VIVA ad hoc Technical Issues Committee on Content Linking and Management for Electronic Serials and other Digital Materials
Minutes for April 3, 2002
Lynchburg, VA

Present: E. Day (Averett, Chair), R. Best (GMU), A. Boykin (CNU), G. Bunton (ODU), L. Carder (Lynchburg), M. Chappell (JMU), D. Chavez (RMU), S. Deaton (Longwood), L. Linton (Sweet Briar), L. O'Brien (VT), J. Redwine (Hollins), G. Stottlemyer (UVA)

(1) Elaine described her role as chair of the committee, and a recorder/archivist was selected. Mary Ann agreed to serve as bibliographer, leading the group through the most important literature on content linking.

(2) Introductions

Committee members and readers briefly introduced themselves. Then each person talked about management of electronic resources at their institution, their future plans, and what they consider to be the key issues of electronic resources management.

(3) Discussion of charge and views on intent, scope and benefit

Elaine proposed that we research systems, vendors, and standards, to culminate in a formal position paper for VIVA. The committee agreed to undertake writing a position paper. The committee felt it is important to encourage VIVA to pressure vendors to comply with national standards such as OpenURL. The committee’s research will be the basis of outreach and instruction for VIVA librarians, who will have opportunities to respond to our recommendations. The committee will also develop one or more educational sessions for VIVA libraries, with related documentation. We agreed, however, that offering a program as early as October 2002 program would detract from the quality of our research on these very complex issues.

Action items:

• Jamie and Mary Ann will describe important standards and protocols for content linking
• Gary will look at what consortia (OhioLink, etc) are doing with reference linking.
• Leslie will give an overview of TDNet product at the next meeting. Linda will describe Lynchburg’s experience with JournalWebCite, and Susan will do the same for Longwood and SerialsSolutions.
• Glenn will draft questions for a needs assessment to be forwarded to VIVA specialists in technical services or reference as appropriate
• Elaine will create a temporary website at Averett for bibliographies, committee reports, and minutes, and later move this information to a VIVA server.
• Elaine volunteered to begin a glossary of content linking protocols, standards, projects, and organizations that may prove useful in our research and reporting. The committee members can participate in writing definitions and finding related articles

(4) Communication
We will communicate by email, and will not set up a listserv at this time.

(5) The committee will meet next in late May or early June, in either Charlottesville or Lynchburg. Readers and members are invited to attend. Please send Elaine your available dates. Elaine distributed VIVA travel reimbursement procedures.

Leslie O'Brien
Virginia Tech