Minutes of March 27, 2008 Meeting

Present:: Natalie Borisovets, Jeris Cassel (recorder), Susan Beck, Valeda Dent (chair), Judy Gardner, Rebecca Gardner, Tom Glynn, Jim Niessen (guest), Eileen Stec, Bob Warwick (guest)

1. AUL Report

Valeda distributed the following report with the agenda via email:

Chad Mills and I attended the CLIR Faculty Research Behavior workshop in February at UC Berkeley. We will be sharing what we learned widely, beginning with a discussion at PSC on the 27th of March, followed by presentation on March 31st to the Technical Services User Services Group. We also hope to do a brown-bag or other public seminar on the workshop.
One of the ideas that came about as a result of attending the above symposium is the idea of a Research/User Behaviors Group here at RUL. There are a number of academic libraries who now, following the lead of the Rochester group, embed human factors work within their organizations. Such a group might work to integrate quantitative and qualitative measures (field research, focus groups, workflow analysis, participatory design, user experience strategy, usability testing, etc.) of how users interact with their virtual and physical environments into various public and technical services initiatives. This represents a broadening shift in the provision of services and tools for users - away from the traditional top-down implementation and towards true user-centered design. Because evaluation of users can occur in many ways, on many different levels, such a group could be interdisciplinary in nature - with representatives from RUL faculty and staff as well as departmental faculty from Anthropology, Psychology, SCILS, and/or other relevant disciplines, etc. *This is just an idea*, but one that I would like to begin to discuss.
The RUL usability study project with SCILS is going well. A sample of users was given a survey to complete by Prof. Glinka's class, and the results will be used to further inform the usability analysis of the site. The work is slated to be complete by the end of the semester.
Learning Communities - We are in the process of planning another open forum meeting on a proposed new learning community for faculty on campus. I also hope to have a similar open forum for library faculty to share more details about the initiative in the near future.
The Instructional Services Committee is currently working on an initiative to create a discipline-specific tutorial for Nursing students (graduate and undergraduate). We will be meeting with Nursing faculty on the Newark campus in April to talk more about the idea, and also hope to make contact with Nursing faculty and other stakeholders on the New Brunswick and Camden campuses.

2. Searchlight

Jim Niessen distributed a document on thoughts, suggestions, and questions on the prominence, strengths, weaknesses, use, and teaching of Searchlight to begin the discussion. Bob Warwick noted that the selection of databases is based on functionality with Searchlight and on the subject lists. The group agreed that an examination of usage statistics, search logs, and how it is being incorporated into instruction is needed for further discussion of Searchlight.

3. Security Protocol

Rebecca Gardner raised issues of security and procedures in the event of an emergency across the university. What is the message the university will send to cell phones? What are the procedures in the event of an emergency at the University? Who is responsible in the library buildings? Susan Beck noted that the Campus Police gave a two-hour informative presentation in Camden that included guidelines on what to do in a lockdown situation. Consensus was that the RUL Health and Safety Committee should look into the matter. Valeda will make contact with the committee and with Marianne on arranging presentations for New Brunswick and Newark.

4. Research/User Behaviors Group (CLIR Workshop information)

This agenda item was postponed to allow time for discussion on strategies for dealing with budget crisis. Valeda will provide documentation for the April meeting.

5. Springshare's LibGuides

This agenda item was postponed to allow time for discussion on strategies for dealing with budget crisis.

6. Budget

The extent of the budget cut ranging from 5%-10% will not be known until June 30. In reviewing areas where cuts can be made, what should be off-limits? Consensus was that cutting building hours did not offer significant savings. Questions were raised on having an across the board cut when there is a minimal budget for Public Services. There was consensus that the group needed to know the Public Services budget areas to make informed suggestions and recommendations. Valeda agreed to provide the budget figures for Public Services via email. A preliminary strategic approach suggested was providing better software for reference chat for handling reference and reducing reference desk hours.

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