Dear friends,

We're thinking about a new partial assignment for me, as a collection
development person who, in addition to my own collection development
work, would temporarily substitute or take over the collection
development in other subject areas for librarians who go off on
sabbatical or who have grants which give them release time and whose
collection development is temporarily on hold (or simply too much for
the person to handle in addition to the work on a project or other
temporary assignment).  Have any of you had any experience with such a
position in your library?  or know of its use in another library?  If
so, does it work? are there unforeseen problems we should consider? what
are the advantages/disadvantages you've discovered?

And -- just as important, for a variety of reasons -- can anyone think
of a jazzy and impressive title for such a position?

All suggestions, ideas, cautions, etc. are welcome!!

Also: many of you know that this has been an extremely difficult time
for me these past four years. I wanted to let you know how much I have
appreciated the kind words and support I've received from serials
colleagues here and internationally -- although things are still very
much up in the air here, I have won both of the grievances I filed
against the library and we will be getting a new head librarian next
month.  With the merger of our university library with the San Jose
Public Library a "done deal" looming over us (they start work on the new
building sometime this year), I now certainly know the true meaning of
the Chinese blessing, "May you live in interesting times!"

--Kathleen Thorne
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Kathleen Thorne, Serials Cataloger
San Jose State University, San Jose CA 95192-0028
ph: (408) 924-2826   fax: (408) 924-2702
email: kathleen@email.sjsu.edu

---Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines---
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