SIRS minutes - June 27, 2001

Facilitator:  Cindy Todd
Timekeeper:  Mary Winker
Notetaker:  Susanna Van Sant
Interlocutors:  Chris Bunn, Ross Laguerre, Barbara Nail-Chiwetalu,
Yahaira Norris-Gonzalez, Robin Whitt, Stan(ek), Bob Garber, Glenn
Moreton

1.  E-mail workstations.

        The dedicated e-mail workstations (near ILL) are performing erratically
so that we are failing to provide promised service.  Chris will be
meeting with Uche to request that a number of LIMS3-capable machines be
installed in that area instead.  These terminals would be able to
provide consistently better connections for people to check their email
(and perform other tasks, as well).

        In the meantime - service in that area is fairly reliable earlier in
the morning and later in the evening.  However, due to our lower
(summer) volume, we can certainly refer people to the main computer work
area near the Desk to check their email.  Our policy is that e-mail is
OK as long as no people are waiting to use the machines.

2.  Computer use policy.

        The computer use policy that is spelled out on our terminals as
wallpaper
and as a screen saver actually contradicts our current policy.  Our
current policy is posted on signs in the reference area.  Chris and
Cindy will track down electronic copies of the inaccurate statements and
see about editing and replacing them.

        (This topic engendered a discussion about the continued use of the
sponsor/corporate logo screensaver.  Susanna will contact FOL to get
more information.)

3.  On-call sign-up review.

        On-call:  We reiterated the importance of having some kind of an
on-call system, in case the desk gets busy or if the regular librarian
has an unexpected absence.  We decided that having a person on call from
5-6 Monday through Thursday is probably not necessary.  We will do away
with this on-call shift in July, but reserve the right to reinstate it
in August if need be.

        Sign-up:  Not all the slots were filled in June so that a few of our
colleagues had to fill in many gaps.  We wonder if the honor system is
working.  Are we all contributing?  Is the work distributed
appropriately in this system?  SIRS will monitor this process for July
and make recommendations for August, taking into consideration that
people may not have signed up because they are away in the early part of
the summer but that they will compensate for it in the later part of the
summer.

4.  Best practices guidelines - progress check

        SIRS will review its minutes from May 16 and documents from our two TIP
meetings.  At our next meeting we will discuss and begin to draft
guidelines.  We will divide the work and establish a timeline, planning
to complete our work by late summer.

5.  Next meeting

        Collection Management's Electronic Publications series conflicts with
the standing SIRS meeting time.  Glenn volunteered to coordinate
rescheduling our next meeting from July 11 to another time that same
week.

Future Agenda Items:
1.  Discuss possible adjustments to Desk coverage in the Fall semester.
2.  On-call sign-up review.