Minutes of Services Advisory Committee Meeting – 6/5/2006
Members Present: Bob Burger – Chair, Zoe Revell, Lynne Rudasill, Joe Straw, Lori
Mestre, Susan Schnuer, Lura Joseph
Members Excused from Absence: Lisa Hinchliffe, Mary Laskowski
Main Discussion
Undergraduate Survey Recommendations
The SAC continued discussions regarding the survey recommendations.
- At this time one of the recommendations includes the suggestion to have subject-specific
librarians report on services for undergraduates in their annual report. Though this is
mostly to keep the subject-specific librarians aware of the undergraduate presence in their
libraries, the committee decided that an addition to the already-slimmed annual reports is not the
way to do it.
- One possible alternative may be to create a workshop on “Library Training for Undergrads” aimed
at subject-specific librarians.
- Discussion of an additional recommendation focused on raising university-wide faculty awareness
of the many students that don’t use the library because their classes don’t require them to.
The best way to increase library use may be to work more closely with faculty in the preparation of
assignments that will require library research. Faculty should be able to teach them how to
create robust bibliographies using the many tools the library offers including RefWorks. In
the past, the librarians have had the opportunity to talk to TAs about how to use the library. This
should continue and ways to market us to the teaching faculty should be explored.
- The UGL and subject librarians do this to some degree but the assessment of these initiatives
has been lacking. As such, the SAC will add a recommendation for better assessment for all of
the workshops both in existing workshops and in those suggested by the recommendations
themselves.
- A recommendation may also be added regarding the marketing of the service where we provide
lists of items newly added to the library. One solution may be to provide a counter of total
volumes that could be used to remind them the library is growing.
- Recently, a tour guide for a group of freshmen at orientation was overheard saying something to
the effect of “the Main Library is the Grad Library and someplace I never use.” Statements
like this automatically put off incoming freshmen. Suggestions for fixing this include
continued involvement in the training of the tour guides (Lisa has done this for a few years now),
or having the tours go through the Main Library so they are less intimidated by it, emphasizing the
amount of study space, and making sure that tour guides don’t make such statements in the
future.
- Additional ways for reaching new freshmen were discussed including sending welcoming
letters to them before they arrive on campus letting them know of the services offered and having
large banners on the Main Library that say “Undergrads Welcome.” Also, perhaps the Fall
Festival would be the ideal place to break down any walls built by the tour guides.
- Finally, there was some discussion about having better signage on the UGL, but the
University guidelines may limit this.
Library Logos on the Web
Lynn reported that many of the faculty and students at the University remain largely unaware
that many of the databases and online content provided by the library is paid for by the
library. The group designing the new Library Gateway is looking into a way to have the
Library’s branding symbol on various online content to let users know it is provided by the
Library.
Moropa Visit
Susan reported that notes are forthcoming regarding Robert Moropa’s visit. He did enjoy his time
here immensely . Currently we are in the process of finalizing an agreement between our
libraries that would foster interest in areas other than a 24 hour reference service, including
sharing information on our and their new Learning Commons. In November, three of his staff
will make a visit, one of whom will speak at IMLS.
Respectfully Submitted,
Chris Stevens
Graduate Assistant to the Coordinator for Information Literacy
