§ SAALCK Directors' Council Meeting
SAALCK Directors' Meeting
December 5, 1986
Minutes
Present:
Mary Ellen Elsbernd, Chair (NKU); Coy L. Harmon (MuSU); Paul Willis (UK); Ken Barksdale, representing Ernest Weyhrauch (EKU); Larry Besant (MoSU); Glenda Neely, representing Martha Bowman (UL); Michael Binder (WKU).
Special Guests:
Jim Nelson (KDLA); Chris Hanson (KDLA); Linda Reel (KLN).
Election:
By default or acclamation (the issues was debated without resolution), Coy Harmon was elected Vice President of SAALCK.
Budget Reductions:
There was general discussion of the state-mandated budget reductions and the impact on the university libraries. Both UK and MoSU reported that there would be no reductions in book budgets. At the time of the SAALCK meeting, other institutions were meeting to determine how the cuts would be made at the respective institutions. Note: MuSU will not cut the libraries' allocation to meet its budget reduction goal, but additional funds for periodicals are now in doubt.
Larry Besant further reported that although new book money may be lost at Morehead State, an RFP for an LS/2000 system has been approved. Other members reported that no decisions have been made at their institutions but that word will come soon enough.
Rumors of another cut being imposed after January 1, 1987 could not be confirmed.
Kentucky Library Network:
Linda Reel addressed the SAALCK directors on the direction and progress of KLN. Autographics has been chosen as the vendor for KLN's COM, and a contract will be let in mid-January. The final COM product will be due in September 1987. Participating libraries are reminded that specifications for holdings records on OCLC tapes should be in as soon as possible.
Larry Besant, Chair of the KLN User Services Committee, reported on the activities of that committee and the recommendations made during its November 1986 meeting. Specific user recommendations for use of KLN COM and other services were sought. Recommendations for both retrospective conversion activities and interlibrary loan were discussed along with recommendations for KDLA funding for some of the activities.
Concerning KULS, the User Services Committee made the following recommendations:
That KULS quality, production and distribution not be interrupted by other processes.
That KLN approach KDLA for approval to pursue an RFP for a serials product (federal fiscal year 1988) using the UDB process as a model.
That KLN urge the vendor to adhere as closely as possible to a KULS Task Force Report (July 1985) which recommended that "OCLC control numbers matching the bibliographic records of choice should be attached to all KULS records."
The User Services Committee further recommended that KDLA continue its data conversion grant project and that KLN seek additional funds for conversion. KLN was urged to circulate microcomputers and make available a team of personnel to assist other libraries in the retrospective conversion of their holdings. It was also recommended that an electronic mail project and a pilot program for telefacsimile transmission among selected KLN members be initiated.
Linda Reel commented that all recommendations from KLN committees will be considered and that KLN will continue to look for additional funding sources and appropriate services. The Union Database Committee has been charged to identify specifications and regional codes for holdings statements, and the committee will also address any complaints about the COM file after it is available.
Paul Willis suggested that the COM record of holdings could serve as a backup for online catalogs in various Kentucky libraries. He added that the database should be made as useful as possible in terms of content and distribution. Larry Besant suggested that non-print, KULS and other materials should be included in the database for member use. He then concluded that protocols for the use of the COM file for ILL and other purposes are under study by the User Services Committee and that the protocols will be ready for KLN Board action in July 1987.
Telefacsimile:
Mike Binder led a general discussion on telefacsimile and other technological advances and some possible funding patterns for each. The roles of KLN, KDLA and individual institutions were discussed and reviewed. Further discussion of telefacsimile will be on the agenda for the April meeting of SAALC. Mike Binder will report on information from meetings he will be attending.
CHE Symposium:
Paul Willis reported on the symposium and pointed out that since the main thrust with the state is economic development, the availability of information which could help attract new business and industry should receive greater attention. The presence of universities and their information resources has proven to be critical to new businesses seeking to locate in Kentucky. Paul suggested that we may want to develop an "information center" as a joint effort among KDLA and the libraries within the state. Different libraries could be responsible for providing different areas of information on request.
In some cases Kentucky libraries have information needed by business and industry but are being beaten out by private concerns. Libraries need to advertise what we have and what we can do in terms of providing critical information when needed. The marketing of information must receive a high priority from both the state and the institutions of higher education. It was recommended that this topic receive further discussion at future meetings.
Senator Ford:
Larry Besant pointed out that Senator Ford is now on the Joint Committee for Printing which could have significance for all libraries and librarians. The state or at least one library in the state should take advantage of Senator Ford's participation on the committee.
Next Meeting:
The next SAALCK meeting will be in Louisville in April 1987. The exact date, time and place will be determined later.
Submitted by,
/signed/
Coy L. Harmon