Digital Reference Committee
Meeting Minutes
May 12, 2006

Attended: Jenny Hatleberg (Notetaker), Kim Ricker, Joan Stahl (Facilitator), Nedelina Tchangalova

Approval of April Minutes: Review minutes in email from Joan and let her know of changes by May 17

Question Point/AskUsNow Updates (Joan)

• There have been some minor updates in the QP software.
• Joan suggested linking to the Spanish-language queue from our AskUs! page. Jenny will look into having the link added to the page.
• Liaison meeting June 7: UM integration of QP e-mail (we will be the first in the state); discuss having the login page divided to more clearly show the Academic queue; discuss closing questions in QP (for now, only the administrator should be closing questions)
• Text on AskUs! page: It was suggested that we add text explaining when UM librarians are available for chat, since there have been many requests after-hours. Non-UM librarians cannot access our databases, and many patrons do not leave an email address for follow-up. Jenny will ask Janet Evander to add this text to the page:
  • Although UM librarians staff chat 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday, there are some times you may be helped by an outside librarian. If you log in with an e-mail address, a UM librarian will be able to follow up on your question.

Meeting Schedule (Jenny)

• Meetings for the rest of the year will be held in McKeldin 7113 or 7121. Kim will book rooms for the rest of the meetings. Joan will ask Niyati about holding a meeting at Shady Grove on August 10.

Membership Request (Joan)

• Joan will draft a second response inviting one of the librarians who asked to join DigRef.

2006 Activities (Committee)
Discussed priority activities from the list presented to IRS-T earlier this year:

1. Integrate e-mail reference into QuestionPoint (currently working on this; include integrating Special Collections reference in this process?)
2. Best practices: add tips and links to the DigRef web site
3. Develop marketing strategies for the fall, advertising chat service to campus
4. Chat statistics: There are report features in QP. Joan, as administrator, has access to the reports. It will be a lot of responsibility to compile and share statistics. She will ask Joe Thompson about getting administrative access for one other member of DigRef.
5. Training and programming
6. Research: Participate at a scholarly level (tie in to data collection?)
7. USMAI Libraries: ongoing
8. Communicating with UM Libraries’ administration: as needed

Integrating e-mail into Question Point (Joan)

• Joan shared a draft of an email to librarians, explaining the transition to QP email.
• Jenny will check the location of the current email reference page, to determine who will need to link the new question form. The transition should happen May 21.
• Questions will come to Joan, who will assign them to DigRef members.
• Joan will send a test message to DigRef members.

UMCP Policy Page in QP24/7 Reference (Joan)
DigRef members will look over the current policy page and send Joan specific wording/links to be changed. The final policy page will need to go to IRS-T for approval.

Next meeting: June 8, 2006 (MCK 7113); 9:30am-11:00am
Agenda items:

• Discuss membership and meeting policies (e.g., GA member? Quorum?)
• Review 2006 Activities and determine timeline, subcommittees
• Plan brown bag/informal session for chat operators
• Adding scripts to QP

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