LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
September 14, 2010 7:30 am
C1810
Members Present: C. Robinson (Chair), T. Cooper, M. Darowish, R. Kass, C. Lynch, T. Olson, Philip Wilson
Members excused: J. Richie
Library Faculty: Nancy Adams, David Brennan
Cynthia Robinson, the Director of the Harrell Health Sciences Library and chair of the Library Advisory Committee opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Refreshments were provided.
1. Library Update
- Harrell HSL web page now live and comments are the new site are welcome. University Park also has a new web page but they are using a commercial product. We need to look at both products with a view to reducing barriers yet still identify with both entities. Would it be possible to have a shortcut to the libraries from the Infonet.
- Just received notification that a grant that was submitted has been successful and we will be able to purchase Kindle/Sony e-book readers to test the utility in the library and the value to the library. We are looking at loading reserve book/old test papers etc.
- UpToDate – The 3-year library contract ends Oct 2011 and we have been informed that the cost will increase significantly. Cynthia and David are in contact with Walters Kluwer the vender but the library is unable to sustain increased costs of this magnitude and is looking at other options. The new vendor is now looking at # doctors, # residents # admissions to assess the cost as this is a mostly clinical application. Dr. Darowish pointed out that not all doctors use this application.
- Cynthia introduced Nancy Adams and David Brennan to the committee. Nancy is the new Associate Director/Coordinator for Instruction and Education. David is the Librarian for Collection Development and Digital Resource Management
2. Recruitment
- Librarian for Reference & Instruction – is an entry level, early career position. Interviews are planned for October 2010.
- librarian for Knowledge Integration and Emerging Technologies – our second candidate is visiting Hershey today.
3. SFX
- There are still technical problems involving 2 networks and 2 proxies. University Park is looking at two products to replace SFX.
4. Tech Fair
- Tech Fair will be held on October 6, 2010 from 10 am – 2 pm. There will be various vendors including Penn State Computer Store, PubMed etc. as well as members of the College Community to give advice re Angel and other topics that both faculty, students and staff may find useful.
5. Questions/concerns
- Cynthia announced that the Liaison program with the Librarians and the Departments would be more pro-active and that the Librarians would welcome the opportunity to attend Departmental Meetings to discuss any questions or concerns individual faculty members may have.
- A committee member asked if the A-Z list could be more user friendly.
- Dr. Cooper raised the issue of a Nature Journal (European Journal of Human Genetics) not being available. David will look into this.
- Dr. Lynch had questions regarding embargo’s. David will contact Dr. Lynch regarding this question.
Meeting adjourned 8:25 am.