Meeting Minutes

Langara College Library, Rm 216 9:30 am

Attending: Katherine Miller (UBC), Liza Hutchison (Langara), Todd Rowlatt (VCC), Gordon Coleman (ELN), Cynthia McLellan (SLAIS), Celia Brinkerhoff (Douglas)

Regrets: Dawna Turcotte (Northern Lights)

Minutes recorded by Celia Brinkerhoff

Items for discussion:

1. Update on meeting with UBC cIRcle

2. Update on reporting LINK statistics

3. Update on harvesting data from multiple respositories

4. Contributions from beyond academic libraries sector

5. Promotion and Fall Campaign

6. Funding of prizes for the Laud a Librarian contest

7. Next meeting

1. Update on meeting with UBC cIRcle

     Todd, Christine, and Gordon have arranged a meeting with Hilde Colenbrander at UBC's cIRcle to explore possibilities of partnering with them. This will be an initial discussion to look at ways in which we might be able to cross-search both repositories, or promote contributions to both collections. Cynthia will look into whether SLAIS students can easily access/contribute items to cIRcle. She will also attend meeting if Christine is unable to. The meeting is set for September 23rd.

2. Update on reporting LINK statistics

     Gordon reported back on his conversation with Scott regarding our interest in obtaining statistics on views, downloads, etc so we have a better sense of activity. We'd like to be able to use such information as: most viewed, most downloaded, etc.  for promotional purposes. Scott has made a request to the software developer to add this feature, but does not think it is likely to happen anytime soon. Currently, the best we can do is a manually created spreadsheet of activity.

     There was some general background discussion regarding the history/sustainability of SOL*R and LINK. Katherine emphasized that we are in a great position to have access to SOL*R: considerable server space, maintenance/support is managed by someone other than ourselves!

Action: Gordon will ask Scott to produce a monthly (or term?) report on library LO activity.

3. Update on harvesting data from multiple respositories

     Gordon gave a brief background on the committee's interest in being able to harvest data from other repositories, notably ANTS and CORIL (now defunct?). The SOL*R software is supposed to include an OAI harvester. After discussion with Scott, Gordon reported that this functiionality isn't ready yet. Scott is hopeful that the developer will have something in place by end of September; Gordon confirmed that Scott is optimistic on this one!

In the meantime, there is a back-up plan to explore the free harvester available through the PKP project. Gordon hasn't had a chance to look into this closely to see if the SOL*R repository will be "friendly", but is keen to try it.

Action: Gordon will explore the PKP software to see if it will work for cross-searching.

4. Contributions from beyond academic libraries sector

     Katherine reported that Scott explained there was no technical reason why ALPS LINK has to limit contributions only to academic librarians in post-secondary institutions in BC. ALPS LINK may want to consider including public/special/school library sectors. However, it was pointed out that the process to create an account in order to upload LO's might make it difficult for contributions to come from outside. Accounts must be manually approved before someone can contribute- a procedure that can take a while, and requires that the person requesting an account be verified as part of the academic community.

     There was discussion about why we might want to open up contributions. It might be difficult to ensure that items are library related/relevant. Suggestion that we might not want to put our energies into promoting this beyond academic library community; at the same time, there was recognition that there might be some crossover appeal/interest in particular with our school library colleagues.

     All agreed that we remain open to possible opportunities to collaborate cross-sector.

5. Promotion and Fall Campaign

     Discussion and review of past fall campaigns. Agreement that we repeat last year's "Laud" campaign, but that we add a third way people can contribute: by reusing/repurposing someone else's LO. Additional discussion around revisiting "Local Champions" list.

     a). Fall Campaign.

     Timeline established for promotions:

• End September: Launch campaign message
• October 23rd - mid campaign message, reminder
• November 13 final campaign reminder
• November 20th - deadline for submissions
• November 23rd-27th - schedule meeting for judging - to include wine?
• December 4th ALPS December Meeting- announce winners

     b) Various lists for promotion: BCLA (?), ALPS list, Browser, also ALPS page, BC ELN "What's New" post.

          Side note: There was some discussion around the new version of the Browser; most agreed that it has lost some of its readability/appeal- the current format is cumbersome and difficult to scan quickly. It was thought that this feedback should be forwarded to BCLA for consideration.

c) Role of champions: ? message to champions brainstorming ways they can do promo and support their colleagues: put flyers in mailboxes; mention at staff meetings; offer to upload objects for their colleagues; ???

Action: Gordon will create first draft of flyer/announcement, outlining 3 categories: nominate yourself, your colleagues, or reuse/modify another's.

Action: Todd and Celia will work together to write two pieces for BCLA Browser, describing LINK and announcing fall campaign. Submission is Oct 15 for November issue. Done. Submitted to Browser via Sue Paterson September 30.

     b). Local Champion

LINK members will revisit "Champions" list and indicate whether contacts are still valid and identify gaps. Communication needs to go out 1) confirming willingness to still act as local champion and all that entails, or seeking recommendations for other names, and 2) announcement of fall campaign,

Action: Once members have updated list Celia will contact champions with announcement of contest, flyer, reminding them to promote with colleagues etc. Some response to contacts with a few new names added; not as many as might be expected. Celia (with Gordon's help) sent email with flyer details to confirmed champions October 14.

6. Funding of prizes for the Laud a Librarian contest

Action: Katherine and Liza agreed to go back to our institutions to request funding for prizes. IN PROGRESS: UBC will contribute $200. Thanks to UBC's Reference and Instruction Committee and Lea Starr for this support.

7. Next meeting date

     Meeting to judge contestants, to be set for week of November 23-27.

Action: Celia will arrange through Meeting Wizard.