Minutes of January 25, 2001 Meeting

Present:

J. Boyle, A. Montanaro, S. Soong, S. Beck, T. Frusciano, M. Wilson, N. Borisovets, R. Sewell, J. Sloan (recorder)

AUL Update

• VALE Users Conference poster presentation and reports will be available at VALE website
• Continuing Education Advisory Council report: all video networking should be coordinated from the Office of Continuing Education; they are leading Rutgers' participation in the RU Regional Network, fiber optic cables attached to the state highway's EZPass system; Rutgers distance learning program will expand into Monmouth and other counties near the shore

Document Delivery report – J. Gardner

• In first six months of Uncover document delivery, there were 160 requests from 86 users resulting in 93 faxed document at an average cost of $18.17 each. Seen as reasonable cost and effective service. Suggestion made to expand by offering other document delivery services as well.
• Audio reserves are being piloted in collaboration with the Music Dept, the Music Library and Systems. The RealAudio files can be opened at RUCS lab workstations.

Ask a Librarian

• AAL has grown to the point where the coordinator needs clerical assistance
• We know that participation in AAL leads to stronger ties with members of the Rutgers community because discussion continues after questions are answered. Also, librarians who participate learn answers to leading service questions needed at the reference desk and in liaison work.
• Cabinet has approved a move to regularize this service by incorporating into reference librarian responsibilities. Factors/questions discussed focused on the reference question component of the service:
• How will we nurture/institutionalize support for this service?
• How best to involve more people? Rotate more individuals in and out?
• Is there a relationship to realtime reference? No.
• We accept that the duty cannot be conflated into reference desk time; however, is there a formula to allocate time in a similar fashion to desk time?
• There is concern that the service is currently staffed mostly by untenured and temporary librarians, and that participation is uneven among the campuses.
Handout distinguished tenured and untenured participation in the service.
• Minimal competence is defined as training for a reference desk, and thorough understanding of the FAQs for AAL. Group concluded that individuals would best serve for 6 months, with one month beforehand for reading and learning. Terms are best staggered.
• Group did conclude that best way is to use reference desk pool of librarians; how to approach? Suggestion made to write rationale and seek more participants. Natalie B. would like to have a pool that leaves participants with a commitment of two days per month.
• Staff involvement appears to be stable at this time; Judy G. will investigate.
• Language in position descriptions that include reference should be updated to include online reference, meaning both individual and as part of an organized service.
• Jeanne Boyle will begin to draft a recommendation document

ELF Funding

S. Soong introduced ELF fund discussion: state funds dedicated to education and training for the future workforce, and to advancing the science and technology infrastructure. $21m will be coming to Rutgers of which 25% is matching funds generated from within Rutgers. Suggestions included:

• replacement of 331 public service machines, including electronic classroom workstations (requested by Systems)
• Self-checkout machines, beginning with pilot in 4 major libraries
• laptops for use by instructors in regular classrooms
• microform reader printers that also create digital files
• equipment for user scanning services
• videoconferencing for meetings

Submitted by Jane Sloan
January 29, 2001