Meeting Notes 1/31/00
Attending: Scott Wicks, Ed Weissman, Suzy S. Palmer, Bill Kara, Karen Calhoun, Diane Hillmann, John Saylor, David Block
Scifinder Scholar. Leah Solla had sent David copies of her handouts for downloading the proprietary client in Windows and Mac flavors. We had a few suggestions for this document, principally an additional step for how to run the client, once it is installed. John will contact Leah and take the final steps to placing Scifinder on the Gateway. (detail the final wording of the document; forward the URL for cataloging to Karen; ask Desk Top Services to load Scifinder on the kiosks)
Dialog@Carl. David brought the committee up to date: that Scott has registered CUL for the service and passed our IP ranges to the State Library; that DRC has reviewed the program and expressed some reluctance to make the databases available for public use until their availability can be gauged (the program provides 100 simultaneous users for the 1,500 libraries in the State). ERC seemed less daunted by the 100 for 1,500 ratio and favored a single set record for the public catalog as soon as Cornell is authorized to use D@C. The chair acknowledges this recommendation here and will pass it up the command structure.
NetLibrary. John used his floor time to describe the current state of NetLibrary and several other networked resources. Netlibrary's design, which demands that individual users register online, has made our intended use of the "cooperative demonstration project" problematic. Though CU users will be able to view, search, download, etc., the 800-plus title collection that we and our partners purchased, they will not be able to select new titles for adding to the collection at this time. We have decided to limit this feature for use of two classes, dubbed the Nomad Group for their study of wireless computing in instruction. It is also unclear when the NetLibrary records will appear in the local databases. John likened this situation to that of Cambridge University Press, which likewise requires individual registration for use.
At this point, he and Scott dazzled the rest of the committee by reciting from memory the particulars of John Wiley's site license, which mix paper subscriptions, site fees, content fees and platform fees in a way that makes Wiley almost affordable for next year, but more expensive than last. John likewise sparkled in describing the two trials we have going with Elsevier, the IEEE package and Current Contents Connect. At Ed's suggestion, John and Scott agreed to make sure that the ISI Web of Science links to those journals for which we hold electronic licenses be turned on as soon as possible.
Suzy had sent a message to ERC detailing two plug-ins that we will need to enable to use of the Early English Books Online. Following the procedures that we established with Oliver and Laura at our last meeting, Suzy will forward the requirements to Laura for adding to the kiosk browser software set.
David reminded the Committee that today's meeting marked and anniversary of sorts, two years since the Committee chair last turned over. He offered several well-reasoned arguments for why it might be time that this happen again, all of which were received with sympathy but without enthusiasm.
Minutes recorded by David Block.
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