USMAI Consortium of Libraries
University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions

Draft Minutes for December 14, 2006

USMAI Council of Library Directors
UMBC South Campus Tech Center
Thursday, December 14, 2006
10:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Present: A. Bahr (SU), R. Bradberry (BSU, via IVN), J. Bush (ITD), B. Day (ITD), J. Evander (UMCP), B. Gontrum (UM Law, Chair), K. Heil (UMCES), K. Kelley (UMUC), C. Lowry (UMCP), D. Nolan (TU), J. Phillips (ITD), C. Rabinowitz (SMCM, Vice Chair), C. Ruschoff (ITD), V. Sipe (UMBC), M.J. Tooey (HS/HSL UMB), L. Wilt (UMBC), L. Wrubel (ITD, recording), M. Zimmerman (UMES)

Topic 1: Approval of minutes of October 19th CLD meeting

Minutes of the October 19, 2006 meeting were approved by acclamation.

Topic 2: Usability testing in USMAI

Janet Evander and Laura Wrubel presented on usability testing at USMAI. The presentation included video clips from recent usability testing on the Catalog and Find It. The conditions of the project's IRB Human Subjects approval do not allow the videos to be distributed.

The testing on Find It in the Catalog ran over the course of six months, but Find It was released in the middle of the testing. UITG will do usability testing on Research Port as part of the MetaLib version 4 upgrade in the Spring. There was a discussion of usability testing leading to easier-to-use websites and thus greater usage of library services, such as ILL. This may have policy or budget implications. As terminology on consortial websites changes, campuses may need to change language on their own library websites.

Topic 3: Negotiating Cataloging Records in a Consortial Environment

Vicki Sipe, chair of the Cataloging Policy Committee, presented CPC's recommendation that all USMAI institutions purchasing descriptive cataloging from a vendor must negotiate contracts providing for use by any USMAI institution of any records destined for our single-record database (MAI01). In addition, USMAI should be apprised of any restrictions that exist on upload of purchased records to WorldCat. See full proposal emailed by Gontrum, 12/7/06.

CPC and the E-Collections Task Group (ECTG) are beginning to work together on a process for future purchases. Mary Gilbert, of ECTG, has volunteered to work with CPC and ITD on coordinating the work of the two groups concerning e-book purchases.

Motion made that:
The consortium not take action on consortial purchase of the AAS records. Individual libraries would pay the vendor if they wished to place holdings on those records in the catalog.
Motion passed unanimously.

Motion made that:
Cases of this sort be referred to Betty Day/E-Collections Task Group and CPC, and that that they develop procedural guidelines for these records. They can bring cases not fitting these guidelines back to CLD.
Motion passed unanimously.

Topic 4: Plan for Implementing Aleph Version 18

Ruschoff distributed an Aleph Version 18 Milestones document (see http://usmai.umd.edu/usmai_v18_milestones.html). The AV18 Coordinating Task Group has been formed, with the following members: Sharon Epps (UM), Sean Henry (FSU), Janet Lee-Smeltzer (UMBC), Joe Storey (SM), and Marlene Vikor (UM). They will meet in the first weeks of January to begin planning. Expert groups will be formed to address certain aspects of the implementation. ITD reviewed the milestones with Carmit Marcus of Ex Libris during her recent visit. There is a project manager for the upgrade in the Ex Libris Boston office, who has begun discussions with ITD.

The McKeldin Library computer room needs a major electrical upgrade, and ITD has been advised to replace its uninterruptable power source (UPS). The upgrade is scheduled for Jan 27th. Systems will remain available during the upgrade. There is the potential for last-minute cancellation if there is bad weather that might affect power levels or other reasons that the 27th will not be favorable.

Topic 5: Report on Verde Pilot

Day reported that current work focuses on preparations for synchronizing the Verde and SFX knowledgebases. The ERM Task Group will bring a revised timeline to CLD in a few months.

The ERM Task Group gave an orientation session for the three campuses who will be the next to implement Verde: Towson, UB Law, UMBC, and UMUC. The session covered how to gather information in preparation for implementation. Towson will time the work they spend on their pre-implementation work. Nathan Robertson explained the work done on encoding licenses for Verde. ERM group has written a best practices document for license encoding that give guidance on interpretations of permissions. These best practices apply to consortial licenses and have been reviewed and approved by UMCP legal counsel. Campuses should talk with their own legal counsel about interpreting contracts they sign on their own campuses.

In a few months, the ERM group will return with an update on the Verde implementation and the pilot libraries' progress. Gontrum thanked the group for all the work they've done.

Topic 6: Discussion of possible topics for Feb 25-26 Retreat

The retreat will be held at the Belmont conference center in Ellicott City. Gontrum, Kelley, Ruschoff, and Nolan have been planning the retreat and will determine the schedule for the two days. Tentative items for the program include looking at the vision and goals statements. The program will be broad enough to include general issues of the consortium and the future of academic libraries. Directors should email any ideas to the planning group.

The report of the consultant who visited ITD in early November is due Dec 22. Discussion of the report will be on the agenda of the Jan 11, 2007 CLD Executive Committee meeting. That meeting is open to other directors and will be held in the UMBC Library Directory's conference room (35G).

The February CLD meeting is tentatively cancelled because of the proximity of that date to the retreat. The next full CLD meeting will be on March 15, 2007.

Round Robin

C. Rabinowitz: The wood flooring surface in St. Mary's Library will be redone, so the library will be closed to the public during the first week of January. The library plans to to continue pulling for PPH. Call the circulation desk with any questions.

SMCM's Board of Trustees approved a first for four-year institution in Maryland: limited same-sex domestic partner benefits, beginning in January.

MJ Tooey: HS/HSL will be undergoing a major renovation after Jan 1st, to be finished by August. They will need to shift the entire collection and weed monographs.

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