Digital Reference Committee

Meeting Minutes: July 8, 2003, 10:30-Noon

EPSL Instruction Room

Facilitator:  Neal Kaske
Note taker:  Joan Stahl

Present: E. Abels, J. Arnold, T. Johnson , N. Kaske, B. Roberts, J. Stahl, L. Wrubel

Topic: Privacy Issues among chat operators

Julie Arnold led a discussion on privacy, as it concerns UMD Chat operators. All chat operators have access to transcripts of other operators, which is not the case with the AskUsNow transcripts. Should we make adjustments to the UMD Chat? Most Committee members agreed that reading transcripts was a learning opportunity for them, but were sensitive to the fact that other operators may not share that opinion. Julie will put the topic on the agenda for an upcoming (Summer, 2003) meeting of UMD Chat operators. The Dig Ref Committee will re-visit the topic in October, 2003.

Topic: Preparations for July 22 lecture by Jeff Penka

Final preparations for the July 22 lecture by Jeff Penka were discussed and assignments re refreshments, room setup, videotaping, etc. were made.

Topic: Speaker for Fall, 2003, lecture

The group discussed topics / speakers for the Fall lecture and decided to make a decision, after they have had an opportunity to evaluate the July 22 lecture. Topics / speakers cited included: Gary Price (author, Invisible Web), Josh Boyer (practitioner), Jana Ronan (practitioner); David Lankes (Administrator, VRD), Steve Coffman (LSSI), Linda Arret / Mary Minow (legal aspects of digital reference); representatives from NLM’S Cosmo, the Owl service.

Topic: Library Matters articles

Joan Stahl distributed list of upcoming topics / authors and the list was revised as follows:

1.Statistics of UMD Chat Reference: Julie / July 2003

2.CLIS Class on E-Reference: Julie and Eileen, August 2003

3. Highlights of Major Dig Ref Services (IPL, AskERIC, Mad Scientist, etc.): Beth / August or September 2003

4. NISO Standards for Digital Reference: Joan and Laura / October

5.VRD Conference Report : Neal or Eileen / December

6. What’s Going on in Digital Reference in the State / Metro Region: Ann / January 2004

Next Meeting:

Date: Wednesday, July 23, 10:30- Noon

Location: Marylandia & Rare Books Dept. Conference Room (Room 1202C Hornbake)

Facilitator: J. Stahl

Note Taker: N. Kaske