Present: Wish Leonard, Maureen McCormack, Doug Morton, Susan Moskal, Susan Routliffe (Chair), Mary Stanley, Jackie Stapleton, Linda Teather, Rose Koebel (Recorder)
Regrets: Marlene Laurence, Shabiran Rahman
Guest: Esther Millar
The minutes of the December 5 meeting were accepted with one change. (The Committee did not meet on December 12 as planned, due to the closure of the University.)
Susan R. distributed a draft list of the advantages and disadvantages of PDF and HTML. This issue arose because it was becoming clear in the Library (and on campus) that there was a preference for HTML over PDF. The Library currently produces the Titles and How To series in PDF. PDF was originally chosen for these documents because they print exactly in the format the creator wishes them to. After discussing the advantages and disadvantages of PDF and HTML the Committee proposed the following:
The usual format for items in the Titles and How To series will be HTML, but if the creator has a specific reason, e.g. something to do with unusual characters or layout, for needing an item in PDF format, he or she may request this format. Items will be in one format or the other, not both.
Susan R. will distribute to those who create publications in the Library the summary of pros and cons and ISMC's proposed decision. She will copy Esther. She will also indicate that these issues remain outstanding: identifying standards, determining whether or not the series titles "How To" and "Titles" and numbering them are still necessary, and editing. The issue of converting existing documents from PDF to HTML will be left for now. Esther suggested that before any work begins on this, a review of these publications be done, as some of them appear to be quite dated.
The Committee looked at the statistics Maureen had compiled for Davis and Porter libraries and noted that 113 roving questions were answered in Davis, and 683 in Porter.
The Committee began to organize and summarize the responses to the survey questions.