Minutes of October 27, 2005 meeting

Present:

Anne Butman, Anthony Joachim, Patricia Libutti (Chair), Sam McDonald, Kevin McGuire, Patricia Piermatti (recorder)

1. The meeting was called to order at 2:05 PM in the Conference Room at TAS.

Each committee member then gave a brief introduction.

2. The Agenda was reviewed and approved with amendments.

Action Item: S. McDonald will distribute to the entire committee via email a memo T. Tate regarding items for future consideration by the committee. [Done: sent via email on 10/28/05].

P. Libutti then asked each building representative to express local concerns regarding disabilities issues. For easy readability, P. Piermatti (recorder) has also listed suggestions mentioned by each representative succeeding the initial round of voiced concerns.

A. Joachim (Douglass Library)

• Currently a lack of students with disabilities needing assistance
• Retraining in use of adaptive equipment is an issue
• W. Hemmig and A. Joachim held a CCTV training session
• Rather than one "expert", we need shared expertise
• Suggestion made to make a list of questions

S. McDonald (Alexander Library)

• Web issues … some RUL web pages not read well by JAWS software
• Perhaps we need a web page to update support materials … located through a "reports" link
• We should have a new employee orientation packet and include information for persons with disabilities
• Suggestion made that new students who have disabilities should have in their packets information about what the libraries can do for them
• Suggestion made that RUL disabilities brochures be distributed to all disabilities officers (offices)

A. Butman (Library Systems, TAS)

• Keeping up with software changes and associated operating system upgrades
• I would suggest that all existing staff have a packet of information about services for persons with disabilities

K. McGuire (Kilmer Library)

• Suggested an "Odds & Ends" section for committee meetings
• Kilmer is also experiencing a lack of students with disabilities needing assistance; however, a number of repeat customers
• The RUL brochure (blue), "Library Services for Persons with Disabilities", updated August 2005 needs a few changes. See web page: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/forms/pubs_1.shtml
• Kurzweil disk drive broken
• Are headphones available?
• Committee members should meet with their campus disabilities coordinator http://studentaffairs.rutgers.edu/disability/docs/coord.pdf

P. Piermatti (Library of Science & Medicine)

• Lack of students with disabilities needing assistance also an issue
• Retraining in use of adaptive equipment
• Our Kurzweil machine is old; do not use; may not be working
• LSM Quick Guides committee (P. Piermatti, M. Lo, and J. Nathanson) considering doing an LSM disabilities quick guide

P. Libutti (Alexander Library)

• Have had requests for training; and for improving knowledge of existing policies regarding services for persons with disabilities
• Questions have arisen about "what constitutes a disabilities policy issue?"

Additional discussion followed.

Action Item: committee members should forward all "Library Services for Persons with Disabilities" brochure changes to P. Libutti for consideration by J. Boyle and L. Millerand.

Action Item: Interesting reading … P. Libutti will distribute copies of an article. Citation: Carter, Catherine J. "Providing Services for Students with Disabilities in an Academic Library" in Education Libraries Vol 27 (2) Winter 2004. P. Libutti then asked if anyone's building had architectural problems hindering appropriate service to persons with disabilities.

K. McGuire:

• Bathroom stalls

P. Libutti responded that if becomes a major concern, then we should review the situation in all of our library buildings.

3. Review of Charge

Discussion then ensued about the committee charge.

S. McDonald:

• The charge is very good; however, we need an action plan for systematically addressing the concerns mentioned in the charge

P. Libutti:

What concrete actions match this charge?

• Faculty and staff trained about disabilities issues
• Web page
• Adaptive equipment in each building
• Equipment inventory done

Action Plan Suggestions:

A. Joachim:

• We need to catch students and others at orientation
• Develop an FAQ … Douglass is developing one now
• Review ADA law
• Committee should have a listserv

P. Libutti:

• Do our policies and services meet the standards in the ADA act?
• Training in use of adaptive technology
• Working with centers, departments, institutes … our brochure needs to be distributed to as many places as appropriate
• Orientation programs … working with M. Wilt
• Visiting campus coordinators; explaining our services and listening to their concerns
• Action plan should go through the academic year
• Subject specialists need to be knowledgeable about disabilities issues … will enhance their liaison work
• Committee members should make sure that all persons in our buildings know JAWS, etc passwords
• Are we advisory? Or, are we hands-on?
• Committee should meet at least quarterly

K. McGuire:

• Training an issue; i.e. receive JAWS training, then don't use for two years
• Forgetting of passwords; Access Services and Information Services staff both need to know
• JAWS password on Kilmer Reference Rolodex
• Re-introduce ourselves to campus coordinators … be an active listener
• Let's update the "Library Services for Persons with Disabilities" brochure

A. Butman:

• Should be like CPR training; ongoing; normal part of one's job
• Everyone should know the passwords
• Passwords standardized across campuses; should check twice a year
• How much work is done with schools, departments and agencies?
• Are we responsible for physical building issues? If we are, then we need a representative from appropriate RUL committee

P. Piermatti:

• LSM has a "Reference FAQ" manual; includes passwords

S. McDonald:

• We should hold off on our visits until we have our policies and brochures in order
• Training should be coordinated through M. Wilt

4A. Maintenance of RUL web page,
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/lib_servs/disabil.shtml

Action Item: Please send any web page changes to Sam.

Some discussion followed. A. Butman mentioned that the blue color of the "Library Services for Persons with Disabilities" brochure is not the best; not easy on the eyes when reading.

Action Item: Please email "blue" brochure changes to P. Libutti and copy Sam.

Discussion of the Kurzweil machines followed. Kurzweil machines can save audio files. Do we have the disks? Several solutions … disk-on-key … P. Libutti mentioned the need for Kurzweil training.

4B. Use of RUL web page,
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/staff/groups/disabilities/useful_links.shtml

Action Item: Email Sam any good links and copy the committee.

Suggestions made:

• link to the PCWG "best practices" page
• link to ADA
• link to JAWS information
• link to RU ADA information

5. JAWS and Reading Edge Instructions

This item was tabled for future committee consideration. Tony will review and send to everyone when ready.

For Next Meeting:

Think about the "running of common tools through JAWS/WindowEyes". Tony mentioned the value of a text only SearchPath tutorial; less robust but still useful.

P. Libutti will email group with possible meeting dates.

Action Item: review "JAWS" web page, http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/lib_servs/jaws.shtml

Tony has the "JAWS" disk from most recent training session. Sam can re-code for the web page. We can add to the "useful links" section.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:42 PM.

Respectfully submitted 11/03/05
P. Piermatti