Minutes

Digital Reference Committee

May 7, 2003 10:30-12:00

Art Library conference room

Facilitator: Julie Arnold  

Notetaker: Laura Wrubel   

Attending: Ann Hudak, Beth Roberts, Joan Stahl, Julie Arnold, Laura Wrubel, Neal Kaske

Topic: Digital Reference Lecture Series

Joan proposed a topic list, schedule, and suggested speakers. The group decided to request a budget that would permit an honorarium for each speaker, lunch for the speaker, and refreshments at each event.  The lecture series will be advertised widely, including to CLIS and CUA's school of library and information science.  Joan will draft a proposal for LEC.

Topic: Library Matters articles

Joan drafted a list of potential topics for Library Matters submissions. Julie will write an article for the May 23rd Library Matters to recruit additional operators.  Joan will send the group the full topic list and assignments.

Topic: Update on chat services

UM has a 14-hour per week commitment to AskUsNow! but currently only has 12 trained operators. Not all are active.  Joan and Laura are interested in participating in the service. The group discussed recruitment efforts for both the AskUsNow! and UM chat services. Julie announced that the State of Maryland would pay for AskUsNow's FY2004 expenses but would require 100% to be shared among the campuses the following year. Each member of the digital reference committee has agreed to try to recruit one person for the UM Chat service.

Topic: Email statistics

Postponed until July meeting.

Next meeting:

Wednesday, June 4

10:30-12:00

CLIS- Hornbake 4113

Archives minutes of past meetings are available at:

href="http://www.lib.umd.edu/groups/digref"http://www.lib.umd.edu/groups/digref