Library Management Team
Notes from the November 15, 2006 meeting

Attending:  Karen Calhoun, Lee Cartmill, Elaine Engst, Claire Germain, Anne Kenney, Susan Markowitz, Janet McCue, Jean Poland, John Saylor, Marisue Taube,  Ellen Marsh, Ed Weissman. 
Guests: Marty Kurth, Zsuzsa Koltay

1) Announcements
        Ellen Marsh, Director of Library Communications, was welcomed to her first meeting of the Library Management Team.
        Claire Germain reported that Thomas Mills recently presented a workshop at the Africana Center on African Law.  Also, Pat Court presented a workshop at the Law School on animal rights law.

2) WebFeat Implementation: Phase 2
        Zsuzsa Koltay and Marty Kurth, co-chairs of the WebFeat Implementation Team briefed LMT on the status of its work.  WebFeat is the underlying software used for Find Articles.  Phase one was implemented at the start of the Fall 2006 semester when Find Articles was moved off of the ENCompass platform and the number of databases included in this metasearch tool was increased to 100.  With phase 2, there will be 500 databases.  In addition, the team is working to integrate Find Articles, Find Databases and Find Images into a single interface with the name "Find It!"and it is investigating the feasibility of integrating  Find e-Journals into Find It! as well.  Another phase 2 feature is that it will be possible to add the Find It! search box with a selected set of databases to external web pages, such as BlackBoard course pages.  The team has been using focus groups of undergraduates and graduate students for assessment purposes--it is seen as an entry-to-intermediate-level discovery tool.  It was suggested that faculty also be included in the assessment process.  The team will be presenting its work and seeking feedback from various library groups over the next few weeks.  Library Communications will be working on a publicity campaign for the phase 2 implementation.  John Saylor noted that it has been necessary to increase the number of "seats" or simultaneous users for some of the databases being added to Find It! in order to keep the number of "turn-aways" under control.  This is increasing the licensing cost for these databases.  LMT thanked Zsuzsa, Marty and the Implementation Team for their fine work .

3) University Librarian Transition
        Anne Kenney reported that shortly after the announcement was made about Sarah Thomas' departure from Cornell in February to become Bodley's Librarian and Director of University Library Services at Oxford University in England, Vice Provost John Siliciano made arrangements to meet with the two Senior Associate University Librarians--Anne and Karen Calhoun--and also with Lee Cartmill to discuss the transition period and the search for Cornell's next University Librarian.  It is expected that John and Provost Biddy Martin will announce the interim arrangements for the transition period before winter break.  It is also expected that John will chair the search committee for the next University Librarian with librarians well represented.  Sarah has been meeting with Anne, Karen and Lee to prepare for the transition period.

Edward Weissman