SCHEV -- LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Virginia Military Institute

Prescott Library – Turman Room

Lexington, Virginia

December 10, 2004

 

MINUTES

 

 

ATTENDANCE: Ralph Alberico (James Madison University), Robin Benke (University of Virginia’s College at Wise), Tom Camden for Nolan Yelich (Library of Virginia), Gerald Gordon for David Hayes (Radford University), Eileen Hitchingham (Virginia Tech), Pat Howe for Wendell Barbour (Longwood University), John Jaffe (Sweet Briar College), Connie McCarthy (The College of William and Mary), Colette Macin for Mattie Roane (Norfolk State University), Mary Mayer-Hennelly (Tidewater Community College), Frank Moran (Blue Ridge Community College), Kathy Perry (VIVA), Ann Pettingill for Virginia O’Herron (Old Dominion University), 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), John Zenelis (George Mason University).  Guest:  Paul Metz (Virginia Tech)

 

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

 

INTRODUCTIONS AND PRELIMINARY COMMENTS:

Robin Benke thanked Don Samdahl for the VIVA and LAC meeting and dinner arrangements and for the hospitality at Virginia Military Institute.

 

The minutes of the October 1, 2004, meeting were approved. 

 

VIVA REPORTS:

 

Ulrich’s Serials Analysis System:  Paul Metz, Co-chair

Kathy Perry introduced Paul Metz (Virginia Tech),  co-chair with Sharon Gasser (JMU) of the RUC’s Ulrich’s Serials Analysis System subcommittee.

 

Paul distributed copies of the subcommittee’s Analysis of Current Serial Subscriptions of Virginia Academic Libraries, Using Ulrich’s Serials Analysis System:  Final Report to VIVA Directors and Library Advisory Committee of SCHEV.  Paul then noted the contributions of the other subcommittee members:  Rachel Frick (University of Richmond), Louveller Luster (VSU), Paul Rittelmeyer (UVA) and John Walsh (GMU).  Next, Paul summarized the origins of the Serials Analysis project, reminding members that budget constraints were a significant factor in seeking data-driven collection development decisions.  In 2003 VIVA decided to subscribe to Ulrich’s Serials Analysis System (USAS) and tasked a subcommittee to:  assemble accurate data about the serials in Virginia’s academic libraries; identify “at risk” titles with only one or two subscribing libraries; identify commonly held titles that may be candidates for electronic purchase or partnership with publishers.  Paul further explained that VIVA is the first consortium to have purchased USAS and to have completed this type of analysis.  The first analysis was generated by uploading subscription information representing more than 91,000 institutional subscriptions.  Based on the subcommittee’s findings, the VIVA Steering Committee approved these recommendations:

            1.  That a list of titles appearing to have only one currently subscribing library be            mounted on the web site and libraries asked to consult the list when making local             cancellation decisions, but not required to avoid canceling such titles.

            2.  That VIVA continue to explore consortial purchases with publishers whom   the data identify as potentially valuable partners.

            3.  That VIVA renew the [USAS] product and continue to update both the       subscription data and the analysis.

            4.  That VIVA work with Bowker to improve the product and ask for appropriate        consideration based on our own efforts.

 

 

Ralph Alberico, Chair, Steering Committee, VIVA

1.  Ralph reported that the VIVA Executive Committee met with the Attorney General’s Office and with Dr. Daniel LaVista, SCHEV Director, to share VIVA’s position about the For-Profits request for VIVA membership and appropriate alternatives to better meet their needs. As noted in Alan Edward’s report (attached) “…a full review by the Attorney General’s office was not complete and SCHEV staff requested that the discussion be deferred until information from all involved parties was available.”

 

2.  Ralph announced the pending vacancy in the classified VIVA administrative assistant position and stated that the position would be changed to that of an administrative faculty/professional librarian, thereby more accurately reflecting the current nature of the work.  The Steering Committee approved the search for a fulltime Associate Director for VIVA;  the VIVA Personnel Committee will fill the position as quickly as possible.

 

3.  Ralph observed that VIVA is now 10 years old and facing major strategic issues.  He noted that the Steering Committee will be addressing long-term plans for funding and administration, among other issues, and that these topics will be on the agenda for their next retreat.

 

 

Kathy Perry, VIVA Project Director

1.  Kathy reported that five project ideas were suggested during the last six months:  a.  Training attorneys in Virginia on how to deal with library licenses – Project idea referred to the Library Advisory Committee for consideration; b. Training library staff for digital collections – Project idea referred to the Virginia Heritage Project; c. Reviewing Google technology – Tabled for further discussion at Steering Committee retreat; d. ILL through a secure server – Tabled for further discussion at Steering Committee retreat; e. Virtual reference – Tabled for further discussion at Steering Committee retreat

 

2.  Kathy reviewed the divergent price increases for PsycArticles for VIVA public institutions and noted 3 different pricing options.  “The Steering Committee approved a pricing plan for all public institutions participating in the OVID PsycArticles subscription in which all schools will see the same increase.”

 

3.  Kathy summarized a very active season of publicity for VIVA:

·        3,000 copies of VIVA’s 10th-year anniversary report were widely distributed; additional copies are still available

·        Ralph Alberico led the Virginia Library  Association VIVA Users Group meeting at VLA in Williamsburg on Oct. 28, 2004

·        Ralph Alberico gave a presentation at the Charleston Conference on Nov. 5, 2004

·        Gene Damon attended the Gale Strategic Board meeting on Oct. 28 – 29, 2004

·        Kathy Perry attended the ICOLC meeting in Barcelona, Spain, on Oct. 28 – 30, 2004, and gave a presentation there

·        The October 2004 issue of the Thomson Gale Focal Point included an interview with Kathy Perry <http://www.gale.com/enewsletters/focal_point/2004_10/viva.htm>

·        Kathy participated in a panel at the AAP/SSP Roundtable in New York City on Nov. 17, 2004

·        Jim Self and Kathy Perry are participating in the Project COUNTER statistics project on behalf of VIVA and other consortia and are generating specific recommendations for consistent, reliable statistics from the vendors.

 

 

VIVA Resources for Users Committee:  Kathy Perry for Gene Damon, Chair

Kathy disseminated the “VIVA Resources for Users Committee Report to the Steering Committee (December 8, 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. ABC-CLIO; b. AMS: MathSciNet; c. AMS Journals; d. IOP Archives; e. Cambridge University Press Journals; f. HarpWeek; g. AP IDEAL Archives

 

2.  The Steering Committee approved these new products:  a. EngnetBase; b. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics; c. Institute of Physics Journals (with a cost sharing proposal for 2005 – 2007). 

 

3.  The report also included these informational notes:  a. Due to increasing “turnaways” on FirstSearch, the RUC approved 3 additional FirstSearch ports as of Feb. 1, 2005; b. Discussion of Dissertation Abstracts continues; a more unanimous RUC recommendation is needed before action at the Steering Committee level; c. Two very helpful, low-cost training sessions on the Bowker Books in Print and Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory were held on Dec. 2, 2004, at Hollins University and on Dec. 3, 2004, at the College of William and Mary; d. The Steering Committee approved funding for a one-day spring 2005 training session for selected VIVA products.

 

 

Resource Sharing Committee: Eileen Hitchingham, Chair

Eileen reviewed her negotiations with Infotrieve for Ariel 4.0.  Based on the Resource Sharing Committee’s recommendations, the VIVA Steering Committee approved the acquisition of Ariel 4.0 upgrades for all public and private nonprofit VIVA members to support interlibrary loan services.  VIVA will fund the entire cost of the upgrades to existing Ariel software installations.  For those locations without Ariel, requests for new full-feature software packages will be considered on an individual basis.  The central VIVA office will ship the upgraded Ariel software.  The Committee recommends that Ariel users wait a while before installing the upgrade. Eileen reminded members that any future patches and other changes in Ariel will be available online.

 

 

VIVA Outreach Committee: John Ulmschneider, Chair

John distributed the “VIVA Outreach Committee Quarterly Report.”  John noted that the Outreach Committee met on Oct. 22, 2004, to continue its review and development of the new VIVA homepage and web site. John also provided a summary of the Committee’s short-term agenda:  1.  Complete development of the full prototype of the VIVA web site, publicize the prototype, request feedback and deliver recommendations for ongoing web site maintenance; 2. Enhance the process for news releases and publicity for VIVA products; 3.  Update the new VIVA web site with a 10th VIVA anniversary page and provide access to Ralph Alberico’s presentations at VLA and the Charleston Conference; 4.  Implement the Steering Committee’s recommendations regarding VIVA promotion and branding.

 

 


SCHEV Update:  Alan Edwards

1.  Alan Edwards was unable to attend the meeting but sent the following report:

 

I. VIVA Membership Issue.  The October 19th agenda of the State Council’s Academic Affairs Committee included a discussion of the bases for for-profit institutions’ exclusion from VIVA; however, a full review by the Attorney General’s office was not complete, and SCHEV staff requested that the discussion be deferred until information from all involved parties was available.  At this time, SCHEV staff has received no indications from the AG’s office that its information will be available in time for the January 11, 2005, Council meeting.

