as needed; we just require a bit more of a heads-up before we do so.

As a supervisor of student employees who has never had her own office space, I have been thrust into the realization that I am much more productive when there are no distractions (such as my students) all around me. The conflicting part of that is, I genuinely enjoy our student workers and being a part of their college journey has been a highlight of my tenure here. While my workspace move is temporary, it’s certainly something I’d like to think about for future phases of turning our space into more of a learning commons or student-centered hub – an office of my own. Maybe even a door!

All in all, this journey hasn’t been all that bad for our library. We are excited for the space to be filled in and look forward to welcoming our students back in the fall semester so they can utilize our rejuvenated services.  

Every year the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Library works with local schools on our One Book One Community reading program. We pick a book aimed at 4th to 6th grade readers that is set in a historic period. This way, students can learn some history while engaged with a fun story. We’ve done books set during WWII, the American Civil War, the Great Depression, and many others. After the book is selected, we send copies to local schools so that teachers can read the book with their students and develop lesson plans around it. At the end of the school year, these schools visit our college for a day of fun activities and a lecture by the author. Our faculty use their subject expertise to help us come up with fun and educational things for students to do. This year, our book is about dinosaurs, so we’ll have activities where students identify different types of dinosaurs, excavate dinosaur toys, and even get to talk with a real paleontologist from a local college. Our event has become so popular that we now get well over 1000 students each year. To support the event, we have a large list of volunteers who help run the event. We gather donations from members of the community. Our College also provides financial support for our OBOC program. Many children who attended our OBOC program in grade school eventually enroll in college at Penn Highlands with good memories from their time here as kids. It also helps us grow a positive relationship with local schools and teachers.

If you have questions about how we make all this work, please reach out to me at akirby@pennhighlands.edu

The College & Research Division is seeking candidates to run for the offices of Vice Chair/Chair Elect and Funds Manager.  If you would be willing to serve in either of these two positions or if you have any questions, please contact Alexander Kirby (akirby@pennhighlands.edu) by June 30, 2025. Here are the current descriptions for each of these positions:

Position: Vice Chair/Chair Elect

Term: Elected position, 1 year term officially beginning January 1; succeeds to Board position as Chair at end of Chair’s term.

Duties:

• Plan CRD Annual Spring Conference
  • Determine conference program and speakers, date, time and menu (if event is in-person)  in conjunction with the Board.
  • Form a committee to develop and implement the program.
  • In-person location of spring conference is typically on or near the campus of the Vice Chair. Virtual programming is also an option.
  • Submit LSTA Funding Request Form, Brief Report, and Expense Report to the CRD Board LSTA Subcommittee.
  • Compile and report back to the Board on evaluations. This may be delegated to another Board member.
• Serve on LSTA Committee comprised of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Professional Development Funds Manager to review proposals and award funds. (For an overview of the process, rubric and forms used, consult the LSTA FAQ: https://crdpala.org/lsta/).
• Attend PaLA Leadership Orientation following the Annual Conference.
• Assist Chair with the business of the Division, including chairing meetings in the Chair’s absence.
• Contribute as needed to CRD publications (i.e. blog, PalRaP, It’s Academic Column)

Position: Professional Development Funds Manager

Term: Elected position, 2 year term beginning January 1.

Duties:

• Liaise with PaLA Education & Finance Manager
• Participate in LSTA Committee composed of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Volunteer to review proposals and determine awards. (For an overview of the process, rubric and forms used, consult the LSTA FAQ: https://crdpala.org/lsta/)
• Maintain LSTA spreadsheet to reconcile expenses, payments, etc. related to LSTA funding requests to ensure grant money is being spent in accordance with LSTA guidelines and to ensure proper accounting of funds. In this capacity, LSTA Manager is a back up to the PaLA Education & Finance Manager in managing LSTA funds for the division.
• Ensure that reports are received in a timely manner and receipts are submitted.
• Assist Chair with compiling quarterly LSTA report information as needed.
• Ensure that all LSTA reports required of groups who receive funding from CRD are received in a timely manner and receipts are submitted to CRD Board. The LSTA Manager will work with the Chair to ensure receipts are signed off on and submitted to PaLA Education & Finance Manager.
• Work with CRD Tech Coordinator as needed to make sure LSTA documents are saved and organized in Google Drive.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of the Division’s educational programs (i.e. Connect & Communicate, conferences, etc).
• Forward all documentation and records to new LSTA Manager.
• Contribute content as needed to CRD publications (CRD blog, the It’s Academic column in the PALA Bulletin, and PaLRaP)