Research and Instructional Support Group Meeting
3/19/08
Present: Bartley, Cohn, Green, Horowitz, McCann, McReynolds, Perkins (minutes), Sweeney, Szarko
Announcements/updates
- Spring seminar (Heather): Harvard's open-access initiative is first-choice topic if a speaker can be found. Another possible speaker: Lana Thelen, Outreach Coordinator, Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library
- Reference Manual updates are completed. Spin-off project: Anita will update the Equipment page http://libraries.mit.edu/about/equipment.html; and run it by RISG.
- ISG (Anita): focus of most recent meeting was discussion of draft Fines proposal from the ASG/ISG joint subgroup
- PSLG (Peter): recent topics include draft Fines proposal; pilot project for delivery of material to faculty offices; Libraries' assessment plan. Current theme-based assessment cycle may be revised; discussion to continue at PSLG. Reference vision will be on May agenda.
Video tutorials
Discussion of how to ensure these are up-to-date, focusing (for now) on Patty's tutorials; location of scripts; additional tutorials needed; placement of links.
Action items:
- Peter, Remlee, Heather, and Mark volunteered to monitor tutorials for accuracy. This group will finalize responsibilities for who monitors what. (Peter noted that Angie may also wish to be involved.)
- Determine location of scripts. [Anita checked with Darcy, post-meeting. Scripts and files needed for editing are in R:\Online Tutorials\working files. Not all of Patty's scripts are in the R drive yet, but they will be.]
- Ideas for additional tutorials: multisearch; new Vera
- Identify additional locations for buttons (e.g., buttons for "Finding Articles" videos on the Vera page
- Raise staff awareness of videos, especially among evening/weekend staff
Automating requests for Harvard cards
Georgiana led discussion of how to automate the process for Harvard card applications, based on the existing Countway process. Summary:
- Discussion of technical issues related to automating the process
- Need to ensure that we monitor who is using the service
- Target date for implementation: this fall
Action item:
Peter and Georgiana will get input from Steve.
Reference statistics update
Feedback received by Statistics subgroup in response to Heather's 3/5 email indicates that 'time spent' and 'at-desk vs. away-from-desk' need to be tracked.
Action item:
The group will draft a new form, run it by RISG, and discuss it with Steve.
Reference vision
The group gave Lisa H. its input for the draft "Reference Vision Project Report. Review 6 years Later."
Action items:
- Lisa will revise the report and add it to the wiki.
- RISG will discuss it again before it is presented to PSLG.
Next meeting: April 16
Minutes: Rostoff