MeLCat Task Force

Minutes May 3, 2006

 

Present:

Tim Wiggins

Wendy Woltjer

Paula Stakley

Kay Horton

Linda Lightcap

Lawrence Kapture

Rachel

Susan Parr

Kathy Ruddick

Dina Reilly

Kristina Knezic

Nancy Studebaker


Goals of the Task Force

  1. Study MeLCat and make a recommendation to the board and member libraries
  2. Get detailed answers to questions regarding MeLCat participation
  3. Help co-op determine direction for Agent, and future role with ILL

 

The committee reviewed and accepted its charge.  No changes or additions were made.

 

As background, Gail shared what other co-ops are doing as regards MelCat.  Since Capital and Woodlands co-ops are partners in Agent, the three co-ops have been cooperating and sharing information.  Each recognizes that participation in MelCat is the wave of the future, and all 3 co-ops are working with their members to help them evaluate the impact such a move will have.

 

For SMLC maintaining Agent represents an $80,000/year commitment, with a contract renewal coming up in mid 2007.  As other co-ops move out of Agent into MelCat, there is potential for increased costs for maintaining Agent.

 

The advantage to patrons is clear – all libraries dramatically expand the number of resources available to their patrons.

 

The members of the Task Force urge SMLC libraries to participate in MelCat.  The state has made its decision and committed a significant amount of resources to bring MelCat to the point where it is. 


 

A number of questions were raised.  We will bring these forward at the May 15 meeting with Louise Bugg.

  • Opening the firewall is something that will be an issue for some.  How is that working?
  • What about libraries who don’t want to automate?
  • How do dial up libraries participate?
  • How do records get cleaned up once they are in MelCat?
  • How do we provide access to OCLC as needed, and who pays?
  • How do we prevent patrons from going to OCLC for things we own?
  • Can we add the whole Agent database at once, rather than loading individual libraries?
  • Will Agent and MelCat continue to co-exist as libraries migrate?  How long will that last, what will be the cutoff point?
  • What happens with Michicard – is it replaced with the Visiting Patron system?
  • What about libraries that have reciprocal borrowing arrangements with neighboring libraries – how will that work?
  • How does load balancing work when a library is the sole holder of an item?
  • How long after you apply to participate in MelCat does it take for you to be assigned a probable date for launching?
  • How long is the current queue?
  • What happens if a library changes its automation system after it has joined MelCat?

 

Tim and Gail shared information gathered at Mel User’s Day.  The advantage of going into MelCat at this point is that over 100 libraries are in already, and many of the bugs have been worked out, and issues addressed. 

 

Tim conducted a mini e-mail survey asking about member plans to join MelCat. Results showed many libraries requesting more information.

 

Gail will prepare an FAQ for member libraries on MelCat Participation to post to the SMLC website by the end of May.

 

Members who are applying to participate in MeLCat are asked to share a copy of their application with the Co-op.

 

Gail will ask Katherine Smith to add a MelCat discussion to the Public Library Director’s meeting agenda.  Gail and Tim will participate in Woodlands upcoming MelCat Task Force meeting on May 23rd.