1. Science & Engineering toolbar (follow-up on conversation from last meeting) – Flo indicated this has been discussed in other meetings. We don’t know enough about future developments to know which direction to go in. There is a possibility of toolbars in Primo, for example. Let’s wait before putting lots of work into toolbars. Also starting to think about Vista. Toolbars may not work the same way in that environment.

2. Database presentation – Flo had asked for examples of library database listings to be posted to the wiki for RSC members to look at. People generally liked the Puget Sound example. We looked at the Stanford example during the meeting.

The questions that arose were – what will Metalib and Primo do? Will there be subject lists? Do we want to streamline our current listings? Can we have something that can be used for instructional purposes, too? How do we want to get feedback about what “we” want the database list to do?

Sue offered to present this as a discussion topic for a reference/instruction forum meeting.

3. Library tutorials – Flo had asked people to post current online tutorials, tutorials in development and a “want” list of tutorials to the wiki. Melinda mentioned that the Committee on Undergraduate Information Literacy was developing a “popular vs. scholarly” tutorial, and she will add it to the wiki. We then watched a couple of Peabody tutorials. Some tutorials are specific to individual libraries. Can they be generalized?

Melinda mentioned feedback from faculty response to watching the in-development “popular vs. scholarly” tutorial. When appropriate, we need to pay attention to representations of race and gender. For some tutorials, such as one on chemistry databases and information, there will be no images or full names and so this will not matter. Sue is working on assignment/course specific tutorials for CMST 100 and 101. She thought of this after attending a Primo presentation/discussion at ACRL.

Flo asked if the tutorials would supplement or replace subject guides, etc.? We then discussed coming up with a list of general tutorials that all libraries could use. This would allow focus by individuals on higher-level tutorials. Sue offered to have another reference/instruction forum discussion on tutorials. Flo will put announcements on the library newsfeed.

4. Instruction update – Melinda reported that the proposal sent to Vanderbilt Visions by the Committee on Undergraduate Information Literacy was accepted. We will be meeting with all incoming first year students the week of September 10th. There is a group working on the actual presentation that will be given, and a video is being produced.

Melinda had also been contacted by the coordinator for the Summer Academic Orientation Program about participating in their Information Fair for incoming first year students. Last year only Music participated. We discussed whether or not we needed to do this type of information fair now that we are meeting with all first-year students in the Vanderbilt Visions program. Given that none of the other organizations represented there are academic units like the library, it was thought that we would not need to participate.

5. OAK update – Cindy reported that the Peabody eportfolio project is going well. It was cited by the SACS review committee as a good initiative. The Nursing School is looking at eportfolio, as well.

This past semester had a trial of two different anti-plagiarism software packages in OAK – Safe Assignment and TurnItIn. Unfortunately, there was not enough participation to give any valid results about which package to choose. Cindy is meeting with student leaders to discuss the anti-plagiarism software and its use. There will be no more trials of the software. Safe Assignment is more integrated with Blackboard and is also less expensive. It’s probable that a decision will be made soon to use one of the packages. This could be subscribed to for a year, and if it is not satisfactory, another package could then be subscribed to. Cindy is willing to do presentations on the software for interested library staff – especially those who work with faculty.

They are still working with the Open URL generator to be used with OAK. There are still kinks to be worked out.

6. PRIMO update – Jason indicated that this is in a delayed status because of PRIMO development. General Release 1 is on the staging server as of May 14th. This will be used for testing purposes. The new release should fix the remote searching problem.

7. Summer library activities – Flo asked if there were any summer activities of note. Kitty informed us that Science & Engineering us renovating. They have removed indexes to allow for more room for group study and more computers. They will have new carpet.

Melinda and Sue noted that Central is now fully staffed. We are replacing the chairs in the 6th floor classroom. We will also probably be installing a new reference desk closer to where the circulation desk is.