TBR/UT Library Deans/Directors Meeting

Thursday, April 11, 2002

Members Attending:

Binkley, Yildiz TSU

Breeden, Kathy CoSCC

Burnett, Rosa STCC

Cohen, Scott JSCC

Craig, Don MTSU

Delacroix, Sheila UTC

Dewey, Barbara UTK

Fetch, Deborah APSU

Ford, Sylverna UM

Leather, Vicky CSTCC

Lynn, Mary CLSCC

Mitchell, Aubrey UTK

Nerzak, Peter PSTCC

Parsons, Duncan NESTCC

Penuel, Ann NSTI

Ponnappa, Suresh ETSU

Prichard, Doris UTMC

Scher, Rita ETSU

Szostak, Sue MSCC

Walden, Winston TTU

Weed, Ellen TBR

Web of Science

Web of Science was demonstrated by Joelle Masciulli and Lolly Madden from ISI/Thomson Scientific. It uses citation searching (includes all articles in bibliography and all later articles citing a given article). It covers 230 disciplines. Two special features are "Keywords Plus" and "Related References." Authors' abstracts are included when available. It will link to full-text articles that a library subscribes to, but the Web of Science doesn't actually include full-text articles.

Current Contents Connect can be linked to Web of Science. Journal Citation Reports and other databases can also be linked to Web of Science.

ISI Web of Knowledge integrates all of the above resources and more. These are available through one uniform search screen, the ISI Web of Knowledge portal.

Introductions

Ellen Weed said campuses have been told to consider what they would do if "DOGS" budget came to pass. No one knows at this point if the "DOGS" budget will pass. There could be a tuition increase.

The "Defining Our Future" plan may be enacted more quickly than scheduled if the "DOGS" budget passes. The idea is to have savings in some areas of each institution so those funds can be re-allocated in other areas of the institution. Re-allocating has been going on at UTK since last fall. THEC is considering several new policies at its next meeting. There are some differences (especially developmental funding) between "Defining Our Future" and the THEC plan.

Updates, Budgets, Systems, etc.

Barbara Dewey said UTK is looking for a new system but doesn't have the money in hand. She has been told to write the RFP. Oak Ridge National Laboratory Library has been attending the demos at UTK because ORNL Library is also looking for a new library system. UTK's new system will probably cost $400,000 - $700,000. They will use servers and hardware they already own.

Sirsi will give libraries a big discount because they want our business. DRA libraries can migrate to SIRSI as an upgrade since SIRSI bought DRA. Illinois and Georgia can go with one system because they have statewide funding.

Cooperative Activities

Winston Walden discussed possible projects for TennShare. Aubrey Mitchell and Barbara Dewey elaborated on the proposed Tennessee Electronic Library - Phase II (TELII). One suggestion was to engage Solinet as a consultant to help Tennessee librarians develop a statewide plan, as Solinet has already done in North Carolina.

Scott Cohen gave a brief update on the TBR Virtual Library. The TBR Virtual Library will move from JSCC to PSTCC in May 2002.

Debora Fetch offered to take Sue Szostak's Excel spreadsheet of databases and have technical staff put them in Access or Excel. She will request updated subscription, cost, and cost basis information from TBR/UT libraries.

Winston said we expect TEL to be funded next fiscal year by federal money. A new RFP will be issued for 2002-2003. TEL may not have Gale databases if Gale doesn't get the bid. Librarians in schools and small public libraries are still indicating that they need training.

Regarding the Elsevier Science Direct Consortium, the members may be able to cancel some titles held by more than one member. Elsevier does not appear to be accepting any new members into that consortium. There are presently seven members. Suresh Ponnappa will ask Elsevier if interested libraries can still join.

Regarding the Wiley consortium, it is similar to the Elsevier consortium. Suresh agreed to be the contact person if any library is interested in that consortium.

TALC

Regarding the Tennessee Academic Library Collaborative (TALC), Barbara Dewey proposed that we expand it to include private academic libraries. Sylverna Ford would like to see us revisit TALC and revitalize its vision. Sylverna and Barbara will put together a proposal to revitalize TALC. Peter Nerzak and Rita Scher and Don Craig will also serve.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. CT.

TBR/UT Library Deans/Directors Meeting

Friday, April 12, 2002

Members Attending:

Binkley, Yildiz TSU

Breeden, Kathy CoSCC

Burnett, Rosa STCC

Cohen, Scott JSCC

Craig, Don MTSU

Fetch, Deborah APSU

Ford, Sylverna UM

Leather, Vicky CSTCC

Nerzak, Peter PSTCC

Parsons, Duncan NESTCC

Penuel, Ann NSTI

Ponnappa, Suveah ETSU

Prichard, Doris UTMC

Scher, Rita ETSU

Szostak, Sue MSCC

Walden, Winston TTU

Weed, Ellen TBR

Paula Myrick Short

Paula Myrick Short introduced herself, emphasizing her belief in statewide cooperation. She described Missouri's statewide network MOREnet, that provides Internet access and MOBIUS, the statewide library network which provides access to library materials through one platform and overnight delivery of materials.

She is trying to provide access to Internet II for TBR universities. This will enable faculty to participate in large research projects.

She has seen great gains made through the leadership of library directors in Missouri and encourages TBR library directors to provide similar leadership.

