LIBRARY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
May 6, 2008
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Present: Baughman (timekeeper), Lowry, Ruschoff, Vikor (facilitator), Williams (scribe), Wray
Absent: Day
Topic: Workforce Planning/Retention/Recruitment
Guest Phillipa Brown reviewed a number of workforce planning principles and strategies, summarized as follow:
- Ask the right questions.
- Align the workforce plan with the strategic plan.
- Integrate efforts across the Libraries.
- Develop timelines.
- Develop a skills chart – “have” vs. “need.”
- Develop a positions chart – of work to eliminate, blend, add.
Topics: Variations3 Pilot
Guest Connie Mayer briefed LEC on the status and outlook for the UM Libraries’ participation in the Variations3 pilot, begun at Indiana University, for digital access to sound recordings, simultaneous viewing of digitized scores, etc. Mayer cited some lessons learned:
- All the test sites experienced far more difficulty in setting up the system than had been anticipated. As a result, the developers at IU are exploring other models for disseminating the system, including the possibility of a simpler, hosted, browser-based system.
- Once UM Libraries had the system up and running, staff found the digitization process to be very easy to implement.
- With Williams, update the MOU with IU.
- Focus on rock music and piano literature.
- Install the client on public workstations in MSPAL during the early part of summer.
- Develop and implement a plan (in consultation with Irma Dillon) to obtain user feedback to determine whether the benefits to the users justify the resources necessary to implement and maintain the system. Create evaluation criteria for the project, with the real question being “Should it be done?” not “Can it be done?”
- Determine the costs of moving to production (hardware, technical support, digitizing staff).
- Examine the intersection with Fedora; coordinate with administrative interface for audioimages.
- Decide on pared-down, access version.
- Seek external funding if project continues beyond FY 2009.
- Formalize efforts among MSPAL, DCR, ITD.
- Examine and plan for storage needs.
- Develop best practices and determine what music could most benefit from being available digitally.
Topic: ARTstor Pilot
Guest Joan Stahl provided a report and other handouts on ARTstor’s recent conclusion of its 3-year Institutional Collections Housing Pilot program, with 96 institutions, including UM Libraries, to build and provide integrated access to local and ARTstor collections. ARTstor is both a platform for images and a collection of images. The ARTstor digital library contains more than 725,000 images of its own. UM has added 1,300 local images and can continue to participate for free for the 2-3-year balance of the pilot project.
Outcomes:
- UM Libraries should use the next 2 years to figure out that the future includes: ARTstor only? Fedora only? Combination? Under what circumstances do the UM Libraries want a varied environment?
- Engage the Art History chair, the Architecture dean and others in more robust conversation about what they want to do and what they will support.
- Desider Vikor and Tanner Wray will follow up with Stahl and others.
Topic: Pop-Ups
- The RLG Partners annual meeting in early June will not have UM Libraries representation because of scheduling difficulties.
- The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), a new U.S. agency which will build in M Square, will likely have staff wanting affiliate status.
- Lowry complimented Denise Wright on her complete structural inventory of foundation accounts and noted there are some accounts that have little money and the funds should be spent and the accounts closed. Ruschoff and Vikor need to examine three preservation accounts.
Topic: Announcements
Lowry reported that the second module of remote shelving at JHU’s Library Service Center, requested by UM, has planning money in the state capital budget for FY 20011 and construction and equipment funds the following year.
Topic: May 13, 12008, Agenda
HR policies
Search Queue
Proposal from School of Architecture
Continued planning for c-team retreat
