VLAC Minutes

Absent: Jennifer Scarborough, Janet Stith, Dennis Taulbee, Lee Van Orsdel, Norma Northern, Kathy Hamperian, Larry Rees

Guests: Daniel Rabuzzi, Tari Keller, Charlene Davis

1. Introductions of New Members (Almquist)

Arne introduced Lisa Rice of Bowling Green Public Library who is replacing Wayne Onkst as the public library representative. Carol Pitts Diedrichs was introduced as the new Dean of Libraries at the University of Kentucky and the replacement of Mary Molinaro. Mary and Wayne were recognized for their service and commitment to VLAC during their terms.

2. KYVU Update (Rabuzzi)

Due to the power outage on August 15th throughout the mideast and into Canada, the KYVU was down through early afternoon, as the main server is housed in Canada. Our vendor was up and running but the four ISPs in the Toronto area also went down throughout the night [Thursday, 14 August]. Also, given the magnitude of the outage, other ISPs from here to there would have been out as well. No data was lost; however, KYVU students were unable to obtain access to the site. KYVL had one database vendor, Wilson, down as it is housed in New York. The KYVL also experienced loss of access to the online courier form (which is housed in Canada). Access to all was lost from late Thursday afternoon until about 2pm est Friday.

KYVU/EPSB is launching e-commerce, which is to take place no later than the week of September 1st, with full capabilities for credit card usage.

KYVU/AE will be presenting “Get READy,” an online adult education reading course that makes use of voice recognition, screen reader technology and an intensive amount of audio instruction.

KYVU is working on a new project to put supplemental services online for NCLB (No Child Left Behind) via www.kyvu4k12.org. We have been working with Fulton and Knott Counties.

KYVU is also getting ready to launch “Virtual Patient,” a project with UK and the Kentucky Development Disabilities Council. It is literally a virtual patient. Simulation for Social Workers/Health Care workers can interact with the patient and test for diagnosis.

3. Database Evaluations/Recommended Additions (Davis)

As EBSCO will no longer be able to provide Sociological Abstracts after September 30th of this year and we are unable to contract with Cambridge directly, the Collections Work Group was enlisted to evaluate alternative databases. Thanks to Enid’s negotiations with EBSCO, they agreed to reduce the contract price thereby allowing us to consider the purchase of additional databases. Charlene worked along with the Collections Work Group to review additional databases for purchase to fulfill areas that were considered to be deficit based on the Database Assessment Survey. The Collections WG team was given trial access to all KYVL database vendors’ products. Based on the work group’s evaluations, they recommended the databases of International Index Music Periodicals Fulltext and AltPress Watch to be purchased. The databases would be accessible on October 1st. Vote was taken to approve the purchases and committee members approved.

We are also replacing Grolier’s Spanish language encyclopedia with the New Book of Knowledge. Grolier will be making the switch immediately rather than wait until the beginning of the new contract period which is 1 October. The replacement of Cumbre was based on the extremely low usage since it was introduced as a KYVL offering.

4. Bylaws (Rader)

Enid distributed a new copy of the draft of the Bylaws. Following were suggested changes to the Bylaws:

1) It was noted that the Kentucky Chapter of the Special Library Association was omitted from item #5.
2) Enid proposed that a representative from both the EPSB and the Adult Education be represented in VLAC. Adult Education as a voting member, due to the large contribution made to KYVL for database usage by AE, and EPSB as a non-voting member.
3) Strike the line “Secretary assigned by the chair.” Substitute “minutes be taken by a KYVL staff member.”
4) Suggestion was made that if a committee member does not attend three consecutive meetings and does not send representation, he/she would be asked by fellow committee members to be relieved of their service.
5) Motion was passed for all these changes.

5. Database Passwords (Wohlstein)

Enid suggested that a message be broadcast to the listservs with a clear definition/guidelines on how to distribute KYVL passwords. She distributed a two-page handout on the contract definition of users, including student, postsecondary student, school, etc. Enid proposed that this document be posted on the KYVL site. A suggestion was made that examples of proper and improper password distribution be included.

6. Work Group Reports (Wohlstein)

Enid encouraged VLAC members to poll their communities for new additions to the work groups. AIKCU and KCTCS are underrepresented on the new work groups.

Endeavor Work Group (Keller) – Upgraded Westlib on August 1st. Endeavor Workgroup is meeting again on September 4th. Main topics include: evaluating the system upgrades, when will the next upgrade take place, cost of additional products.

Government Information Access (Wohlstein for McAninch) – Sandee McAninch, the work group chair, is going to poll the current group members to ask if members wish to continue to serve

Information Literacy – Enid has been in contact with Anna Marie Johnson and this group will be reconvening this fall to discuss the How to Do Research Tutorial, information literacy assessment, and other issues.

Resource Sharing (Wohlstein for Hale) – Since July 1st, the new courier contract, we have had two public libraries add one day of service and one KCTCS added a day. Three public libraries that were going to be increased to 3 days of service due to high reported usage and they declined. Resource Sharing, Tanzi specifically, is currently working on a survey that will be distributed to the libraries regarding courier, Ariel and interlibrary loan services. Before posting, it will be distributed to VLAC for review and approval.

7. Other Business

Kentucky Virtual Library Users Group will be having a reception at KLA on Thursday, October 9th, from 5:00 – 7:00pm.

Jim Nelson said that KLA has been approached by Drexel to help communicate their online library science program and have offered a 20% discount in tuition for KLA members.

Enid was approached by Solinet on offering certification through KYVU for Solinet members in the Academic Common Market. Enid will be in contact with CPE’s Academic Affairs unit and Lexington Community College, which currently offers library science courses via KYVU. Hannelore stated that the profession should address the need for more professional development.

Next Meeting Date: October 3, 2003

Last Updated: 1/15/04