Acquisitions/Serials Task Group
Friday, September 21, 2007
Bowie State University 9:00 am

Members Present: Michelle Flinchbaugh (chair); Mary Gilbert (TU); Kevin Pothier (BSU), recording; Ted Kruse (UB); Yalan Qi (ITD); Pamela Bluh (ML)

Visitors: Angie Ohler (CP), Steven Douglas (HSL)

1. Yalan gave a detailed report on ITD activities. Version 18 STP went relatively smoothly, with very few problems. Implementation of EDI for invoicing and claiming of serial issues continues. To participate in the implementation of EDI, sites should submit an Rx.
2. CP has submitted an Rx requesting a number of special reports. They all require development, so a decision will have where the request falls within ITD priorities.
3. ITD has received a number of requests for training on acquisitions and serials. The ASTG will send a message to the COI for acquisitions and serials to get feedback on the type and extent of training that is desired. Then a training plan will be devised.
4. Yalan is devoted 50% of her time to cataloging and database issues. A position of systems librarian to handle acquisitions and serials will soon be advertised. Once the position is filled and the incumbent fully trained, Yalan will devote 100% of her time to cataloging and database matters.
5. VERDE will be managed by the group responsible for the ILS. No information available on when VERDE might be implemented.
6. A few outstanding issues related to the upgrade to Version 18 remain to be resolved. One issue concerns the Budget Summary Report. CP reported that the second column of the report is blank. Speculation is that the system cannot handle the large number of budgets CP uses, but this is only a theory. ITD is investigating, but will probably have to report the problem to Ex Libris.
7. The outstanding consortial priorities were reviewed. With the availability of EDI ordering and claiming, the group agreed that email orders and claims could be removed from the list. Although all the items require some support from ITD some need more support than others. Therefore, the items on the list were divided into three groups: those which require significant ITD support; those which could be handled primarily by ATSG; and those which could be accomplished with a combination of ITD and ASTG support:
   
   ITD
   VERDE
   Reports/Data Warehouse
   Multi-ADM architecture
   Open web requests
   
   ASTG
   training
   Consortial policies/procedures
   Macro Express
   
   ITD/ASTG
   Database cleanup
   Binding interface
   EDI
   
   
8. The task group has heard recently that documentation needs to be improved. Mary will share information she prepared on EDI ordering with BNA. Michelle will share details of EDI invoicing with BNA. The ASTG will try and identify areas where additional documentation is needed.
9. VERDE training has resumed. Initially members of ERIC II and VERDE will be trained. After a hiatus, implementation may be back on track. The feeling is that Ex Libris is committed to make this product work. USMAI is waiting for find out how the consortium implementation will take place and how the local instances of VERDE will work in conjunction with the consortial implementation. The other difficulty is that there is no interoperability between Aleph and VERDE.
10. Members of ASTG were asked by Marlene Vikor, to review the enhancements related to acquisitions and serials that have been submitted to the Aleph Product Leaders Group. Comments on the list are due back by Sept. 25.
11. The meeting adjourned at 10am.

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