LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

The College of William and Mary

Swem Library -- Boardroom

October 1, 2004

MINUTES

 

 

ATTENDANCE: Ralph Alberico (James Madison University), Christopher Bean (Shenandoah University), Robin Benke (University of Virginia’s College at Wise),  Virginia Cherry (Richard Bland College), Gene Damon (Virginia Community College System), Elaine Day (Averett University), Cathy Doyle (Christopher Newport University), Tracy Elliott (Rappahannock Community College), David Hayes (Radford University), Berna Heyman (The College of William and Mary), Eileen Hitchingham (Virginia Tech), Ruth Kifer for John Zenelis (George Mason University), Sharon McCaslin for Wendell Barbour (Longwood University), Connie McCarthy (The College of William and Mary), Mary Mayer-Hennelly (Tidewater Community College), Frank Moran (Blue Ridge Community College), Virginia O’Herron (Old Dominion University), Kathy Perry (VIVA), Don Samdahl (Virginia Military Institute), Aileen Schweitzer, (Thomas Nelson Community College), Jim Self for Karin Wittenborg (University of Virginia),  Carol Sinwell (Northern Virginia Community College), LeRoy Strohl (University of Mary Washington), John Ulmschneider (Virginia Commonwealth University), Elsie Weatherington (Virginia State University), Nolan Yelich (Library of Virginia).

 

CALL TO ORDER: Robin Benke, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.

 

INTRODUCTIONS AND PRELIMINARY COMMENTS:

Robin Benke thanked Connie McCarthy, Berna Heyman, Kathy Perry and other members of the VIVA Anniversary Committee for the outstanding 10th Anniversary Celebration held during the afternoon and evening of September 30th.

 

The minutes of the June 4, 2004, meeting were approved. 

 

VIVA REPORTS:

 

Ralph Alberico, Chair, Steering Committee, VIVA

1. Ralph reported that the Steering Committee is still engaged in discussions regarding the for-profit institutions’ request for VIVA membership.  Mark Singer of the Virginia Career College Association addressed this issue at SCHEV’s July Council meeting and raised several questions from a legal or statutory perspective.  Other major questions involve student access and financial and administrative costs.  The Council’s Academic Affairs Committee will meet on October 19th and will seek recommendations regarding these issues.  Kathy Perry and John Ulmschneider will represent VIVA at the meeting.

 

2.  Ralph announced these leadership appointments for VIVA standing committees and special projects:  a. Resource Sharing Committee – Eileen Hitchingham, Chair;  b. Outreach Committee – John Ulmschneider, Chair;  c. Resources for Users Committee – Gene Damon, Chair;  d. Virginia Heritage Project Task Force – John Jaffe, Chair.

 

3.  Ralph acknowledged the significant milestone of VIVA’s 10th Anniversary and expressed his appreciation for the celebration activities.  He noted that the participation of VIVA founding members especially enriched the anniversary events.  Ralph also gave special credit to the vendors who supported the celebration so that all expenses were fully-funded:  Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, R.R. Bowker, Ovid Technologies, Inc. and Thomson Gale. More than 100 people attended the dinner at the Williamsburg Winery.

 

 

Kathy Perry, VIVA Project Director

1.  Kathy reaffirmed the success of the VIVA 10th Anniversary events and recognized the exemplary contributions of twelve individuals whom Kathy named as VIVA’s “Unsung Heroes”:  Peter Blake, Robert Lambeth, Iris Moubray, Harry Kriz, Doug Hurd, Jean Cooper, Jim Self, Sharon Gasser, Pat Van Zandt, Curtis Carr, Mack Lundy and John Duke. 

 

2.  Kathy shared several other updates:  a. St. Paul’s College will be reinstated for VIVA membership as soon as their membership fees are paid. b. Lisa Wight will continue to provide VIVA staff support on a  50% basis. Other part-time staff will be utilized.  c. VIVA will be a test site for Project Counter, a vendor-initiated enterprise for statistics that are standard across the industry and that are audited.

 

 

VIVA Resources for Users Committee:  Gene Damon, Chair

Gene disseminated the “VIVA Resources for Users Committee Report to the Steering Committee (September 30, 2004),” summarized the Committee’s recommendations for renewals and training, and reported the Steering Committee’s actions on those recommendations:

 

1.  The VIVA Steering Committee approved renewals for:  a. Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; b. CIAO; c. Congressional Universe; d. Factiva; e. Galenet; f. Highwire;

 g. American Chemical Society Journals (including the new title The Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation); h. Project Muse; i. Journal of Advanced Nursing (directly available from Blackwell)

 

2.  The Steering Committee approved the acquisition of the Gale Literature Resource Center Digital Archives and approved training for Bowker Books in Print and Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory for VIVA members.

 

The report also included these informational notes:

 

1.  Several potential purchases are being reviewed:  Books 24x7; CQ E-Library; Dissertation Abstracts; IOP journals; Serials analysis title list; Referex.

 

2.  The serials analysis project is generating good data and will be making a full report later this year. Committee members will look at all currently subscribed journals and will try to identify a common core for purchase.

 

3.  The committee will be working on an RFP for the OVID databases.

 

 

 

Resource Sharing Committee: Eileen Hitchingham, Chair

1.  Eileen announced that due to the pricing increases for Ariel 4.0 software, the Resource Sharing Committee will investigate whether they should recommend acquiring the new software, continue using Ariel 3.4 as long as possible, or explore other alternatives.

