Most of the meeting was taken up with discussing the Task Force meetings, which were held earlier in the day.

Resource Sharing

Morrison reported that the courier service has been working well, despite problems with alleged unprofessional behavior of the drivers. Morrison has advised ARKLink members to talk directly with AMIGOS representatives about any recurring problems. Dena Plaisted (UAMS) will assemble contact information. Any library not currently taking advantage of the courier service is invited to sign up. Morrison suggested non-academic libraries should also be encouraged to take part in the courier service. For PR purposes, Kristine Shrauger has agreed to write an article for Arkansas Libraries journal about the courier service experience.

The Resource Sharing Task Force also discussed sharing informational ("how-to") handouts for the electronic databases purchased through ARKLink. Morrison will spearhead this effort. Amanda Moore suggested that database user guides be saved in .PDF format and posted to the ARKLink website so that members could borrow, modify and use them at their institution. Another idea discussed at the Resource Sharing meeting was a universal patron card. It will allow users at ARKLink libraries to borrow materials from other ARKLink libraries. Dena Plaisted will chair a committee which will come up with a proposal.

Susan Goldner has agreed to start an Innovative Interfaces User Group for Arkansas. The user group will help librarians using the Innovative Interfaces library system to share insights and expertise in managing the system as well as suggesting changes and additions to the system's features. The user group might also help spur efforts to get INNReach software.

Database Purchasing

Amanda Moore introduced Renee LeBeau-Ford as the new Chair of the Database Purchasing Task Force. Moore had previously held that position. Amanda reported that, out of all the vendors, EBSCO was front-runner in the bid to renew the PsycINFO database. There has been minimal interest in the PsycArticles part of the proposal. Other vendors had included Bell & Howell (ProQuest) and SilverPlatter.

ARKLink members should have access to the ABC-Clio database(s) they chose - America: History and Life and Historical Abstracts. As for the American Chemical Society (ACS) proposal discussed at previous ARKLink meetings, it was decided that individual institutions could work out their own deal with the ACS.

Morrison has been in touch with a representative from Standard and Poor's regarding their "Advantage" online database. Morrison felt that this wasn't a high priority right now and that individual institutions could work out their own deals. Some ARKLink members present at the meetings reported problems dealing with S & P.

Janet Parsch reported that ARKLink members will be able to tap in to online databases offered by the Greater Western Library Alliance (formerly the Big 12 Plus Library Consortium) These include ISI (known for publishing citation indexes and Wiley InterScience.

Kathy Sanders reported that costs for FirstSearch will likely go up by the time the Network Advisory Committee is ready to begin deciding on the distribution of LSTA funds. Currently Sanders, Virginia Perschbacher and Susan Goldner are on the committee. Sanders urged ARKLink members to be vocal about keeping FirstSearch available to all libraries through LSTA funds.

Collection Development

Virginia Perschbacher (chair of the task force) reported several efforts to be undertaken by her task force.

1) Creating a list of core resources, in any format, held or desired by all ARKLink institutions. Such a list will assist smaller two and four-year institutions in supporting acquisitions and weeding processes. The list will also help identify basic resources necessary for any general education curriculum regardless of the size of the institution. Another purpose is providing information on library resources available to students attending two-year colleges before transferring to four-year colleges. 

The steps toward completing this project are as follows. CD Task Force members working on each step are in parentheses.

- Create inventories of academic programs offered by two-year institutions (Wendy Davis, Virginia Perschbacher, Jerrie Townsend)

- Current subscriptions held by two or four-year institutions including print journals and electronic databases (Donna Daniels and her graduate assistant)

- Compiling a bibliography of current collection development resources, especially published bibliographies and/or core collections. (Jeff Bailey, Maureen James-Barnes, Bob Yehl and Judy Ganson)

A suggestion was made in the Collection Development Task Force meeting to explore, coordinate and share information about "hand-me-down" (or discard) programs among academic libraries. It was not decided which ARKLink task force should investigate this idea, so it was tabled. One major obstacle is the restriction on discarding materials purchased with state funds.

Other Topics

Morrison reported that she has been appointed as academic library representative to the ARKNet group. ARKNet is an academic/research computer network founded consisting of 70 member institutions, which include higher education & K-12. Morrison reported that there will be a "library track" at the ARKNet fall conference in Hot Springs (June 2002) and asked for ideas on possible programs. The conference will allow librarians to meet and network with information technology experts from schools, colleges and universities. Some suggestions for a library track included promoting ARKLink and promoting use of FirstSearch in school libraries.

Janet Parsch reported that a portion of the ARKLink website space was violated or breached and was subsequently closed off by IT staff at her institution (where the ARKLink site is hosted) Members reported problems getting to the website, as located at www.arklink-libraries.org. Mark Shores reported that appending a forward slash and arklink (/arklink) after the URL above would bring up the site. Parsch said that it appears that the ARKLink website will have to be hosted elsewhere.

Janet also reported that an unusual amount of e-mail messages to the ARCULI-L listserv (which she manages) have been bouncing back to her as "undeliverable." Please send any e-mail changes (or the e-mail addresses of new librarians at your institutions) directly to her.

The next meeting is tentatively set for April 12 at University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Particulars will be announced later over the ARCULI-L listserv.

Meeting adjourned at around 2:30 p.m.