March 13, 2019 Meeting of Life Sciences

1. Approval of 2/13 minutes (taken by Sarah) 
2. Library Strategic Planning discussion (Erin)

3. Update on search for LSD’s Public Services and Engagement Librarian position (Kelli)

4. Touch base on SPR spreadsheet questions/concerns

5. Committee assignments and reports – AC, CDC, others

6. Round Table
7. Adjourn

1. Approval of 2/13 minutes (taken by Sarah) – Approved

2. Library Strategic Planning discussion (Erin)

Erin reports thanks contributors for responses for a jumping off point. She has collated and categorized items for discussion today.  She will incorporate today’s suggestions and send this draft to LSD for feedback. April 5 is the deadline for the final division report to the SP group.

The SP group met for the 2^nd time last Thursday. There was concerns by some division reps about the timeline.  The division reports do not need to be buffed. There is a 10 page maximum. Erin anticipates 2-3 pages for ours.  Data that would be useful can be included as appendix. The reports should be division focused vs unit focused.

The contributed items fell into three categories – people, spaces, and expertise.  Opportunities and challenges included, includes grouping identified ones by years – 1-3, 3-7, > 7.  A number of topics were discussed, including:

• Generally we have excellent space, but we need to configuration that makes more sense with how we do things now – user space, collections space, office space, staff space. Funding is a challenge.
• Several opportunities relating to digital initiatives, collection management decisions, outreach and engagement, space.
• 509 needs redesign to bring up to current standards. There is much potential with this space. A review of the space by User Ed 509 Working Group and Library IT in 2013 led to robust discussion with recommendations made by WG.  Melody was a member and advocated for innovative learning environments inc. a teacher station like the one in ACES ACF downstairs.  Due to dropping statistics in room use and very limited funds, very minor but useful changes revolved around shifting tables away from walls creating aisles along the walls.  All agreed that making this a more flexible learning space with movable furniture, multiple screens, etc. would not only substantially increase the use of this valuable space but make it a more ‘usable’ space.
• Considered what data might be useful to support our report:
  • Library use study – fall 2018
  • Social media stats
  • Ithaka undergraduate survey
  • BHL usage stats
  • Room 509 stats (Instructional stats database)
  • BI ?

 

3. Update on search for LSD’s Public Services and Engagement Librarian position (Kelli)

Kelli reports that 3 candidates (Erika Weir, UIUC GA; Sharon Han, UIUC GA, and Janis Shearer, St. Catherine University) have been selected from a large pool of diverse applicants. Interviews have been scheduled, the first being 3/28 and the other 2 in April. Advancement and Facilities plans for new office space in Funk are in process. Jeff Schrader wants to help us with this before he retires at the end of the term.

4. Touch base on SPR spreadsheet questions/concerns

Discussion of latest spreadsheets for SPR (ACES SPR candidates.xlsx, and ACES SPR dedup picklist.xlsx):

• Metadata differed among worksheets.
• The online access that is the basis of selection for SPR was not provided on some sheets (is it possible for the SFX link to be provided?)
  Volumes in runs aren’t in date order in the sheets, so it is harder to identify parts of runs that should be excluded–mistakes are more likely (is it OK if we reorder them?)
  Some items on the list appear to have already been withdrawn or have been lost or missing for a long time (can item status be added to the metadata on lists?)
• In some cases volumes that are not available online were listed, and in other cases volumes that are available online were not on lists.
  Lists are limited to items in our location(s); in some cases items are also in Oak or Main and should also be reviewed by subject specialist, but these aren’t on the list.
  Is there a way for selectors to give input about other items from same titles that aren’t on the lists provided?
• What is good practice when withdrawing items available to withdraw would leave one or two random volumes from the title in the collection?
• What is the best way to indicate items on list should be excluded (highlighting row in red is what some selectors have done—it would be good for us to be consistent)
• Does CMS have recommendations on how to provide information / recommendations regarding the items that aren’t on our lists (e.g., items in other locations) ?
• Titles where the identified full text access is EBSCO (e.g., OECD economic surveys from SPR round 1 candidates worksheet)

Sarah will compile a list of questions from the Division and reach out to CMS.

5. Committee assignments and reports – AC, CDC, others

CDC – Sarah has been appointed to a working group to study recurring purchases.  And Susan has been appointed to a working group to update division collection statements.

6. Round Table – none
7. Adjourn – 12:00 noon