Agenda

October 29, 2007
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Electronic Classroom (Divinity Library Room 211)

1. Demonstration of AlphaSearch features (20-30 min.)
2. Vanderbilt Media Archive initiative (5 min.)
3. This past year's upgrades to OAK (5 min.)
4. Global Music Archive project (10 min.)
5. Suggestions/questions from members

Guest: Holling Smith-Borne

Minutes

1. Demonstration of AlphaSearch features (link). Jody Combs, Director of the Digital Library, performed a demonstration of AlphaSearch, our new next-generation search tool. He showed us how searches are performed, how to tag and review an item, and how to search multiple databases at once using QuickSets, among other things. A question was raised about the number and type of QuickSets AlphaSearch currently has - Jody assured us that the bibliographers are currently working on recommending new QuickSets in their fields. The library is currently considering how to brand this service; names are being suggested by library staff. Paul gave us a few names that have been suggested so far - Oodles, Wink, and Pimp My 'Brary. :) AlphaSearch is still in development and comments/suggestions are actively being sought from the general public.
2. Vanderbilt Media Archive initiative. Paul Gherman talked briefly about the new Vanderbilt Media Archive initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to collect and preserve the media content (such as iTunes U podcasts and Film Studies student projects) currently being produced by the university community. This project is in the early planning stages; a project team about to start work on examining issues relevant to implementing this archive.
3. This past year's upgrades to OAK. Jody Combs talked briefly about upgrades and usage statistics for OAK over the past year. Use of OAK is steadily increasing. Building blocks, such as Scholar, iTunes U, SafeAssign, and TurningPoint, are also being continually added for the benefit of OAK users. Members had a few suggestions for improvements to OAK, including:
   • collaboration tools, especially for writing (better than Google docs)
   • various templates for course design
   • the ability to see the "student view" as well as the "instructor view"
   • links to the bookstore from syllabi for specific items
4. Global Music Archive project (link). Holling Smith-Borne, director of the Music Library, talked to us about the Global Music Archive, a collection of sound recordings and images of indigenous music from communities in Africa and the Americas. It was founded in 2003 by Gregory Barz, Associate Professor of Musicology (Ethnomusicology) at Vanderbilt University, and the Anne Potter Wilson Music Library. Holling demonstrated the Digital Collection of East African Recordings database, showing us various ways to search and browse the archive's offerings.
5. Suggestions/questions from members. There were no concluding questions from members. Paul encouraged everyone to send him a message if they had any thoughts after the meeting was over.