Notes from IS Standing Committee Meeting
October 12, 2010
Present: Janita Wisch, Susan Cortright, Valerie Oakley, Melanie Odom, Mary Louise Fischer, Victor Lorand, Ann Hall, Greg Carlson, Shirley Birkett, Hal Harmon, Jane Burke, and Sarabeth Kalajian.
“The Information Services (IS) Reps Standing Committee is charged with guiding and evaluating IS strategic plan implementation. In addition, it provides consulting services to the management team and other system committees on IS policies, acquisitions, customer service, staff development, and other relevant issues.”
Above charge was approved as written.
IS Plan Update:
1. Staff development and education.
Janita reported that a survey had been sent to all libraries to gather information on the top ten areas that IS staff help the public with.
These are: 1. Printing and copying
2. PC Reservation
3. Library catalog
4. Library databases
5. ILL
6. Holds
7. Overdrive
8. E-mail
9. Online job searching
10. Meeting room equipment
The next meeting of the group will take place sometime in November.
2. Planning and evaluation (of the plan itself)
Melanie reported that the group met and that all the libraries have completed and submitted the 21st Century Skills assessment.
3. Computer/Internet/Web site
Hal reported that the team has been in contact with other teams to coordinate tech actions and other related issues. There are now better wireless routers that we are currently using. Hal is meeting with Laurie Bates to discuss making the website more accessible, adding tutorials for databases as an example. He hopes to have a Database Fest of some kind with classes, promos, targeting specific groups to make the most impact.
4. Print and AV
Susan reported that there are many more digital items ordered, such as e-books, downloadable audio-books. The library system received a $35,000.00 grant to start the e-book collection. Susan ahs gathered statistics on database usage. She is working with the wedding posse to help in weeding digital items as well. She wants to re-emphasize the donation criteria to avoid problems with donations. Possibly have someone from the TS team come to each library.
The database vendors offer training for both public and staff. Reference USA will have some for the public in either January or December. It is important to advertise what we have. Vendors have web-links to order promotional materials or downloadable items and flyers that can be customized. There are webinars as well. Susan is working with Tutor.com to work with the schools. Overdrive has a resource sharing component where libraries can share digital resources with other libraries.
5. Partnership and Outreach
Shirley reported that they are working on Ask-A-Librarian and whether to expand it or not. The expansion would be a local desk, but that would require additional hours from each library to staff. They are talking to TBLC. There will be additional promotional items forthcoming.
6. Readers’ Advisory
Victor reported that Susan Mason sent out a survey to find out what the various Sarasota County libraries are doing. They are in the process of collecting bookmarks, web-sites and other aids that are currently being used. It is possible that they will be some kind of centralized depository of all these items for everyone to use. Notes from the committee’s meetings will be posted on http://readadvise.pbworks.com.
7. Learning Services
Jane reported that the committee sent out a survey to find out what classes are being taught and what facilities are available at each library. The committee hopes to have a set curriculum for each individual basic class being taught. Perhaps there could be database lesson plans as well, which could also be used as tip sheets for customers. These items could be available on SharePoint. The committee investigated a shared pool of laptops, but it has been placed on the back burner for now. A future goal would be to seek a grant for this endeavor. Sarabeth suggested using Susanne Butch with TPM (?) as a resource when it came to curriculum development and lesson plans.
8. Programs and Events
Valerie reported on the progress of the plan. They found that they were duplicating efforts on one of the action steps with the evanced committee. Valerie and Vera have attended the current Program Committee meetings on the One Book One Community planning.
9. Designated Spaces
Mary Louise told us that each member of the committee has visited each library with a plan in hand to find where all the electrical outlets, etc. are, as well as how good the lighting is. They are meeting to discuss the findings.
10. Public Awareness
Liaison from this group was unavailable.
Other issues
At this time WebEx isn’t available with sound. And for conference calls using staff phones a maximum of 6 people can participate at one time (cell phones can also be part of the conference call). IT has informed Victor that for $100.00/year a “Conference Bridge”(861 #) can be created for the Library system that allows up to 25 to participate in a conference call . This would be necessary for the service to work for the various teams and especially for the IS Standing Committee. Ann Hall will contact Andrea Ginsky to request that we get this.
Susan Cortright brought up scheduling of webinars and workshops for the various databases we currently have and for any new ones we acquire. Vendors are dealing with Susan, but it is difficult for her to schedule all this. After some discussion it was suggested that the committee supply Susan with names to forward this information to. These staff members would then set and deal with the vendor reps. If the vendor wants to educate the staff only, all such communications should go to Janita Wisch. Anything to do with educating the public should go to Jane Burke. Hal Harmon would assist Jane in scheduling and facilitating.
Meeting schedule
The frequency of meetings was discussed. It was agreed that quarterly would be sufficient. If it would coincide with the All-hands meeting it would be even better. Sarabeth will find out when the next meeting is.
Other business
Sarabeth told us that she is asking for contract employees to use in outreach endeavors and for assistance in the libraries. A suggestion was made to possibly hire someone to teach classes and set up a curriculum for computer classes in all the libraries. It would be a traveling computer teacher for all the libraries.
She also mentioned that we should market what is available on the web-site to other business units in the county. Possibly have TRAC classes as well on databases and anything else that is of interest to county employees.
Ann Hall will investigate the dates for statistics gathering for 2011. They will be roughly the same time as this year. She will send out the dates as soon as possible to all reps.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned.
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