Minutes of February 9, 2011 Meeting

Present:

Grace Agnew, Stephanie Bartz, Anne Butman (guest), Natalie Borisovets (chair), Vibiana Cvetkovic, Mary Fetzer, Rebecca Gardner, Melissa Gasparotto, Tom Glynn, David Kuzma, Jackie Mardikian, Kevin Mulcahy (chair), Laura Mullen (guest), Francoise Puniello, Roberta Tipton.

• Agenda for this meeting and February meeting minutes were approved.

• The Chat Reference Task Force (L. Mullen, N. Borisovets, and M. Gasparotto) presented the report and recommendation of the task force. Investigation of potential replacements for Meebo included testing alternative applications, investigating what other libraries are using and checking references . RefChatter, a commercial iteration of Library Help, with better support than Library Help was selected. The anonymity provided to users was also a strength. Task Force consisted of L. Mullen, N. Borisovets, M. Garparotto, K. Anderson, S. McDonald, and M. Kesselman. The Chat Reference report recommends RefChatter with a 2 simultaneous user license, and also recommends adding two hours (10-12 a.m.) to the Chat schedule and drawing participation from all public service librarians rather than just volunteers. USC endorsed all recommendations of the Task Force.

• Laura Mullen presented the Web Board recommendation to replace the acronym IRIS with simply library catalog. USC endorsed the recommendation.

• Mary Fetzer requested that USC identify core reference responsibilities and how these can be equitably distributed among all reference faculty. She identified the need for a model of equitable workflow distribution that can serve as a baseline below the service differences across libraries and campuses. A small working group will be established to look at workflow and make recommendations.

• Mary Fetzer postponed the Central Telephone Reference Service agenda item because VOIP implementation in New Brunswick is currently suspended.

• Library Learning Spaces Committee (A. Butman, guest). Anne Butman, chair of the committee, presented the results of multiple student focus groups that advised the committee on learning spaces needs from a student user perspective. Participants were invited to design learning spaces for the libraries using sticky notes on a library space diagram. Users were consistent in their desires including a mix of enforced quiet and conversation space, the need for space to spread out , a mix of individual and group study space and a place to have a cup of coffee and chat as a break from study. Common request were wall clocks, carrels with some privacy but that still afford a view of other users ("no boxes") and a mix of comfortable and hard chairs. Francoise Puniello supplemented Anne's presentation with images of successful workspaces at NYU's Bobst Library, particularly rolling white boards and rolling locked book trollies as opposed to locked study offices or carrels. Loops for locking down laptops were also identified as a need. Space in Kilmer will be renovated as a learning space to reflect these identified needs.

• A discussion on reference statistics by Natalie Borisovets was deferred to the May meeting.

• AUL reports. Mary Fetzer announced the appointment of Joseph Deodato as User Experience Librarian as well as the resignation of Sara Harrington to accept a position at another university library. Francoise discussed year end purchases and renovations including a security system for Special Collections and renovations/refurbishment for the first floor of Kilmer, the LSM conference room, and Douglass offices. Grace Agnew provided a status report on the RUcore outage, which was repaired and being rebuilt at the time of the meeting.

• Judy Gardner announced the Web Board website, www4.libraries.rutgers.edu/redesign, which will provide updates and the opportunity to provide feedback for the libraries' website redesign. The redesign website will be available in May. The first release of the redesigned website will be available in January 2012.

Minutes submitted by: Grace Agnew