UAF's Dean of Libraries Carolyn Henderson Allen began the meeting by welcoming the ARKLink group to Mullins Library.  Dean Allen talked about the recent $300M bequest to the University of Arkansas.  She announced that sometime in 2002, librarians state-wide will be invited to view a demonstration of the INN-Reach software.  INN-Reach allows libraries using the Innovative Interfaces integrated library system to create a union catalog.

Peggy Morrison called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.   Morrison, who attends ARKNet meetings as a library representative, reported that the State of Arkansas Department of Information Services (DIS) plans to implement a firewall on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 12 2002)  for the purpose of improving network security.  Morrison advised librarians to check on that day or the next whether access to electronic resources is hindered.  DIS is also looking at monitoring network traffic.

Morrison called for volunteer presenters for the ARKNet conference to be held June 19-20 in Hot Springs.  The ARKNet conference is traditionally geared towards technology and education, however this year a library track has been added. If you present your seminar twice, your conference registration fee will be waived.

Task Force Reports

Renee LeBeau-Ford (Database Purchasing chair) reported on her recent meeting with the State Library of Arkansas' Network Advisory Committee.  The committee decides on the array of databases funded with LSTA monies.  The committee decided to continue with the current packages for all libraries.  For academic libraries this includes FirstSearch, ProQuest Direct, and a partial subsidy for Gale's Health Reference Center.   Ford reported that State Librarian Jack Mulkey advised library website managers to place a notation somewhere on their website that ProQuest & FirstSearch, Health Reference Center are purchased through LSTA funds.  Mulkey has asked for more funding for databases. More database vendors will be examined at the next Network Advisory Committee meeting.  Some vendors include Gale's Opposing Viewpoints, Twayne Authors & Scribner's.  Mulkey also advised librarians to contact their U.S. reps. and senators in support of H.R. 3784, the "Museum and Libraries Services Act."

A discussion about usage statistics gathering for ProQuest ensued.  Morrison said she would organize some "help" for those wondering how to make sense of the sometimes confusing format of the stats.

Renee reported that the PsycINFO purchase went smoothly.  One institution tried to pull out at the last minute, but the EBSCO representative convinced them to continue.   Ford reminded members that if you agree to sign up for an electronic database, you should have a good reason to back out at the last minute.

Renee asked members to copy and paste the URL for the Gale database trials from her library web site.  Too many clicks on the ATU web site will look much like network traffic and tech. support at her institution may not approve.

The drive to collect IP address ranges is going well; 20 institutions have responded so far.  The next ARKLink trial will be IP-address authenticated, though a userID & password will be available as well.  A "headcount" of interested parties for a Gale Opposing Viewpoints trial will be asked for soon.  Any input on possible database purchases can be sent to Renee. In e-mail discussions conducted before the meeting, one database purchasing task force member advised the group to avoid any database already offered through AMIGOS, as the consortial price is unlikely to beat the price that AMIGOS can offer.

Donna Daniels of UAF presented copies of a preliminary inventory of electronic resources for all ARKLink members.  The information was collected from library websites and inputted into a spreadsheet.  Please send any corrections to Donna.  Journal holdings is the next project and will be limited to very general information.

Morrison commented that the survey reflects how much money institutions spend on the same databases, which highlights the need for less duplication.

Beth Juhl and Peggy Morrison reported that there are technical ways to get MARC records for journals in LEXIS-NEXIS Academic Universe and durable links to ProQuest journals, respectively.  Contact them for more information.

Resource Sharing

Morrison presented a handout with comments by the Resource Sharing Task Force regarding a statewide borrowing card for ARKLink members.  Members were advised to look over the comments/concerns and estimate if your institution can live with an ARKLink card.  Send your comments to Dena Plaisted at UAMS.  A Fall 2002 deadline is possible to have the card in place.  Deborah Kirby volunteered to investigate how some library consortia levy fees to put such a card system in place.

Kristine Shrauger is preparing an article for Arkansas Libraries about the ARKLink courier service.  She hasn't yet received a lot of comments from librarians on how the service is working.  Kristine reported that she and Alberta Bailey met with Fayetteville Public Library representatives about joining in the courier service.  The meeting went very well.

Morrison asked for more examples of "help" documentation (guides, etc.) so that they can be posted to the ARKLink website.  The guides can be direct links to the online versions or in word-processed format.

Kristine Shrauger presented a comparison of the features of OCLC's Iliad interlibrary loan software and the CLIO software.

Other Business

Janet Parsch recapped the events leading up to the shutdown of the ARKLink website earlier this spring.  ARKLink's weary webmaster, Mark Shores reported that thanks to Beth Juhl's help the new arrangement of updating the website was working very well.  Shores works on the pages, send them to Juhl, who then loads the pages onto the server. The new domain is http://arklink-libraries.arkansas.edu/  Please change your bookmarks!

The next ARKLink meeting will be in July.  A location has not yet been arranged.  

Submitted by Mark Shores, Secretary

Page created 4/22/02
By Mark Shores