Minutes of SACOTAS September 7, 1995 Meeting

Present:

Peter Graham, Lida Sak, Gracemary Smulewitz (for Evelyn Greenberg), Ka-Neng Au, Judy Jeng, Al King, Judy Gardner, Bob Warwick, Rhonda Marker (recorder), Tessa Evans, Jean Crescenzi, Jeris Cassel, Ann Montanaro.

AUL/TNIS Reports:

P. Graham reported that there has been one meeting of the AULs with F. Polach since the last SACOTAS meeting, but that all substantive reports will be addressed in items on the agenda.

TAS Departmental Reports:

Acquisitions (T. Evans)

• RUL has a new BNA rep, Linda Mason [subsequent correction from Steve Sutton, former rep, has confused the issue; watch this space....pg].
• TAS Acquisitions is current (within one week) with order requests.
• In the Innopac system, units should link bibliographic records for > serials titles to check-in records when the bib records are first entered. Please do not wait for the first issue of a serial to arrive to create the check-in record.
• There is no need to create a new order record for a serials title change.

Cataloging (P. Graham)

• We are seeing more success (productivity) in the new workflow process.
• Items for Special Collections that do not require specialized handling are getting general help for the cataloging from Original Cataloging
• We anticipate upgrading terminals in the cataloging area, but there is nothing definite yet.
• We are keeping up the cataloging intake, thanks in part to the McDonnell collection and other gift receipts.

Systems & Database Management (A. Montanaro)

• More catalog maintenance work is coming in, especially recon and summer withdrawals.
• All 90 ELF computers have been installed in the libraries; almost all of them are operational.
• A part-time, temporary person has been hired for the next month to complete the installation of computers in Chang.
• The Kilmer electronic classroom computers will be installed in the next few weeks.
• Proxy server: (reported by P. Graham)
  Security issues with regard to Internet access have led to a decision by RUCS to require authentication of users in order to link to non-Rutgers locations from a Rutgers terminal. To that end, they have put a proxy server into place which mediates the link from a public terminal (e.g., a library public terminal) to a non-Rutgers Internet site. As a result, a telnet link (e.g., a link to another library's catalog like NYU's BOBCAT or a remote database like UnCover) that does not go through INFO or through an individual Rutgers computer account cannot be completed. RUCS and RUL are working on possible solutions to this problem.
• Policies for the use of public ELF computers (including CD-ROM usage) are being drafted through SACOPS.

Other Items

Information Resources:

• Progress on server (A. Montanaro): We have the new server. Dave Hoover has it running. The OVID software has been purchased, but not yet delivered. After we receive it, we will be able to mount the databases. We will delay putting the INFO/LIBRARY Web pages on the server until after the OVID databases are up and running.
>
• Database selection process (P. Graham): Bob Sewell has sent to OVID the list of databases that we will put on the server.

New OPAC (P. Graham)

The process of getting a new library system will proceed in three phases: specification (write RFP; we are in that phase now), evaluation and selection, and implementation. Subcommittees to write the specifications are being formed now. Vendor demo's must be completed before an RFP is issued, in order to comply with RU Purchasing requirements. Therefore, we plan to issue a RFI (Request for Information) inviting vendors to Rutgers for a demo, before the RFP is issued, i.e., within the next month.

Electronic Journals Task Force Report:

The report was discussed. Specific issues that came before the group were the definition of an electronic journal; the distinctions between modes of [public] access (networked & non-networked); what is involved in maintaining an e-journal; the role of the Implementation Group, a temporary, enabling working group; ordering procedures, including the possibility of system-wide funds for e-journal orders; and archiving e-journals, including storage & search engine issues, the role of the Implementation Group, the role of research libraries with regard to archiving their resources, possible archiving agreements in consortia with other institutions, and costs.

P. Graham will discuss the report with the other AULs, and determine how best to bring these issues to Cabinet.

We are not yet cataloging e-journals.

ASAWG (Automated Serials & Acquisitions Work Group):

Their annual report was distributed. It will be discussed at the next meeting.

INFO Advisory Committee (J. Cassel):

• Workshops on creating Web pages are planned for September-October.
• The African-American resources & Art resources pages will be up soon.
• The Special Collections page will be reviewed tomorrow at LIAC.
• LIAC will issue guidelines for library (unit) pages.
• The predominant pronunciation of the group's name is "lee' ack"

Updates:

G. Smulewitz: Alex T.S. is gaining experience & expertise with
processing international government documents.

A. King: The SC/UA ELF computer is installed & working. The Special
Collections web page will be reviewed by LIAC. At the recent SAA
conference, there was an interesting report on SGML DTV archival
finding aids.

R. Marker: Elizabeth Leister has been hired by LSM to complete LSM
(and Chem, Physics, Math) Ref recon this semester.

J. Cassel: The Electronic Resources Workshops schedule is on INFO.
All are welcome to sign up.

K-N Au: Ray Schwartz received an award from ASIS for his SIG-CR
(Classification Research) Web page.

L. Sak: Serials Cataloging has completed the cataloging of full-text
serials titles on CD-ROM for Douglass & Kilmer.

Next meeting: October 15, 1:30 p.m., TSB Conference Room.