Skip to the content of the web site.

Information Services & Resources

Email Reference Group
Notes of Meeting
November 10, 2006

The group held a very informal meeting, touching upon several issues, some of which will need a follow up in the near future. These issues were:

1. New contract with Docutek.

UW CROG signed up with Docutek for another year: the implications for us:
-gives us more time to investigate other options
-we can check to see what UG and WLU are doing first

2. Comparison of email reference service.

Check the nature and depth of email reference service at UG and WLU.
Action: Helena will report to the group

3. Membership.

Membership will be reduced: Rachel is staying on till the end of April 2007; Barbara is leaving but a new co-op will be hired January-August 2007 - will be trained for email reference; Amy is going to be away on maternity leave for a year - a new secondment position will participate in email reference. Action: Helena will check on the dates the new staff members might become available

4. The Patriot Act and email reference files on the US server.

Marina might join the group to discuss the deletion of correspondence with users-concerns re follow up emails: the lack of previous documentation will make it difficult to follow up with the patron on what has been done already

5. Current service statement.

The group worked on the new, improved text for the service page under Ask -A-Librarian. Action: Jonathan will update the text as follows:

E-mail Reference

a.. Intended for University of Waterloo faculty, students, staff, and those with UW Library memberships. Comments or questions from other individuals will be answered only if they pertain to unique resources of the UW Library.

a.. Replies will be sent within one business day, excluding weekends and University holidays. Please check your spam folder if you have not received a reply.

· Provides email responses to questions, comments or suggestions about library collections and services.

· We do not provide financial, legal, or medical advice.

Email Reference Group
libRefEmail@library.uwaterloo.ca
March 20, 2007