Libraries: Research, Instruction, and Outreach Committee : Minutes September 17, 2007

10/02/2007
Minutes September 17, 2007

FIVE COLLEGE LIBRARIES
RESEARCH, INSTRUCTION AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE (RIO)
Minutes of the September 17, 2007 Meeting

Present: Bryan Goodwin (chair), Margaret Groesbeck, Beth Lang, Barbara Polowy (recorder), Bonnie Vigeland

Absent: Sherre Harrington (FCLD liaison),

Meetings
•Minutes of the August 20, 2007, meeting were approved without changes
•Meetings for the fall semester will be held at Hampshire College at the following times: October 15 at 8:45, November 12 at 9:00, December 3 at 9:00.

OPAC Changes –Recent News from AMC and the OPAC Committee
•As of September 16, indexing changes which make language limits work correctly are functional in the production database
•The structure of the Five College ILS is such that Texas Christian University’s method for keyword search relevancy ranking can’t be implemented locally.
Based on the results of RIO’s spring 2007 usability testing and user surveys, relevancy ranking of keyword searches was identified as the highest priority change to the OPAC. Thus, RIO recommends that the Five Colleges pursue some other avenue to develop relevancy ranking.

Usability Testing
•RIO will conduct another round of testing at all Five Colleges in early November. Test questions will focus on interpreting search results screens, legibility of screen graphics (text size, colors, button size and design), navigation, and the revised e-journal links.
•Using several other Aleph OPACS, RIO will also usability test results list options to modify searches or start new searches to inform possible changes to the Five College Library Catalog modify search function.
•Issues for focus group discussions will be identified based on the results of usabilty tests with individual users.

RIO OPAC Assignments
Responding to AMC’s charges to the committee (and related activities)
•Bonnie will serve as RIO’s representative to the e-journal links task force
•Margaret will coordinate RIO’s revision of OPAC help. She will review our current document, assign RIO members areas to update or add, and edit all copy for consistency
•Barbara will bring examples of SDI screens from a variety of commercial databases to the October 15 meeting. Before the meeting RIO members will familiarize themselves with the out-of-the-box SDI product now available in the test database.
•Bryan will contact Janet Ewing (or Chris Hannon if needed) for an explanation of how SFX will be integrated into the OPAC. He will request that the SFX taskforce keep in contact with RIO so the users’ perspective is considered when changes are made to the OPAC interface.

Five College Reference Librarians Meeting
•Approximately 35 librarians are expected to attend on September 24
•Parking: Margaret will send out information on parking to RIO representatives to distribute at their home institutions. She urged attendees to carpool given the shortage of parking on and near the Amherst campus.
•Format: Bryan will chair the meeting. One person from each school will give a 5 to 10 minute report on major developments, introduce new staff, etc. RIO members should let Bryan know who will report for their institution. Questions will be held until all five institutions have reported

Other Activities
RIO will plan a January orientation for new library staff at its November meeting.


	10/02/2007 Minutes September 17, 2007 FIVE COLLEGE LIBRARIES RESEARCH, INSTRUCTION AND OUTREACH COMMITTEE (RIO) Minutes of the September 17, 2007 Meeting Present: Bryan Goodwin (chair), Margaret Groesbeck, Beth Lang, Barbara Polowy (recorder), Bonnie Vigeland Absent: Sherre Harrington (FCLD liaison), Meetings •Minutes of the August 20, 2007, meeting were approved without changes •Meetings for the fall semester will be held at Hampshire College at the following times: October 15 at 8:45, November 12 at 9:00, December 3 at 9:00. OPAC Changes –Recent News from AMC and the OPAC Committee •As of September 16, indexing changes which make language limits work correctly are functional in the production database •The structure of the Five College ILS is such that Texas Christian University’s method for keyword search relevancy ranking can’t be implemented locally. Based on the results of RIO’s spring 2007 usability testing and user surveys, relevancy ranking of keyword searches was identified as the highest priority change to the OPAC. Thus, RIO recommends that the Five Colleges pursue some other avenue to develop relevancy ranking. Usability Testing •RIO will conduct another round of testing at all Five Colleges in early November. Test questions will focus on interpreting search results screens, legibility of screen graphics (text size, colors, button size and design), navigation, and the revised e-journal links. •Using several other Aleph OPACS, RIO will also usability test results list options to modify searches or start new searches to inform possible changes to the Five College Library Catalog modify search function. •Issues for focus group discussions will be identified based on the results of usabilty tests with individual users. RIO OPAC Assignments Responding to AMC’s charges to the committee (and related activities) •Bonnie will serve as RIO’s representative to the e-journal links task force •Margaret will coordinate RIO’s revision of OPAC help. She will review our current document, assign RIO members areas to update or add, and edit all copy for consistency •Barbara will bring examples of SDI screens from a variety of commercial databases to the October 15 meeting. Before the meeting RIO members will familiarize themselves with the out-of-the-box SDI product now available in the test database. •Bryan will contact Janet Ewing (or Chris Hannon if needed) for an explanation of how SFX will be integrated into the OPAC. He will request that the SFX taskforce keep in contact with RIO so the users’ perspective is considered when changes are made to the OPAC interface. Five College Reference Librarians Meeting •Approximately 35 librarians are expected to attend on September 24 •Parking: Margaret will send out information on parking to RIO representatives to distribute at their home institutions. She urged attendees to carpool given the shortage of parking on and near the Amherst campus. •Format: Bryan will chair the meeting. One person from each school will give a 5 to 10 minute report on major developments, introduce new staff, etc. RIO members should let Bryan know who will report for their institution. Questions will be held until all five institutions have reported Other Activities RIO will plan a January orientation for new library staff at its November meeting.