Minutes of November 13, 2003 meeting

1) U2003

Chris s update

Call Systems if you have problems launching Test WorkFlows. You can create a second WF icon using the "O" drive version or you can change IPs and update.
Garbled displays in the title glossary when 2 copies display and broken Pull lists are known problems. Search results cannot be saved in WebCat as originally stated in the release notes.
We will experiment with configurations to hide display of the Alt ID on user records, turn on user display header, and add new user categories.
Extended information currently in comment fields on Item records will be converted to staff notes; they will not display in Webcat. The vast majority are Annex codes, there are some old missing and home library notes. These staff notes can then be evaluated and converted into public notes for display in Webcat if desired.
Suspended users records can only be "unsuspended" by a report or date, not manually. We don t anticipate using the Suspend User wizard.
Systems will install a subrelease with fixes and plans to install U2003 in production Jan. 2, 2004.

ASC tester comments, observations:

Holds are working OK, still looking at blanket holds.
Check item status wizards are also OK, although a different user s holds showed up on a test user record.
Renewals within the bookings module are not working, the override option does not display.
Reserve wizards and processing are fine. [We agreed to start canceling holds on titles that are pulled out of a holds queue for reserves; we will send a new cancellation notice explaining why the hold is canceled]
Renewals of item and user records are OK.
User functions in Webcat are fine. IPAC is testing the new broadcast search function. The book button currently displays on reserve records in test and Chris is working on moving it to media format records; user-initiated bookings will be tested in the spring. Chris will also look again at trying to get titles to carry over onto Request Article/Other forms.
New bill reasons are available; we need to define when to use them. A billing working group will be formed to study the new billing processes during Spring semester.
We will remove display of "allow routing" and Group ID.
Extend and renew user privileges wizards appear to operate as intended (though our practice is to change expiration dates using modify user).

The group will continue to test but did not come up with any showstoppers and we're on track with the Jan. 2, 2004 implementation date.

2) Updates

A new series of missing book reports in Excel format will be available to selectors, four per year with the first one in December. The reports are configured and will be scheduled to coordinate with access services missing book reports and searching schedule.

The Database Maintenance Team has started using the new returned notices guidelines; Judy will summarize the process for circ_sub.

As previously announced, we can now manually edit addresses on all RU-ONLINE Guest alumni user records.

The RDS web document delivery group has met and based on tasks yet to be done and systems changes still pending, the rollout of this service has been delayed until sometime in January or beginning of spring semester. Planning to have fliers announcing the changes in RDS article delivery available in Dec.

The PALCI membership meeting last week included presentations by executive directors of other academic library consortia (Boston, Orbis), a statistical review of E-ZBorrow activity last year, discussion of future activities, and a general discussion about the new release of the URSA (Horizon ILL) software. The new software s release date has not yet been announced. It will need to be tested before PALCI implements it. A separate trial for user-initiated article requesting was proposed, as well as making participation in article requesting optional.

The term loan due date changes in December, special intersession recall due dates will also take effect. We decided to make all libraries "closed" in Unicorn 12/23/03-1/4/04 and no books will fall due on these dates. The "A" Team will be off over the break. This is our first experience with Palci during winter break. We expect to see hold queues age, etc.

Robeson and Dana continue to stamp due dates in books. NBL stopped stamping due dates a couple of years ago. Books are processed without date due slips and PSC administration does not maintain a supply. Self Services is the patron s record of due dates, which constantly change because of renewals and recalls. The number of total times an item has been checked out since Aug. '97 is readily available in WorkFlows.

3) Announcements

Orientation sessions for the new "Ask a Librarian" software will be offered during January intersession.
The December ASC meeting is canceled.
Jim Robinson has accepted position in the Shipping & Receiving Dept.
A Knight Express reader for Alex s circulation desk will be ordered.
Kiosks with keypads have been successfully installed in Media viewing rooms at Kilmer; they are popular with users who can now control DVD viewing.
The general collection on the second floor of LSM and the special collections room are being inventoried and/or weeded. Items from the special collections room may be sent to the Annex or Special Collections & Archives for environmental control and preservation.
There s a party at 2pm at LSM for Marilyn Herod who is leaving.
Chris is working on post recon inventory procedures, automating withdrawals, automatic PIN notification, and loading record sets into IRIS. Lisheng Chen is new staff at Systems. Nov. 22nd is pie day at TAS.
Robeson is now offering wireless connections.
We encourage users to use E-ZBorrow are an alternative to recall, but we will not convert recalls already placed by Rutgers users into E-ZBorrow requests in order to keep a book in the hands of the current borrower.
Douglass staff are scheduled to move upstairs on Jan. 7th. NB's collection management manual is completed and includes training exercises.
LSM is experiencing heating/cooling problems. A survey was used to identify basic circ functions for training.
Imaging Services staff has completed scanning refreshers with staff at all libraries with scanners. Math Library is conducting inventory.