DLSC Minutes Sept. 16, 2008 Attending: Combs, Hook, Poulter, Carpenter, S. Stringer-Hye, Francis, Breeding, Loder, S. Erickson, R. Stringer-Hye Agenda: DiscoverLibrary

• Review the goals of the current implementation project
• Review timelines
• Discuss current obstacles to progress
• Status of 3rd node options
• Progress on new pipe development
• Articulation of current concerns

Jody: The DLPG project timeline runs through April 2009. Are we on target for the goals that were set out? Are there obstacles? Are their goals that we should add or take away?

Dale: Some goals may need updating. More usability needs to be done, is planned for late fall. Additional pipes - Congressional Serial Set, Global Music Archive, DiscoverArchive, etc. – are being developed. DL reports are inadequate.

Jody: How are the metrics? Suggests that the DL Implementation Project Team conduct tests comparing search strategies (from log files) used in DL vs. Acorn. Renaming of the tabs, moving the facets to the left side has been completed. Exploring third node options and will follow up. Can these goals be complete by April?

Dale: Much progress by April, but perhaps not complete. The remaining time was occupied with a discussion on the current concerns with the adoption of DL, by staff and users.

Concerns:

• Issues with search functionality, relevancy ranking of results and TV News overpowering some results lists. This is complex and needs more work and testing.
• Issues with music records. Holling has agreed to work with the implementation team.
• Concerns about uniform titles – will continue to be problems with these
• Concerns with the perception by staff about how DL was implemented and communicated.
• Staff concerns that DL is not ready for introduction into instructional sessions.
• Feeling that staff and the library system as a whole do not have a shared vision for DL.
• Discussion about how concerns, problems and suggestions in regard to DL should be handled?
• Concern that we are only getting feedback from library staff.

Solutions:

• Raise visibility and use of DL by making it the default search box on the Heard homepage. Clearer path to DL and back to Acorn from DL. Most libraries that have purchased Primo have done this. See University of Iowa – Smartsearch.
• Better communication with staff about DL.
• Better marketing of DL to VU community.

Other comments:

• DL must integrate well with all library web resources, esp. as we consider content management systems.
• DL at similar place as WebCat was years ago – took much work by staff to improve.