Information Services Management Committee

Minutes of the Meeting of October 8, 2002
1:30 – 3:30 pm
Davis Conference Room

Present: Christy Branston, Helena Calogeridis, Judy McTaggart, Susan Routliffe (Chair), Mary Stanley, Melanie Watkins, Rose Koebel(Recorder)

Regrets: Jim Parrott, Richard Pinnell, Jackie Stapleton, Linda Teather

Guest: Margaret Aquan-Yuen

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting
   The minutes of the meeting of October 1, 2002 were approved with changes.

2. Review of the Terms of Reference for the Library Instruction Committee
   ISMC continued the discussion begun last week on the distinction between promotional activity and instructional activity in the Library, and how this distinction might be expressed in the terms of reference. Library communications activities raise the profile and awareness level of the Library on campus and beyond. The communications program ensures that all Library publications have a consistent look and message. LINC educates students how to locate and use resources available in the Library. It was acknowledged that the roles of Library communications and LINC will overlap at times. The recent Grad Students display is an example of the need of the promotional and instructional functions to work together.  Rather than attempting to outline a distinction between these two roles, it was suggested to emphasize that, in carrying out its mandate, LINC acknowledges the need to consult and work with other Library staff or units (e.g., Library communications, Publications Assistant, etc.).

   The Committee proceeded to work through the revised terms of reference, which were prepared by Margaret, Helena and Melanie based on last week’s discussion. The following points were made:

   1. It was suggested that in identifying the information literacy needs of students, LINC could consult the ACRL standards.

   2. It was suggested that the discussion on identifying core competencies be opened up to ISR with the question:  How should LINC determine what programs to offer?

   3. Include in the preamble to the terms of reference a statement to the effect that LINC fosters the development of information literacy skills, and that its mandate is to identify those needs, and to meet them through generic, non-discipline programs and services.

   4. LINC identifies the need, and determines what type of program or service best meets that need.

   5. LINC designs,  schedules, promotes, coordinates the delivery of programs and services and evaluates them.

   6. Include a statement in the preamble to the terms that LINC keeps abreast of new developments in library instruction.

   7. The data within LINC’s annual report to the Assistant University Librarian, Information Services is made available for external use (e.g., CARL, ARL).

   8. The acknowledgement in the preamble that LINC consults and works with others could include groups and individuals outside the Library.

   9. It would be useful to identify the support LINC receives from others, such as the graphic designer, publications assistant, and secretaries under Membership.

   Margaret, Helena and Melanie will revise the draft of the terms of reference to include the points raised at today’s meeting.

   The discussion turned to information literacy.  A master plan has not been identified concerning information literacy at UW, but some liaison librarians are working with faculty members in implementing elements of information literacy in course-specific library instruction.  There is still a need for generic library instruction programs at UW, but there is a question of whether tours and workshops might be conducted differently.  Susan will distribute an article that talks about the declining value of generic library instruction to the group for next week’s meeting.

   It was proposed that ISMC plan to inform ISR that revised terms of reference for the Library Instruction Committee have been drafted, and that there’s a question of whether we should review the generic library instruction programs.