Library Managers, March 21, 2007
9:30 a.m. , Davis 1568
Present: Allan Bell, Eric Boyd, Betty Graf, Jennifer Haas, Mark Haslett (Chair), Michele Laing, Alex McCulloch, Susan Mavor, Richard Pinnell, Shabiran Rahman, Susan Routliffe, Mary Stanley, Linda Teather, Debbie Tytko, Annette Dandyk (Recorder)
Regrets: Betty Graf, Sharon Lamont
Guests: Dan Sich
- Wireless Printing Update
There are plans to introduce wireless printing from laptops soon. Users who are in the Library can direct their print jobs to printers in the Library. The Systems department investigated what products were available and started testing with PrinterOn in December. Users download a print driver and identify one of the Library printers. It only works with Windows operating system. Anyone who does not use Windows (e.g. Mac users or people using a different operating system) can still do wireless printing but will have to do so through a web service; it works but is not as convenient.
One potential problem has been identified. MinUWet software checks for viruses and if users don’t pass they will have some access but not full access to the web. Training sessions are being planned for front line staff (i.e. Circulation and Information desk staff) to teach them how to download the print drivers, troubleshooting, etc in preparation for when it goes public.
The service will be implemented at the beginning of the Spring term. Yetian Wang (the coop student working in Davis ISR this term) will hold a few clinics to let students test it. This will give them an initial introduction to wireless printing and providing us with feedback; we may discover problems we have not yet identified.
The Library will be the first place on campus to offer this type of wireless printing.
- Chair’s Remarks
- Updates
Senate Finance Committee met on March 19. They have modelled a 2% across the board budget cut in fiscal 2007/2008. This amounts to approximately $160,000 from Library Operating budgets. Mark continues to work with the Provost and Bruce Mitchell on the Library’s budgets situation.
The Acquisitions budget will receive $300,000 to base for fiscal 07/08. It is important to note that there have been no increases to the base budget since fiscal 01/02 and that we have been able to maintain our purchasing power only because of one-time-only (OTO) funding and the strength of the Canadian dollar. While we anticipate additional increases to the base budget in each of fiscal 08/09 and 09/10, those increases are not yet assured and the amounts have not yet been identified. There will be a continuing need for the annual OTO supplement.
There has been an unanticipated delay in the Communications Librarian position. Work continues and is expected to be concluded in a few weeks.
- Around the Table Updates
LibQual – while the close date was stated as March 17 the survey is in fact still open until Shabiran has an opportunity to update the institutional data. We’ve had a low response rate - 622 respondents.
Systems – staff and public workstations need a new image on the desktops. In consultation with a LibWebReview sub-group a new public image has been defined and should be ready soon. Systems staff hope to begin installing it on public workstations near the end of this term. They have been working with IST to move staff to the campus Active Directory Environment. Once some outstanding problems have been addressed and the new image is completed Systems will begin deploying the new IBM workstations and, at the same time, move staff to Active Directory.
Development and Communications – we need approximately $200,000 to meet the Kresge challenge. The Parents Program will begin later this month – it was a very successful program for the Library last year. This year’s Friends of the Library event, featuring Ken McLaughlin, is scheduled for April 25 (at 3:30 p.m., instead of noon as has been past practice). Mary and Rachel have received some suggestions for the Update report. Managers were reminded to send additional ideas to her or Rachel Caldwell.
LAU is working towards year end. The last day for bill payment is April 27.
Special Collections – ARL is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and will feature special collections as part of their celebrations. Susan Mavor was asked to submit three short essays about UW’s Special Collections. ARL will feature an article about our Seagram’s collections.
Circulation Services - RFID tagging in the Porter stacks was finished last night. This is a major accomplishment and the managers applauded those who have worked so hard to make it happen.
Wish Leonard has completed Waterloo’s 2005/2006 OCUL ILL stats that are used to ascertain the netting out costs. Figures are similar to the previous year. Managers wishing to see them should contact Wish.
Security gates – once the part that is on order for one of the security cameras is received the Davis system will be complete. Removal of the electrical panels in the Porter Attendant’s kiosk is expected to begin March 22; installation of the gates, replacement of the carpet and removal of the kiosk will be scheduled shortly afterwards. Facilities is working with Jennifer and Melanie Watkins to resolve some of the seating shortage problems in the Davis Library. Additional conference tables have been moved to the public areas, and study carrels being replaced on the 3rd floor in Porter will be moved to lower level in Davis.
- Business Arising from March 7, 2007
#3 Discussion of Around the Table Updates
There was a brief discussion about whether to continue the practice of rotating departmental updates, in light of the fact that “around the table updates” has been added as a regular agenda item at Managers meeting. Managers were in agreement that brief updates were preferable.
- meebo (Chat Reference) Demo
Dan Sich gave a meebo demo. It is a web interface that allows people to access all their instant messaging accounts (e.g. msn, yahoo, aim google talk) through one interface, and is used by Information Desk staff for the Chat Reference service.
Dan explained why the E Chat Reference Group chose meebo (easy to use, does not require an install on computers, free). He also touched on privacy and security, technical issues, promotion of the service, and described the extended hours Pilot currently underway (5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Mon through Thur) to determine the need for evening chat reference service. Meebo is available from the Ask a Librarian page on the Library’s home page.
- Laptops for Instruction in Davis
The group discussed deployment of the 40 laptops that the Library acquired recently from the IBM gift. While a laptop lending program would be a nice service to offer, the high maintenance makes it unfeasible at this time. However, it will be kept on the list of possible future projects.
It was agreed that some of the new laptops would be deployed to Davis to implement an instruction program and that the laptops in Porter would be replaced. All of the new laptops will have the same desktop image installed so that they are identical in both sites. The laptops currently used for instruction in Porter would be put in the pool for use by staff. The logistics of how best to implement the Davis program and whether some arrangement can be worked out in UML and Musagetes requires further discussion.
Action: Allan
- TUG, ERM, Trellis Upgrade, etc
There has been talk over the last couple of years about the need for a new ERM (Electronic Resources Management System). Last summer a TUG group Chaired by Charles Woods met to discuss strategic directions and investigate options. The TUG ERM Group submitted its report in November 2006. Allan Bell and Catherine Steeves met with the group and asked them to pursue the matter further. The group are working on another report with a target date of mid June. They have invited three commercial vendors to demonstrate their products over the next two months.
Endeavor has been sold to ExLibris; they will continue to support TRELLIS, i.e. the Voyageur ILS. The TRELLIS servers are nearing the end of their life span and will need to be replaced in the next year or two.
TUG Executive will use this as an opportunity to reflect on and assess needs, and will look at the information infrastructure including TRELLIS, ILS, ERM and SFX. They will consider the effects of significant changes to the information environment and the OCUL consortium (now a major consortium that used to be only in the background).
At the March 7 meeting TUG Exec discussed where we are, benefits, opportunities, obstacles and challenges. Among the things that need to be done:
- explore what the next generation ILS will look like. Allan and Catherine working on this;
- look at TUG governance structure (the committees) to determine if they still make sense;
- look at other consortium models;
- discuss how to broaden input and next steps at the March 28 meeting.
Next meeting: April 4, Porter
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April 3, 2007
