Resouces for Users Committee -- Minutes
January 21, 2000 -- 10:00 AM
Alderman Library, University of Virginia
Gene Damon, Presiding
Present: Gene Damon, Jacque Dessino, Sharon Gasser, Pat Hausman, Susanna Pathak (recorder), Kathy Perry, Jim Rettig, Sylvia Rortvedt, Jane Schillie, Jim Self, John Walsh. Absent Pamela Morgan, Michael Walker.
1. Announcements
None
2. Approval of Minutes of , Novenber 19, 1999 meeting
No changes --Minutes approved by consensus.
3. Changes to agenda
SCIENCE was added to the agenda.
4. ALA Report:
-- K. Perry met with OCLC and Solinet and we will receive a credit from OCLC. In addition, Angee Baker talked with our Academic Press rep about some key renewal issues, including VIVA's interest in title by title selection
-- Solinet is offering a netLibrary@ deal with a commitment date of late May. Drawbacks include one user at a time / per book limit. Getting statistics has also been a problem. Jim Self reported that UVa decided not to subscribe to netLibrary@ at present but that a deal had been made to digitize 2000 titles in American History which will be made available to all VIVA libraries for free.
-- A national deal for IT Knowledge@ (computer books) is also in the works with pricing based on total FTE. Similarly, a deal for the McGraw Hill Access Science product may result in good pricing.
-- OVID has assigned a technical contact to VIVA to help us implement gateway functions and features. OVID OpenLinks will be available in the 2nd quarter of 2000. VIVA institutions are reminded that they are entitled to a discount of any OVID database subscriptions according to the terms of our contract.
-- HarpWeek stats are now available. Gene noted that the VCCS is the largest user.
-- Gale has a person to handle working with consortia (Helen Wilbur). Gale knows VIVA is evaulating current Galenet offerings.
5. Budget 2000-2002:
G. Damon reported on the status of VIVA's funding request in the state legislature. Only the base budget has made the first round--new funds requested are unlikely. Thus Gene decided to put VIVA's addition of SCIENCE to our Highwire offerings (approved earlier) on hold. Gene noted that university presidents did not put forward a unified proposal which might have gained more funds for VIVA. Similarly, SCHEV has remained neutral on the subject. This scenario suggests that we will continue to have a very tight funding situation with few opportunities for new resources unless we change our offerings. The Academic Press titles, especially, will be evaluated with this in mind.
6. Budget
K. Perry distributed the latest commitments and expenditures report. The balance of uncommitted funds is very small. We may get a refund from Britannica Online.
7. Britannica
J. Rettig distributed a detailed comparison of Britannica Online and the Britannica.com product based on feedback solicited from all VIVA members. He provided committee with an online demonstration of searches and features pointing out the differences in the two products. Rettig reported that he has identified no strong support within and beyond VIVA for retaining our subscription. ACTION: Rettig recommended against renewing Britannica Online. Motion passed. VIVA's Britannica Online subscription will end on May 31st, 2000. The RUC also approved NOT including the free version of EB in VIVA's offerings as of May 31st, 2000.
7. Training Committee
J. Schillie reported on plans for the VIVA resources one-day Training Fair (to be offered twice--March 6th and 7th, 2000). Training needs were identified in a survey of needs conducted in December. Responses were shared with the RUC. Priority training needs include Stat USA, Dow Jones, Cambridge Scientific databases, and CIAO. These will be scheduled at the Training Fair, in addition to general morning sessions on First Search (new interface) and OVID. Break out sessions on other products will be scheduled in the afternoon. The RUC was asked to help identify trainers and product experts and email names to Jane by the end of January. All Training Fair attendees will be asked to share locally developed training materials. Jane will prepare announcements for the VIVA listserv. Attendees will need to register for either the March 6th or March 7th location. Approximately 100 persons can be accomodated at the University of Richmond Training Fair on March 6th and 60 persons are expected to attend the Training Fair at Virginia Tech on March 7th. (See http://www.gmu.edu/library/fen/viva/ructrain.html)
8. Gale Database Review
G. Damon reported that Wilson has also developed a biographical resource which could be considered in any evaluation of Gale's Biographical product. J. Self and K. Perry met with the Gale rep and looked at VIVA use stats. Use of Galenet is very low. G. Damon said the VCCS stats might be incorrect. Jim's committee will evaluate use and prepare a recommendation for the RUC on renewal. J. Rettig mentioned that the BGMI (Biography and Genealogy Master Index) includes sources not included in the Biographical Resource Center.
9. Ideal Review
S. Pathak reported that the subcommittee members included herself, Sharon Gasser, Ibironke Lawal (UVa) and Ed Lener (V Tech). They will be assessing the value of the IDEAL (Academic Press) product and examining use stats and other data to formulate a recommendation to the RUC by late spring. We need to notify Academic Press in August about renewal for 2001. The subcommittee will also assess the consequences of not renewing VIVA's subscription. The RUC discussed concerns with IDEAL and advised on approaches to a survey of VIVA institutions about IDEAL.
10. ABC-CLIO
Action: The RUC voted to renew the databases.
11. OVID Nursing Journals Collection
Delayed until next meeting since P. Morgan was not present.
12. Oxford Analytica
J. Schillie reported some problems with accessing the database in the current trial. Pricing was shared. A new interface is coming shortly. Jane recommended resuming the trial when the new interface is ready. It will be announced on the VIVA listserv.
13. New Opportunities
-- G. Damon descibed the offering of Blackwell Social Science and Humanities Journals which are available on a title by title basis. J. Schillie will investigate and report back to the RUC.
-- P. Hausman described the US Government Periodicals Index which will replace the same title on the CIS CD which is being discontinued. She will pursue details and report back to the RUC.
14. SCIENCE
Due to strong interest among VIVA members for online access to this title, the RUC discussed models of pooling institutional funds to get a subscription. The RUC supported a new approach,-- asking each VIVA member to pay something (calculated by size of institution) so that everyone could access SCIENCE. ACTION: Kathy and Gene will coordinate the process by preparing a contribution scale and sending a request to participate (contribute) to VIVA collections contacts. After they obtain funding commitments, they will negotiate with Highwire and Science.
Next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday February 25th at UVa.
Meeting adjourned at 1:05 PM.