Public Services Affinity Group Charge - 2022-2024

Updated December 2023

Charge

The Public Services Affinity Group will provide an open forum for Library employees that work in public services to build a community of practice towards information sharing, policy collaboration, improved user experience, and increase awareness of trends and best practices. Topics of discussion will relate to work done directly in the service of the public within all branches of the Princeton University Library system. This work will be grounded in an effort to improve inclusivity, transparency and equity. 

Those doing public services work are often the most consistent point of contact for library patrons. Public services are carried out by anyone performing circulation procedures, staffing the help desk, answering reference emails and phone calls, teaching in courses, workshops and consultations, assisting with research and providing access to collections and resources. The PSAG aims to bring together staff in these disparate roles to cultivate a sense of teamwork, community and collaboration. 

This charge will be reviewed and refreshed on a yearly basis.

The convenors will:

1. Host monthly meetings, open to all Library staff, for discussion of topics surrounding public services, with notes shared afterwards
2. Share suggestions with Library leadership in response to ideas surfaced during open meetings or otherwise gathered by the convenors
3. Provide quarterly updates in written form or in conversations with Library leadership
4. Collaborate with other Library and university groups on topics of common interest 

The items below connect directly with North Star Statements #1, 2 and 6.

Communication Expectations

INTERNAL (among the convenors)

• Slack and email

Within Library Staff who attend the meetings

• Outlook invitations for monthly meetings by request
• Confluence, Google Drive and/or Internal-facing Libguide for workflows and policies
• Email announcements to libserv list for all monthly meetings with LibCal RSVP process when feasible

EXTERNAL (among librarians, administration, and campus)

• Report to LAT once a quarter.
• Anyone can contribute suggestions and ideas to the group via email to one of the convenors.

PSAG Convenors

We aim to have up to five convenors at any given time, with rotation every 2 years, with consistent representation from the User Experience unit. Convenors are expected to give three months notice if they are unable to keep up with the expectations of convening meetings and sharing notes. Supervisor approval is needed for a library staff member to become a convenor. 

LSC Sponsor: Wind Cowles 

Convenors for 2024:

Anuradha Vedantham (Unlicensed) , DaRTS (chair)

Kayt Ahnberg, ODUL

Jen Hunter , CAS

Convenors for 2023:

Anuradha Vedantham (Unlicensed) , DaRTS (chair)

Beth German , ODUL

Jen Hunter , CAS

Gabriella Karl-Johnson , CAS (continuing from previous term)

Meeting Schedule

Open meetings will take place on a reliable monthly schedule with themes set for each meeting. Guest speakers may be appropriate for specific meetings. Meeting notes will be shared on Confluence within two weeks after each meeting.