Information Services Management Committee

Minutes of the Meeting of August 21, 2001
1:30-3:45 P.M.
Porter 428

Present:  Marlene Laurence, Wish Leonard, Maureen McCormack, Doug Morton, Susan Moskal, Shabiran Rahman, Susan Routliffe (Chair), Mary Stanley, Linda Teather, Rose Koebel (Recorder)

Guests:Alice Clair, Eva Havlik, Michele Laing, Judy McTaggart, Carol Steele

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the July 3, 2001 meeting were approved with changes

2. Recommendations from Ask Us/Tell Us Group

   Michele went through the proposed revised Ask Us/Tell Us Web page for ISMC.  The main points illustrated were:

   • all of the online questions received via this page will go to the assistants that monitor AskLib, except for those about Distance Education, which will go to Judy McTaggart
   • the group will forward questions to the appropriate Library staff member or department
   • the patron must specify a category under the "Your University of Waterloo Connection",
   • the page will include a sidebar containing links to information about UW Libraries, Circulation Services, and other areas about which questions are often asked
   • Marina Wan is providing the technical assistance

   ISMC made several comments and suggestions about the proposed page (which it was pleased with) as follows:
   • re-word the first paragraph under "What Is It?"
   • change the third heading to read, "When Should You Expect a Response?"
   • replace "will not" with "cannot" in the sentence "Please complete these areas or your request will not be processed."
   • rather than create multiple pages containing the same information, the links on the sidebar should go to existing pages if possible (there may be a need to create some new pages)

   The Committee reviewed the sidebar and assigned the responsibility for ensuring there are links as follows:
   • About UW Libraries:
     • Hours (o.k. as is)
     • Locations (Maureen will take to LINC for reviewing and inform Esther)
     • Parking (use existing UW link)
     • Phone numbers (Mary will review)
     • Laptop outlets (ISMC)
     • Photocopiers, Study Rooms, Telephones/Phonebooks and Washrooms (Mary will speak with Esther and Linda Hastings about using the Mini-guide)
   • Circulation Services (Wish)
   • Borrowing Non-UW Books and Getting Non-UW Journal Articles (create an intermediary page which gives two choices)
   • UW Collections:
     • Getting a UW Thesis (Doug will talk to  Shirley Fraser; Christine Jewell will be consulted as well)
     • Rare Books & Special Collections (o.k. as is)
     • Seagram Collection (Susan R. will speak with Susan Bellingham)
     • add GP and Maps here (use existing links)

     A question was raised about whether there was concern that this page has evolved from providing an electronic reference service into one which addresses general questions.  Maureen will look at the number of reference questions relative to general ones from AskLib and Ask Us/Tell Us.  It was felt that there should not be any concern that users are not getting the message that e-reference service is available. ISMC will look at this item again in the next couple of weeks. Once Marina Wan has had a chance to prepare a mock-up of the page we will get feedback from other staff.

3. Review of Status of Recommendations in the ISR/Systems Relationship Report

   ISMC reviewed the update which Linda had prepared, and suggested changes to sections 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.8, 3.1, 3.4, and 4.2.  Linda will update the report, which ISMC will review at its next meeting.  Maureen agreed to continue to act as the liaison contact from Porter for the time being; Doug will continue for Davis and ISMC. 

4. Update on Laptop Docking Stations, E-mail Enabled Workstations, and Workstations for CD-ROMs that Accompany Books/Journals

   Linda reported that work is progressing on these items.  Drops have been installed for the laptop docking stations, and the tables have been ordered for the e-mail workstations.  All should be in place before the end of September. Linda Teather will provide updates to ISMC.

5. Status for Message re. New Members

   Susan R. will co-ordinate the invitation for new members with IRMC’s call for new membership. She informed the Committee that Susan Moskal will now continue on ISMC, and that Shabiran will leave.

6. Other Matters

   The Committee identified topics that will be discussed at upcoming meetings:

   • the document that Wish, Shabiran, Melanie, and Sue Moskal produced
   • “You’re in the Library” board at the entrance to Porter
   • statistics document

August 28, Davis conference room.