Facilitator: Julie Arnold
Notetaker: Joan Stahl

Participants: J. Arnold, A. Hudak, N. Kaske, B. Roberts, J. Stahl, L. Wrubel

Topic 1: Digital Dateline Lectures
Joan gave an update on the March 17 lecture: Julie will do Welcome remarks; Joe Thompson will say a few words about Maryland AskUsNow, celebrating its 1-year anniversary on March 17, and show their new commercial; Joan will introduce Dave; non-print media staff will capture the audio. Assignments were reviewed:
a) Announcement posting: Joan: FedLink, SLA, Dig_Ref; Neal: VLA; Julie: ASIS / Potomac Chapter, L.E.C.; Laura: USMERC
b) Refreshments: Beth and Ann: holiday cookies; Joan: coffee / tea, grapes, holiday candies, check with Cindy about plates and napkins
c) Set-up and Breakdown: Neal, Ann, and Beth (cleanup must be completed by 3:30, when another group has reserved the Special Events Room)
d) Photographer: Laura
Joan reported on the proposed fourth lecture. Laura Gasaway has accepted and suggested several acceptable dates in June; however, she misread the invitation and assumed UM would cover transportation costs. Joan will try to negotiate.

Topic 2: Privacy Info Update
Lori plans to bring the draft to L.E.C.
Time: 5 min.
Leader: Joan
Outcome: Report on status of draft

Topic 3: Report to LEC on DigRef Committee
Beth reports to L.E.C. on April 6, and Julie will accompany her to field any questions. Beth was advised to make a brief report that highlights the committee’s achievements, but also to use the opportunity to point to barriers to a fuller acceptance of digital reference services among UM library faculty. The achievements to be highlighted are: Digital Dateline lecture Series; privacy info draft; self-management of chat service; field study student participation; software investigations; and a team that works well and is productive. The development of a new model for reference services and the directions outlined in The Ubiquitous Librarian provide opportunities to better integrate digital reference into traditional reference services that are offered at UM.

Topic 4: RefTracker trial / DigRefComm and a New Reference Model
Joan reported that Linda Arret from Altarama RefTracker has offered UM a 4-week trial and suggested that the Summer, 2004, would be a good time to do that. Neal commented that if we did the trial, we should do a full functional analysis of all available software, and update a survey that he and Julie did. A brainstorming session followed, during which the following thoughts were expressed: the Digital Reference Committee can and should contribute to the discussion of a new reference model, which is part of IRS-T’s 2004 work plan; OIT is interested in sharing chat software costs with the UM Library and any functional analysis of software is best done with OIT; in this period of staff shortages and budget constraints, a growing number of librarians think basic services are being adversely affected by the current model that requires many to divide their time between reference, instruction, and collection. The group agreed that the brainstorming should continue and Joan agreed to draft a list of barriers to the fuller integration of digital reference at UM, as a starting point for the next discussion.

Next Meeting
Date: April 7, 2004
Location: Hornbake
Facilitator: A. Hudak
Notetaker: C. Todd