DRA User’s Group

Technology Committee Meeting [Summary]

September 19^th

Rolling Prairie Library System

Present: Pat Burg - ISM, Paul Johnson – RPLS, Tammy Schnell – LLCC, Shelley Koehler – SPL, Tim Schnabel – RPLS, Steve Craven – DPL, Junie Longbons – DPL; Ann Adkesson - Barclay PL/Warrensburg, Tim Childers – Lincoln Library, Chet Brandt - IECIC, Eileen Curry – Windsor; Helen Flynn – St. Teresa HS

Pat reported that she had recommended to the Governing Board that RMG, Inc. be hired as a consultant. She said the RPLS Board had approved the recommendation, and Paul added that the attorney for RPLS had also reviewed the contract.

Paul reported on a small portion of the Moen study findings [draft], and he distributed a handout about standards and specifications. Some Recommendations and Strategies were reported on: 1. Cataloging – quality of records. Recommending that records come from a single source and the single source be OCLC. 2. Percentage of membership in the LLSAP and multitype arrangement. RPLS was given listed as one of the models for this. 3. Several RLS (LLSAPS) present opportunities for merger or restructuring. Those RLS’s are in the northeast corner of the State.

Other recommendations regarding the implementation/widespread adoption of Z39.50 were made by the Moen study.

RPLS board member, Ann Adkesson reported that she attended the presentation of these findings, and that the goal of the attendees was to develop a timeline for meeting these standards.

Paul reported on the next phase of the RFP process. Paul will submit to RMG, Inc., information on manuals, contracts, etc. with SIRSI. This will be forwarded to Rob McGee in Australia and the contract will be sent to him also. Next, Rob McGee would start working on a draft RFP from that information.

The Committee inquired when our next meeting should be, and what we should be prepared with. Paul said McGee will need people that are prepared to talk about what they want to see in a new system.

The next meeting was set for October 24^th from 9:30 – 4:00. The entire day was scheduled for the meeting due to its importance, and the attendance of Rob McGee.

It was decided that the Users Group Technology Survey Summary Results be used as a starting point for the discussion with McGee. Use of the handout from the Moen study would also be used so our Consortium would be working on Tammy Schnell and Tim Childers each had concerns about the present document regarding interoperability – Standards, and ease of incorporating OCLC, and client minimum standards. Ann Adkesson agreed to look up the list of standards issued by the Moen study. Tammy and Ann agreed to rework the Summary to reflect an expanded version of the interoperability dot point. Training became another topic of discussion. It was decided by the Committee that the Summary would need further refinement, with perhaps other input from representatives of the LLSAP’s Committees. Paul suggested that the Technology Committee meet after the Users Group Meeting on October 2^nd. It was decided that the Committee would meet at 1:00 at RPLS on October 2^nd to refine the Summary. Lunch would be “on your own”.

Pat agreed to send an e-mail out about this special meeting that would allow Committee Chairs to select an informed representative to attend also.