Coordinating Committees

Progress Report to CUWL – October 30, 2007

Library Technology Initiatives Coordinating Committee

The LTCC had its first meeting in August to get acquainted and set goals.  Goals were also solicited via the cuwltech mailing list beforehand.  Minutes of that meeting were posted on the CUWL web site.

The committee set the following goals and time frame:

  1. Assist campuses with D2L/Library Integration Taskforce recommendations (putting more library resources into D2L/Learn@UW). (Year 1)
  2. Review distance education problems accessing library resources and work with other units to remove obstacles.  (Year 1 and ongoing)
  3. Review options for a new OPAC; keep apprised of new products like WorldCat Local, Primo, and Evergreen. (Year 1)
  4. Improve consistency across campuses of the MetaLib implementation; review recommendations for consistency of SFX and MetaLib variables and features. (Year 1)
  5. Perform an assessment of SFX/MetaLib – on hold until we receive further direction from CUWL.
  6. Review Voyager invoicing and licenses to determine if there would be significant savings by renegotiating the contract. (Year 1)
  7. Assist smaller campuses with automation needs - investigate centralization of more functions; work to offer more training. (Year 1)
  8. Create a UW functional contacts list. (Year 1)
  9. Discuss a needs assessment for an electronic resources management (ERM) system, such as Verde. (Years 1 & 2)

Progress to date:

  • Integration of LTCC goals into the CUWL Strategic Directions document – done.
  • Create a UW functional contacts list – work has begun, ideas have been solicited via the cuwltech list.  PowerPoint presentations, workflows and other documentation can be linked to from this list.  A PowerPoint on Voyager EDI/PromptCat has already been posted on the CUWL web site.
  • Bill Doering provided a URL to the special issue of Library Technology Reports, to give committee members some background information on alternatives to the Voyager OPAC.
  • Paul and Bill are working on obtaining more information on Voyager licensing.
  • Several committee members attended the Symposium on the Future of Integrated Library Systems and will provide a summary of the material presented.
  • A MetaLib survey was created and sent to all library directors.  The results were sent prior to this meeting.  This survey was designed to assist CUWL in its discussion about the MetaLib UW System implementation.  Both the LTCC and the User Services Coordinating Committee (USCC) are interested in guidance from CUWL as to how to proceed with MetaLib coordinating issues.

Other issues/items:

  • We are trying Skype as an alternative to Wisline for conference calls.  This enables free calling from one Skype user to another.  Software must be downloaded and a headset with microphone (or separate microphone and speakers) is required.
  • We are also trying UWM’s implementation of Xythos for sharing and editing of documents.  Documents can be posted there and shared with people from other campuses.
  • A question has come up on the UB list about changing a Voyager setting related to UB Pickups from Holding Libraries. Input from people on the cuwltech and UB lists was solicited, but only a few people responded.  This committee will work with the User Services Coordinating Committee to establish how suggestions for change are handled.

Communication:

The LTCC has made a concerted effort to utilize the cuwltech list to solicit input from librarians throughout the state and convey information on our activities.  At this point there are 86 people signed up for this list.  While we feel this is an effective and convenient method for communicating, there are several drawbacks:

  • People who are not signed up for the list are not getting the information or providing their input, unless they get the information a different way.  We hope that more people are encouraged to sign up.
  • There is always an issue with mailing lists that some people will be lurkers.  There may be some hesitation to post when people know library directors are also on the list and responding.
  • The people most likely to respond do not necessarily represent the views of the majority.
  • There is always an issue where some people don’t read their email in a timely fashion or delete messages that they think don’t apply to them.  This decreases the effectiveness of this form of communication.
  • Collaboration between two coordinating committees is somewhat cumbersome.  When we need feedback from another committee’s members we rely on the chair to forward the messages and relay back the responses.

At the August meeting LTCC members were also encouraged to communicate directly with people on their campuses to ensure they were getting the information and to solicit more in-depth feedback.  We will also consider the use of surveys to gather opinions in the future.

Respectfully submitted by
Marlys Brunsting
UW-Green Bay
Chair, Library Technology Coordinating Committee