Dean’s Council Minutes: February 22, 2011

I. Learning Commons Planning

For the past few months, Mara, Peter, Selene and Nancy have been working to frame a RFP (request for proposal) for B/H Master Planning. The Provost and President decided that planning for Learning Commons should be done at the same time and be part of the RFP. The RFP, it should be noted, is for feasibility-study purposes only. A Libraries’ planning group will be convened as the project moves ahead.

II. Going Global

UVM wants to aggressively pursue internationalization. Within weeks, conversations will be launched around campus about the implications of increasing the international undergraduate study body.

III. Department Meetings

Mara would like to attend a department meeting with each division this semester. Nancy will work with department heads to schedule Mara’s visit.

IV. Updates

Mara had a meeting with the SGA leadership who want to see B/H open 24 hours, at least the main floor.

Jeff noted that the “Artist Book Collection” opening reception is Thursday, March 3, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the B/H main lobby. The reception may impact some services, as well as the space for a short time. Refreshments will be provided.

Tina said that the E-book order on demand is being piloted and to please send her or Peter Spitzform any feedback.

Marianne noted that Dana has a mobile pilot project underway. They have four devices for faculty and staff to test out. They are also taking a 5-class course about how to operate mobile devices.

A Mid-Winter, Mid-Day Pick-Me-Up Multi-Media Moment

Wow, it's really snowing out there & I am totally sick of winter. I thought we could all use a little-pick-me-up today. This is a "video thingy" I made for part of an upcoming annual report thingy that Selene and I are working on together. I figured everyone might like a preview. It's just for fun, and just for you!

CANE TOADS: A UNNATURAL HISTORY ( with popcorn)

The Staff and Faculty Development Committee, in conjunction with the Media Dept, invites you to attend "CANE TOADS: A UNNATURAL HISTORY", the latest in our continuing series of videos showcasing our diverse Media film collection.

"If Monty Python produced a National Geographic Special, it would be Cane Toads!
This odd documentary is for the audience that can't get enough of off-center, real-life tales akin to those captured by Errol Morris (Gates of Heaven). In the 1930s, Australian sugar-cane farmers imported the bufo marinus, or cane toad, from Hawaii to destroy the crop-damaging greyback beetle. In short, the descendents of the original 102 toads virtually took over half a continent. We hear from all sides about the problem: the scientific studies of their mating habits (bruising), defense systems (poison that can kill a predator), and their eating habits (almost anything). Told with a great amount of wit, this documentary illustrates that the strangest things on film are always true."

Wednesday, Feb 23th
Noon-1:00pm
Media Projection Room

Popcorn will be served!

Mark Your Calenders for a New Voyage

by Peter Spitzform

The time has finally arrived to assess commercial OPACs and discovery tools that will replace our Voyager front-end OPAC. These new products enable greater discovery of our vast and varied collections, allow us to provide more information about the materials we offer, and simplify the search process for our patrons. The Discovery and Delivery Council wrote an RFP that has resulted in 4 vendors being invited to Bailey/Howe to demonstrate their products.

These demonstrations will occur during upcoming Library Forums in the next couple of weeks. PLEASE come to these important demonstrations, if at all possible. We want as many people to weigh in on evaluating these products as possible so D&D can make the most informed decision about next steps.

The first Forum will be this coming Wednesday, February 23, at 11am in the Dean's Conference Room. Representatives from EBSCO will be demonstrating their product called EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS). Please feel free to explore several sites where EDS has been implemented so you can get an idea of its functionality prior to the vendor's visit. http://www.lib.jmu.edu/, http://gilfind.uga.edu/vufind/Search/Home.

As a reminder, I'm attaching a copy of our criteria that we're using to evaluate each discovery tool.

Future forums: OCLC Worldcat Local demonstration, Tuesday, March 1, 2pm, Deans Conference Room. See http://www.lib.washington.edu/, http://www.library.cornell.edu/

Serials Solutions Aquabrowser demonstration, Tuesday, March 8, 1-3 p.m., Dean's Conference Room. See http://pittcatplus.pitt.edu/, http://aquabrowser.lib.ed.ac.uk/

Ex Libris Primo Discovery demonstration, Thursday, March 10, 3pm, Dean's Conference Room. See http://library.sbts.edu/, http://discoverlibrary.vanderbilt.edu/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&dstmp=1298043607503&vid=VANDERBILT&fromLogin=true

Please mark your calendars for these important presentations.

You say goodbye, I say hello

The Libraries have enjoyed the presence of some wonderful colleagues who are now en route to be wonderful somewhere else,just as we welcome some new wonderful arrivals. (That's using the word "wonderful" three times in one sentence. A new personal record. Thanks for giving me this opportunity, you wonderful people.)

In honor of these comings and goings, Birdie has organized a breakfast reception on Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 9am to 11am, in the B/H Dean's Conference Room. Henderson's café will supply pastries and coffee and tea/juice.

Come join us say goodbye and hello.

Hello to: Arron Thomas (mailroom); Aaron Nichols (access services); Fred Pond (Dana); Tom McMurdo (Vermont Newspaper Project).

Goodbye to: Robin Katz (CDI).