Rita Scher gave Paula materials and information about TEL II. Paula distributed a handout on MOBIUS. She discussed how Missouri Library directors are constantly writing cooperative grants to provide new opportunities for access.

The university institutional research officers are discussing how the universities can move forward with connecting to Internet II. (NSF grant that MTSU is initiating).

The goal is for all TBR institutions to be able to take advantage of the benefits of Internet II connectivity.

One example is the Harry Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, which is developing a virtual interactive program whereby students can act as advisors to Harry Truman in the decision-making process.

Paula doesn't have any additional information to share on the Tennessee budget situation. To paraphrase Will Rogers, "All I know is what I read in the papers."

She acknowledged that libraries are a priority in academic affairs and that she appreciates all that libraries do with very limited funding.

Previous Minutes

The minutes were accepted as distributed.

TBR Virtual Library Update

Scott Cohen distributed a printed copy of the revised TBR Virtual Library webpage. He pointed out that the page now points students to their "home school" web page.

Scott said that Robbie Kendall Melton said her RODP students were surprised and pleased that libraries offered reference pages. Scott referred all RODP reference inquirers to their home school.

Peter Nerzak will take over as RODP TBR Virtual Library Coordinator in the coming year. There was a lot of discussion about libraries cooperating to provide databases for RODP students and all TBR students.

Ellen Weed discussed new federal legislation regarding K-12 teacher licensure, so there is a need for providing an RODP masters' level program. By 2005-2006, all paraprofessionals will have to have an associates' degree. Scott reiterated that we should all be working with course developers on our campus.

Yildz Binkley discussed TSU's purchase of Docutek and all the benefits faculty and librarians have discovered in using it.

Rita discussed ETSU's "Ask a Librarian" software statistics and the fact that most questions are valid. It is more time consuming and less comfortable for reference librarians. Debra Fetch bought software through TAF. APSU was using "Live Assistance" but will be purchasing a different software in the coming year.

Peter Nerzak had a staff inservice on WebCT. Other librarians have also had to learn about WebCT and Blackboard.

Librarians at APSU, ETSU, and ETSU Medical Library are team-teaching RODP courses.

Delphi Study - Doug Cross

Doug Cross asked group members to participate in this study so he can complete his dissertation. He will send e-mail to the community college directors.

Cooperation Questionnaire

Scott Cohen distributed the results of an online survey of cooperative activities preferred by TBR library directors. Ellen Weed said that the high enrollment of students in RODP programs is probably due to one statewide identity.

Ellen will ask the board attorney if there is any possibility of licenses being negotiated at the board level or if there could be a clearinghouse or statement for database licenses that any license negotiated by an TBR institution would be acceptable by others.

Remote Databases

Vicky Leather asked about authorized users of remote databases. Most libraries limit remote access to faculty, staff and students. ETSU Medical School Library provides remote access to supervising physicians at clinical sites at the written request of a medical school department head.

College of DuPage Teleconferences

Scott Cohen encourages all TBR libraries to do this. Sue Szostak asked if we could run this through Continuing Education. The license includes the right to videotape it and keep the tapes. Scott will get advance notice of the topics for 2002-2003 and distribute those topics to TBR library directors.

Revision of Procedures for Archiving TBR Deans and Directors Materials - Winston Walden

Winston proposed that we forget having the chair be responsible for archiving the TBR library directors materials. He proposed that one person be responsible for gathering the materials and shipping it to the University of Memphis. Sylverna Ford proposed that we create a position called archivist for the group. Discussion followed. Winston Walden agreed to serve until the Spring 2004 meeting at which time it will be discussed again. Consensus was achieved.

Classification of Staff Update - Don Craig

Don acknowledged Sue Szostak, Sylverna Ford, Becky Brunton, Rosa Burnett, Rita Scher, and Mike Rothacker for serving on the committee. He mentioned the Performance Factors that are used to determine the level of TBR jobs. Don recommended that the library directors review the Iowa State Board of Regents Merit System sample job description and the "Tips for Writing Good Task Statements" in writing job descriptions so that those who classify the jobs can determine the appropriate level of each job. His committee will continue to study this issue and provide further information at the TBR library directors' retreat in June 2002. He said there is a need for us to be more descriptive in each task so those who evaluate job descriptions can more easily determine the correct level.

LIBQUAL Update - Don Craig

Don reviewed the purpose and function of LIBQUAL (e.g. to identify specific gaps in library services). MTSU, CSCC, and UM have been participating in this. A selected campus population is asked to fill out a web-based survey and a report is given to the library several months later. Libraries not having gaps in services are identified and their names are given to other libraries as examples of "best practices."

Yildiz shared information about TSU's "home grown" survey through which they are getting a lot of good information.

Don said the LIBQUAL now costs $2,000 but the price may change as the demonstration project ends. The survey now consists of 25 questions rather than the 88 original questions.

LIBQUAL is an ARL project but there are many non-ARL libraries in the project.

Ellen said libraries might want to formulate a "performance-funding" goal around this. If the results show performance data, the school may get increased funding.

Retreat Planning - Rita Scher

The group decided to have the retreat at the Webb School, on Thursday and Friday, June 20-21, 2002.

There being no further business and for the good of the group, the meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m. CT. Scott invited members to join him for lunch in the cafeteria.