Agenda

The Agenda is published by the office of the university librarian twice a month and is designed to serve as an informational source for news of systemwide significance, such as new library services or resources, individual or group accomplishments, events of interest to library faculty and staff, important Libraries' initiatives, and other matters.

Purposes - The objective of the Agenda is to report news in the Libraries, the university, academia, and libraries regionally and nationally that directly impacts the work of faculty and staff in the Rutgers University Libraries. In all cases, preference is given to stories about developments in the Rutgers University Libraries. The Agenda also serves to foster greater faculty and staff cohesiveness and cooperation. Stories about systemwide accomplishments, activities, goals, or opportunities are printed. Smaller news items of a personal nature (births, deaths in the family, retirements & retirement parties, marriages, etc) are also included to fulfill this purpose.

Guidelines - The following guidelines are followed:

All stories submitted may be edited for space, style, or clarity by the editor
All stories are subject to the approval of the University Librarian and the Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Communication
The only committee minutes printed in the Agenda are those of the University Librarian's Cabinet
Certain stories, which are available in full text in another form or manner (such as a mass email to faculty and staff, or as a Web page on the Libraries' website), may be printed in summary in the Agenda
All submissions should be sent to the communications coordinator, who serves as editor

Electronic Mailing Lists

RUL_EVERYONE is an electronic mailing list that includes all library faculty and staff of the Rutgers University Libraries. The purpose of RUL_EVERYONE is to expedite distribution of such internal communications as minutes, workshop announcements, and other information related to the operations of the Rutgers University Libraries. RUL_EVERYONE is not intended to be a discussion list or place to post general information. It does not replace the various group discussion lists currently in place for library committees and work groups.

All systemwide library groups and offices are encouraged to post official communications, i.e., minutes, announcements, reports, etc., to RUL_EVERYONE. If replies are needed, they should be sent to an individual designated to receive them and named in the message.

In general, materials posted to RUL_EVERYONE are internal working documents of the Rutgers University Libraries. Redistribution of messages from outside the Libraries should be limited to those occasions when our work will be helped along.

Faculty or staff who arrive or leave will be subscribed or unsubscribed by the central administration. New faculty or staff may initiate their subscription by sending the message "subscribe rul_everyone" to listserv@email.rutgers.edu. Directions for using the list are automatically sent to new subscribers in the welcome message.

Other groups within the Libraries are encouraged to establish mailing and discussion lists when they will benefit their work.

Events

Public events are an important way that the Rutgers University Libraries demonstrate that they are centers for cultural and scholarly activity. Within that framework, central resources focus on activities that support long-term advancement and fund raising opportunities. Activities of the Friends of the Rutgers University Libraries are primary to this effort, and they comprise the main work of the central communications office.

Friends financial support and central assistance may be requested through the Friends Activities Grant Program. Other activities will be supported with central resources on a case by case basis as they support the Libraries' advancement and fund raising goals.

For all events, the communications officer will review all materials, including press releases, invitations, etc., that use the name of the Rutgers University Libraries.

For campus-sponsored events, the communications officer is available to advise on such matters as printing production and publicity but not to be the primary contact person or to place notices or arrange for press coverage.

Publications

Development and production of publications about the Rutgers University Libraries from a systemwide perspective are the responsibility of the Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Communications. Included are calendars, announcements, press releases, invitations, programs, and other items related to centrally sponsored events, major reports, publicity materials, and systemwide service brochures. A chart of currently maintained service brochures is attached as Appendix 1.

All publications issued from any university department or office are required to include the university logo. Visit the Simplified Guidelines for Official Web Sites page to download the Rutgers logo. The Rutgers University logo should be displayed in the bottom of the first page of a publication.

The Libraries official logo should appear on ALL library publications. This includes but is not limited to brochures, newsletters, Web pages, event invitations, fax cover sheets, and stationery. The logo should be displayed at the top of the first page of a publication and may be resized as necessary. You can obtain the Libraries' logo from the Libraries' communications coordinator.

All Libraries publications and other official documents follow the Style Sheet developed for the Libraries by university communications. Editorial style for the university and the Rutgers University Libraries is based on the guidelines presented by communications and contained in The Chicago Manual of Style. A copy of the Style Sheet is attached as Appendix 2.

Centrally developed and produced publications follow the templates provided by university publications. Included are trifold brochures and the RUL Report.

Copyrighted text or images are not used in Libraries publications unless we have secured explicit written permission for the intended use. Such permission must include a statement verifying the person or agency granting permission has the right to do so. Written permission is required for formal publications as well as such informal publications as workshop flyers, posters, newsletters, and other communications. Consult with the Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Communications for copyright assistance.

Web Pages

The Rutgers University Libraries primary website supports the research, instruction, and public services programs of the university and resides at http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/. The pages are designed for use by undergraduates and are intended for use by everyone at the university and low- and high-end users, different browsers and computing platforms, and users with disabilities.

The Libraries primary website is created by many librarians and library staff, overseen by the Web Advisory Committee, and coded and maintained by the Libraries' webmaster. The Libraries' systems department administers the Libraries primary Web server.

All administrative pages must reside on the Libraries primary Web server or other approved servers to allow for standard headers and footers and a consistent look and feel that is compatible with university guidelines. Appropriate directory structures are set up by the webmaster to accommodate all guides, pages, and related images.

The Web Advisory Committee establishes specific requirements for various Libraries Web pages and reviews and approves all new content before it becomes live on the server. There are three exceptions to this route where announcement, placement, or documentation is not at issue:

Corrections, updates, or insubstantial changes or materials for the staff resources pages are sent directly to the webmaster
Research guides work is sent directly to the webmaster
The communications coordinator manages the news page, and items for that page are sent directly to the coordinator.

Electronic resources listed on the Indexes and Databases pages are gnerally part of the RU-Online collection, i.e., institutionally subscribed or registered. Other indexes freely available on the Web or that do not permit institutional subscription or registration are generally included in research guides.

All Libraries' Web pages follow the Style Sheet developed for the Libraries by university communications. Editorial style for the university and the Rutgers University Libraries is based on the guidelines presented by communications and contained in The Chicago Manual of Style. A copy of the Style Sheet is attached.

Copyrighted text or images are not used on any Libraries Web pages unless we have secured explicit written permission for the intended use. Such permission must include a statement that the person or agency granting permission has the right to do so. Consult with the Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Communications for copyright assistance.

Approved by Public Services Council: February 22, 2001
Approved by Cabinet: June 12, 2001, rev. May 28, 2002.

Appendix 1: Chart of Central Public Services Publications

The Chart of Central Public Services Publications list is available here.

Appendix 2: Style Sheet

The Style Sheet is available here.