TAG MEETING
Minutes March 1, 2006
The meeting was called to order by chair Kristina Knezic
Members in attendance were: Agathe Krueger (Lincoln), Tim Wiggins (Cass),
Ann Flora (Niles), Wanda Maston (Hartford), Joey Ives
(Comstock),
Gail reported on the meeting at Woodlands Cooperative. They felt there
should be training on Verso each quarter. On July 14, 2006 Lynn Shrewsbury from
Auto-Graphics will demo Version 6 of Verso which is up and ready to use. The
demo will be repeated on September 8, 2006. To date 31 libraries are officially
in Verso and the contract runs through 2007. Verso is meant for smaller
libraries and is a good choice if we move to MelCat. The cost is $5000 upfront
and $2000 annually thereafter. A high speed internet connection is highly
recommended. But if the internet goes down, the internet aspect of Agent is not
available, but if the offline circulation module is enabled, libraries may
continue using that piece. Verso does not require in-house technical support
since the application is hosted in
MelCat brings up about 25-libraries a quarter. You must be on Mel delivery to be a MelCat member. Moving our region to MelCat is under consideration, but has not been presented to the board at this time. Anyone with a Z39.50 system will work with MelCat. It is recommended that if you are considering moving to MelCat you begin getting email addresses of patrons and adding them to your patron record as it is the recommended way to notify patrons that an item is to be picked up. An official vote has not been taken as to whether to move to Mel delivery, but Gail said the board already has a majority vote and it is necessary to improve our financial situation. Anyone with questions about MelCat delivery can contact SMLC or any board member for information.
I was decided to create a TAG list serve, after much discussion about blogs and list serves. Tim Wiggins will head a subcommittee to research the impact, opportunities and challenges represented by joining MelCat. Findings will be reported to the Board in six-eight months. Paula Stakley, Kristina Knezic and Linda Lightcap will be on the committee. If anyone else is interested, contact Tim at the Cass District Library.
Linda Koch will head a committee to establish Guidelines for Interlibrary Loan. The purpose is to consider a standardization of policies. Anyone interested in serving on this committee should contact Linda at the Allegan Public Library.
If SMLC delivery is suspended, the rotating videos will be sold for $1.00 each.
It was stated that OCLC interlibrary loan cost $19,000 this year. That needs to be clarified. Interlibrary loan is only one part of that figure. The total estimated subscription based OCLC fee from Oct 1, 2005-Sept 30, 2006 is $19,096.72. This figure includes three fees: (1) Connection fee $3712.80; (2) Interlibrary loan $8826.23; and (3) Cataloging $7698.60. Interlibrary loan lending, catalog holdings deletions and other credits in the amount of $1140.91 reduced the total to $19,096.72.
The question was asked whether any members have used or are considered purchasing Time Management software to use on their computers. Members in attendance were not using any software, but had computers designated for different usage; ie. games, research, children, adult, express, reference and internet. Librarians are forced to make value judgments on how the computers would be used because the number of patrons wanting to use them exceeds the number available for use.
Whether to use interlibrary loan is becoming a judgment call. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy an item on the used market, such as eBay or alibris. Other times it is a choice between buying new or using interloan. Other libraries are very dependent on ILL.
Gail said she would set up a MelCat workshop and check with MelCat about
their policy to protect books from biohazardous
material during delivery. Tag meeting minutes will be posted on
Members decided it was okay to put sticky notes inside the front cover of a book being loaned rather than on the title page.
The "Retry" feature on Auto-Graphics is not well liked. Members were told that "Not on Shelf" goes to Retry, whereas "Not Lendable" does not go to Retry.
The next meeting is scheduled for 3 May 2006 at 10a.m.
Minutes taken by
Linda Lightcap