 

2.  Eileen commended the collaboration and information sharing fostered by the 6th VIVA Interlibrary Loan Forum held on July 16, 2004, at Sweet Briar College.  Presentations from the Forum are available at http://www.lib.virginia.edu/vivaill/vivaill.html

 

 

 

VIVA Outreach Committee: John Ulmschneider, Chair

John distributed the “VIVA Outreach Committee Quarterly Report, 9-30-04.” 
The committee has conducted its recent business through conference calls.

 

1.  John provided a status report on the committee’s chief project, the redesign of the VIVA Web site to make it a more effective outreach tool.  In July 2004 the VIVA Web address was changed to http://www.vivalib.org, and as part of the change, the Web site administrator at VCU implemented design enhancements to many of the VIVA web pages.

 

2.  John shared “Design Suggestions for VIVA Home Page, April 12, 2002” and reported that the committee implemented a prototype based on the April 2002 design outline.  John Duke at VCU created a development and review site for the prototype at http://dev.vivalib.org.  John Ulmschneider requested that as many users as possible look at the prototype of the new web page and send feedback.

 

3.  The committee is reviewing maintenance procedures for VIVA web site content so that groups may upgrade content while preventing inadvertent changes.  The committee is also looking at authorized custodians for the VIVA web site.

 

4.  In its continued efforts to promote branding of VIVA resources, the Outreach Committee will create a resource section on the VIVA web site to assist libraries in identifying options for associating VIVA-provided resources with the VIVA name.

 

 

Virginia Heritage Project:  Ralph Alberico for John Jaffe, Chair

Ralph distributed the September 30, 2004, report.

 

1.  The completion of the Jamestown Bibliography project was recognized as a significant accomplishment.  The 343 page document is now available on the web in pdf format at:  http://spec.lib.vt.edu/viva/Jamestownbibliographyviva.pdf.  John Jaffe recognized the contributions of those who played a major role in the project’s success, including the Colonial National Historical Park, Ute Schechter, Jodi Koste, Gail McMillan and Susan Riggs.

 

2.  It was recommended that a press release be prepared to publicize this noteworthy resource.

 

 

 

Library of Virginia Update:  Nolan Yelich

Nolan congratulated the organizers of the VIVA 10th Anniversary commemoration for an exceptionally fine celebration.  In addition, Nolan noted that VIVA’s contributions to higher education and to user access are widely recognized throughout the Commonwealth, the nation, and internationally.

 

 

 

SCHEV Update:  Alan Edwards

Due to a scheduling conflict Alan was unable to attend the meeting, but provided a printed report for distribution. 

 

1.  Governor Warner has appointed several new members to the State Council and Alan Wurtzel was elected as the new Council chairman.  The next Council meeting is scheduled for October 19th. … “At the July Council meeting, Governor Warner stated that he would not be surprised if higher education is the issue in the upcoming legislative session.”

 

2.  Dr. Daniel (Dan) LaVista assumed the position of SCHEV executive director in mid-August.  His biography is available on the SCHEV website.

 

3.  Mark Singer of the Virginia Career College Association addressed the issue of non-profit institutions’ potential membership in VIVA at SCHEV’s July Council meeting and raised several questions from a legal or statutory perspective.  SCHEV’s staff is seeking guidance on these and other questions involving student access and financial and administrative costs.  The Council’s Academic Affairs Committee will meet on October 19th when it will hear recommendations regarding these issues. 

 

4.  “…[T]he Council is very interested in the topic of educational/instructional technology and ways of assisting public institutions to use these technologies to enhance access, quality and efficiency.  At its September meeting, the Council approved a proposal to initiate a ‘Virginia Learning Infrastructure Initiative.’  This initiative will lead to the creation of a new SCHEV advisory committee, the Learning Technology Advisory Committee (LTAC).”  SCHEV staff anticipate that the LAC and/or VIVA will be represented on the LTAC.

 

 

 Library Support and Advocacy Task Force: John Ulmschneider, Chair

John summarized the task force’s recent accomplishments, noting that much of its work is being done through the VIVA Outreach Committee.  The task force will continue to follow the agenda that has been established: follow-up meetings with legislators, maintaining a solid base of allies, improving the VIVA website, enhancing publicity and advocacy.  John remarked that support for VIVA remains strong because VIVA has done an excellent job of delivering on its promises.

 

 

Institutional Repositories Initiatives Updates:  John Ulmschneider

Committee work on this initiative is still in progress.  A report will be forthcoming.

 

 

Universal Borrowing Updates:  Tracy Elliott

Committee work on this initiative is still in progress.  A report will be forthcoming.

 

 

Other Information and For the Good of the Order:

 

Gene Damon reported that he is gathering data from various libraries about their practices for purchasing library materials through eVA (electronic procurement in Virginia). He commented that there is a great variety of approaches among the state institutions. In order to address the questions raised by the member libraries, Gene stated that it would be helpful for him to know the specific library collection budgets of the public institutions.  Gene will continue to pursue this matter.

 

 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 a.m..

 

Future LAC Meetings with VIVA Steering Committee the preceding day:

 

Dec. 10, 2004  VMI

Mar. 4,  2005  UVA

June 2005  VSU

 

Aileen Schweitzer, Secretary