 

II.  VLII & LTAC.  SCHEV is moving forward with its Virginia Learning Infrastructure Initiative (VLII) and the associated Learning Technology Advisory Committee (LTAC).  Staff invited various stakeholders and constituents from across (and beyond) the Commonwealth to participate in a webcast on November 15th and a meeting in Richmond in December 2nd to discuss and refine the initiative’s goals and begin developing sub-goals, strategies, timelines and success measures.  Robin Benke and Ralph Alberico participated in the webcast; Ralph attended the meeting and was tapped to head up a working group centered around the initiative’s third goal:  Collaboratively identify and adopt complementary methods and processes needed to create and sustain transformed learning environments. 

 

      At its January meeting, the State Council will be updated on the initiative and will be asked to approve the LTAC membership and the revised VLII goals.  Library Advisory Committee members may communicate their thoughts on the initiative and its goals, as well as provide input on sub-goals and strategies, via Ralph, Robin or me (AlanEdwards@schev.edu).

 

III. System Issues.  In the spring, the General Assembly required SCHEV to study the need for a new public institution in the south-central region of the state; over the summer, the Governor’s Office asked SCHEV to study the “Chartered Universities” proposal.  Discussions of both issues took place at the Council’s October 19th meeting, and SCHEV conducted open meetings on the south-central institution idea and on competing planning proposals in late October.  I am not involved in these considerations and do not know whether input has been or will be solicited from SCHEV’s advisory committees.  If the LAC wishes to take a position on either or both issues, its input should be directed to SCHEV executive director Dan LaVista (DanielLaVista@schev.edu) prior to the Council’s January 11th meeting.

 

IV. Budget Issues.  At its October meeting, the State Council took actions in support of various budget requests related to the agency budget and several pass-through programs; no budgetary items related directly to VIVA or to academic libraries were considered (the various agenda items are available on the SCHEV website at:     http://www.schev.edu/SCHEVs/AgendaBooks/AgendaBookOct04/AgendaIntro.asps.  I expect that the Governor’s interest in promoting and expanding sponsored research will be a theme connecting various initiatives relating to faculty, student aid (esp. graduate-student aid), and facilities in the upcoming legislative session.

 

                                                                                                Signed:  Alan Edwards (12/06/04)

 

2.  Ralph Alberico shared additional information and handouts about The Virginia Learning Infrastructure Initiative (see Item II. in Alan Edwards’ report above).  Ralph is heading the working group on VLII governance and support services and he noted that the group is looking at VIVA as a model of “lean” governance, i.e., small central administrative structure.  Robin Benke is representing the LAC for the Virginia Learning Infrastructure Initiative and the Learning Technology Advisory Committee

 

 

Library of Virginia Update:  Tom Camden for Nolan Yelich

Tom provided a comprehensive overview of current Library of Virginia activities and projects:

·        Budget recovery is having positive impact, e.g., some positions filled  and some hours of operation restored

·        Upgrade to Aleph 16 will occur in January; will enhance search capabilities for the public and access to special collections materials

·        Library of Virginia is participating with thirty other states in pilot project, “Ask a Librarian”

·        Library of Virginia will begin live chat for reference in general collections

·        The Library is heavily involved in the Capitol renovation program, including responsibilities for packing and restoring all public art work

·        April 2005 will be the debut of collections management database to access information on art work in Special Collections

·        The Library will sponsor a major exhibition of the Commonwealth Art Collection in Spring 2005

·        The Virginia Shop (formerly the Library Shop), under the administration of the Library of Virginia, will re-open Spring 2005 and will focus on materials representing the Library’s own collections

·        The Library is involved in a $485,000 NEH grant for Virginia newspaper cataloging

 

 

 Library Support and Advocacy Task Force: John Ulmschneider, Chair

John reported that there were no new developments at this time.

 

 

Discussion of the approaches LAC members are taking to develop, manage and support image, sound and video collections:  Ralph Alberico

 

Ralph provided LAC participants with a handout of questions about their approaches to media collections.   In the ensuing discussion, members contributed a wide-range of experiences and perspectives from their own institutions, covering  such  topics as:  media organization, access, delivery, circulation, copyright, conversion/transfer of formats, preservation, licensing, e-reserves, electronic records, oral history collections, and indexing.  Several members cited their arrangements with commercial media vendors and distributors.  After extensive conversation a wide array of practices was evident, but with no consistency among the institutions.  Members agreed that there is great interest in this topic of media management and further discussion should continue. In addition, members wanted to explore the concept of purchasing media core collections/databases as VIVA resources.  It was recommended that the VIVA Steering Committee consider this subject in the context of VIVA’s strategic plan.  Eileen Hitchingham agreed to distribute a grid to the library directors that would collect data on each library’s commercial image, sound, or video collections.

 

 

 

 

The meeting was adjourned .

 

Future LAC Meetings with VIVA Steering Committee the preceding day:

 

Mar.4,  2005  UVA, Charlottesville

June 10, 2005  Virginia State University, Petersburg

 

 

Aileen Schweitzer, Secretary