Access Task Force Group 1 Reports

 Access Task Force - Group One
"The Portal People"
Bill, Naun, John, Lisa

2/14/2003

 

The group has met twice since the January 17 meeting of all access group members. 

bulletThe group learned that the campus portal group is doing presentations in many university units and that one will be scheduled for the library (see Beth Sandore's recent emails for details).  The group also confirmed that the campus adoption of an Enterprise Learning Management System is out for bid under an RFP and so no selection has been made yet.
bulletThe group looked at implementations of zPortal, WebFeat, and the Grainger Library Search Aid and discusses functionality and/or lack thereof. Members also looked at the SFX implementation inside WilsonWeb.
bulletLisa and Naun attended a variety of information sessions, talked with vendors, and chatted  with other librarians at ALA Midwinter.  In sum, this is clearly a developing area of import but very few things are definite at this point in time at any institution or with any vendor.  Many things are in development and it can be difficult to determine what is "actual" and what is "planned." Peggy Steele shared with the group the conversations and demonstrations she had at ALA Midwinter as well.
bulletDemonstrations of digital library products by Endeavor and ExLibris will be scheduled in the coming month.  The plan is to have an open demonstration for anyone in the library who is interested and a more technical conversation with appropriate members of the Access Groups. Note: the purpose of these is information gathering, not procurement.
bulletThe nature of the topics under review for implementation are very complex and a moving target.  To help organize current activities and recommendations for implementation, we are completing a situational assessment for each goal relative to practice in the library, on campus, and in the broader profession and marketplace, as well as attempting to document current activities that are already underway to implement some portions of the goals. Figuring out where we are should help the group determine next steps to get where we want to go.
bulletThe group took note of a March 6-7, 2003 conference sponsored by the University of Oklahoma: Improved Access to Information : Portals, Content Selection and Digital Information.

2/25/2003
In the last week, our activities have focused on two areas:

bulletPlanning demonstration visits by Endeavor and ExLibris.  Peggy Steele is serving as contact with the vendors.  Details (schedules, locations, etc.) are almost finalized and will be announced soon.
bulletCompleting a first complete draft of the "matrix" -- a situational assessment for each goal relative to practice in the library, on campus, and in the broader profession and marketplace, as well as documentation of current activities that are already underway to implement some portions of the goals.

Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe