Meeting Minutes for the User Interface Task Group
June 3, 2008
HSHSL in Baltimore, MD

Present: Cindy Todd (UMCP), Susan Wheeler (UB), Heidi Hanson (ITD), Janet Evander, note taker (ITD), Laura Wrubel (ITD), Ryan Harris (HSHSL), Sean Henry (FSU)

1) Topic: MetaLib 4.1 user interface changes.
Laura reviewed the interface changes associated with MetaLib 4.1

• Quick Search and Cross Search results now display abstracts (test is set to display the first 4 lines).
• People will now be able to deep link to the Journals section of Research Port.
• There are some display issues with the journals page. Laura showed how she added a height to the i–frame (the part of the page that displays the main content) in order to prevent a scroll bar from appearing. This sometimes causes the footer to appear after a chunk of white space. To ensure the footer’s "Report a problem" link is not lost, a second "Report a problem" link was added under the "Looking for a Specific Article?" box. The group agreed with the presentation decisions.
• There are some new ways to save items from My Items. The group looked at the options and decided that the "save as web page function" is helpful and should be listed as "Save as reading list (web page)." The "Save as xml" link will be left in test for campuses to explore, but may be hidden in live. The "Export to refworks" link will only appear for campuses that use refworks.

Outcome: Laura will continue working on MetaLib 4.1. There is some behind-the-scenes work to do to make it functional. There is no target date for going live, but when we do switch over, there will be about ½ hour of down time.

2) Topic: Catalog changes.
Heidi reviewed some work she’s done in the catalog:

• Shady Grove has been added as a new base.
• The My account request screen has changed to clarify the meaning of the status "in process."

The group also discussed the change to the message people get when they try to place a request on something that someone else has requested. This was sent out to COI all for comment with no response.

Outcome: Heidi will move the changes in the My account request screen to live. She will also move the message change pertaining to requests.

3) Topic: Update on Authorities.
Heidi showed the progress she and Linda have been making on setting up the functionality for authorities.

Outcome: Heidi will be working on screen design for authorities and will present that work at our next meeting.

4) Topic: Google Book Search in SFX.
Laura demonstrated a new feature where Google Books links can be added to the Find it! menu. It provides a cover image for the book and a link to full text, partial full text, or information about the book. There are some functionality issues that Laura reported to Ex Libris.

Outcome: For the next step, Laura will set up the feature so the cover image appears, the link to full text or partial full text appears in the "Is it online?" section, and the link to more information appears in the submenu.

5) Popup: Outstanding requests for changes to error messages.
Susan drew our attention to the list of error messages that still need attention. These are on the UITG wiki at http://www.itd.umd.edu/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=UserInterface.ErrorMessages. Susan pointed to number 9 "no request permission in the ADM library" as particularly confusing to patrons.

Outcome: Susan volunteered to review the list of errors and see if any of them also appear as RXs. If so, she will add the RX number to the Wiki. Heidi will review the list and see which of these items she can resolve.

6) Popup: Virtual meetings for UITG
The group discussed the possibility of meeting virtually, rather than in person. There was interest in pursuing the possibility.

Outcome: Group members will think about what sort of technology might make it feasible to do this. The topic will be revisited at a future meeting.

Information Technology Division College Park, MD 20742-7011
Please send comments and suggestions to ITD's Webmaster.
Content questions should be directed to USMAI Web Admin.