New Brunswick Libraries Faculty
Alexander Library Pane Room
February 20, 2004 - 9:30 a.m.

Attendees: A. Bemis, E. Calhoun, M. Fetzer, R. Gardner, T. Glynn, C. Finley, B. Hancock, K. Hartman, S. Harrington (recorder), H. Huey, R. Jantz, M. Kesselman, T.Kuchi, P. Libutti, M. Lo, J. Mardikian, K. Mulcahy, L. Mullen , J. Niessen, P. Piermatti, F. Puniello, E. Stec, F. Tehrani, L. Vazquez, K. Wenk, M. Wilson, and R. Womack.

Agenda

1. The agenda was approved.
2. Heather Huey, a librarian based at Alexander Library, and Ann Bemis, a librarian based at Kilmer Library, were welcomed by their New Brunswick Libraries colleagues.
3. The minutes of the previous New Brunswick Libraries Faculty meeting (December 19, 2003) were approved as submitted.
4. Interim Director's Reports (F. Puniello)

   The report was a joint report in conjunction with the Interim Assistant Director's Report (F.Tehrani)

   • $2.2 million has been allotted for renovations to Alexander Library, including roofing, HVAC, and windows.
   • D21 renovation continues; the building is slated to open in approximately one month. Furniture is to be delivered shortly.
   • Route 18 will undergo a major construction project spanning four years. Major disruptions to local and regional traffic flow will occur. The University is convening a committee to examine how best to approach the problem; the Libraries will also convene a committee on issues related to Libraries transportation.
   • The "all funds" approach is still being considered for future expenditures, further information will be forthcoming.
   • All faculty and staff should review the University's new regulations regarding travel expenditures and reimbursement, available at http://ruweb.rutgers.edu/regulations/contents.html#6
     Section 6.1.10
     
   • Kim O'Konis will be serving as a librarian based at the Kilmer Library until 8/1/04.
   • The committee charged with hiring the next SCILS/RUL resident/intern will meet shortly.

5. New Brunswick Libraries Director Search Update (K. Mulcahy)
   
   The Committee met recently. The search firm that has worked with the committee has withdrawn from the process. Additional resumes have been received; three candidates will be brought in to meet with the Committee and University Librarian for preliminary interviews. The Committee hopes to outline a series of 'next steps' in the coming weeks.
6. Announcements
   

   • The New Brunswick Libraries travel report will be postponed until next month's meeting.
   • The next scheduled New Brunswick Libraries faculty meeting falls during the week of spring break. The date for the next meeting was thus changed to March 26, 2004.
   • K. Mulcahy reminded the faculty of the upcoming approval plan demos by Blackwell North America and Yankee Book Peddler. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared with questions and/or comments.
   • The music librarian search is ongoing. A number of names of potential candidates and resumes have been received. It is possible that candidates will be brought in for formal interviews later in the spring semester.

7. Demonstration of Iris Bibliographic Instruction Module (E. Stec)
   
   In conjunction with the Shaping a Life program of Douglass College, E. Stec has developed an assignment on IRIS, entitled the IRIS Online Catalog Handbook, which attempts to teach both concepts and mechanics. It is composed of a handbook and an associated assignment that focuses on Library of Congress Subject Headings. The handbook explores OPAC basics, such as how to read catalog records, and how to know if an item is a book. The "paper in hand" aspect of the handbook (which students print out from a website) has been found to be highly effectual, since it can be repeatedly referred to by students across the course of a semester.
   To locate the New Brunswick Instruction Knowledgebase resources go to:
   http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/instruction/ and type in the user ID datacenter. If you are using the Internet Explorer Browser, you must also add the domain name SCC.
   
   
   
8. Demonstration of Open URL (D. Hoover, C. Pecoraro)
   
   The Libraries will be implementing LinkSource, Ebsco's brand name for their open URL link resolver. The link resolver will provide item-level linking among databases. Users will not have to exit the online database they are using to start a new search in IRIS in order to locate full-text content or the location of print resources. LinkSource is not a search engine, it is a linking device that finds and provides links between items. Patrons do not have to select LinkSource in order to use it; it self-presents and will operate automatically. The open-URL capabilities are presented at the citation-level at the end of the search process, under the term "Linksource." A new A to Z list of electronic journals has been developed, Linksource has the advantage of applying coverage data to this A to Z list. A FAQ will also be available. Some dissatisfaction was expressed with the term "Linksource," on the grounds that the students will not recognize that the link in fact leads to the full text of the source.
   
   
9. The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 pm.
   
   

Respectfully submitted,
Sara Harrington