February 12, 2013 Meeting of User Services Advisory Committee (USAC)

Agenda not yet available.

Jim Dohle (minute-taker); Kelly M^cCusker; Susan Schnuer; Sue Searing (chair); Jim Hahn (guest)

Actions:

1. Select minute-taker
2. Additions to agenda?
3. Library technology prototyping and mobile services (Guest: Jim Hahn)
4. AUL for User Services annual evaluation and goal setting (Sue)
5. Agenda items for March discussion with Lisa Hinchliffe:
6. Best practices for Libguides (Joe) See: http://uiuc-training.libguides.com/content.php?pid=248312&sid=2050936
7. Other?
8. Digital Content Creation and the need for digitizing reference sources [those outside copyright restrictions] (Joe)
9. Core competencies for reference services –  revisions are needed and needs to be inclusive (Joe) – See: http://www.library.illinois.edu/committee/ReferenceServices/ReferenceCoreTraining.pdf
10. Ongoing policy review (Sue et al.) – See: http://www.library.illinois.edu/administration/services/policies/\
11. Informing the next Dean of Libraries regarding user services (Sue)

3.) Library Technology Prototyping

• Funding originally provided as an innovation grant
• Going forward, Jim envisions less consulting and more partnering with units with the goal to empower units to provide services themselves

o   Example: working with RBML to provide enhanced (augmented) reality experience- a 3D pop out on a phone’s screen when the phone camera focuses on a recognized playing card, displaying additional information to users

• Budget group tentatively approved three year funding plan to use technology prototyping as a value added proposition for the University Library community
• Technology prototyping service wants to bridge the gap between crazy idea and implemented production technology
• Discussion:

o   Question from Susan: how can either Jim or the library brand this service for easy referral/recognition?

o   Email or other contact information for technology prototyping service?

• Need to promote availability/accessibility to library faculty & staff

o   How to implement better way finding in the main library?

• QR codes, additional signage; perhaps some assistance from tech prototyping service may be useful

o   How are Jim and his group reaching out to students to see what they want to use and how they want to use it?

• Small student gatherings and focus groups
• National Leadership Grant (app competition with Computer Science students)

o   Request Jim’s group to shop the knowledge gained, processes used, and projects undertaken back to the University Library community

o   Request Jim’s group to bring student app/software ideas back to the library (specifically USAC) to ask what the library may be interested in pursuing

5.) March USAC discussion with Lisa Hinchliffe

• Best practices with LibGuides for both instruction and reference
• A description of some projects Lisa is currently working on
• In what ways can she support User Services Advisory Committee work?

6.) Digital Content Creation and the need for digitizing reference sources

• Note: due to limited member attendance, this item is tabled

7.) Core competencies for reference users

• Note: due to limited member attendance, this item is tabled

8.) Ongoing policy review

• Discussion of the staff email policy

o   Sue will provide link location

o   To be retired?

• Request for USAC team to review policies which can potentially be revised or retired

9.) Informing the next Dean of the Libraries regarding user services

• Original suggestion:

o   Scour file shares and file cabinets for user service related reports completed in the past 5-10 years

o   Determine which reports are relevant for the incoming Dean to review

• Revised suggestion:

o   Devise a list of 5-10 top things that the new Dean may want to know about user services

o   Then search for reports which relate to the 5-10 items outlined above