Present: Carol Turner, Rich Bennett, David Hickey, Jan Swanbeck, Carol Drum

1.       New Library Web Pages and Our Users

• Handouts about the homepage will be distributed and information will be given to patrons at the desk.

• The new homepage currently comes up, but there is a link to the old page. The old page is not being maintained or updated any more, however.

• The new page requires the newest version of Netscape or Internet Explorer. Some service providers don't allow their customers to download these versions. Rich said that the programs can be found on the UF CD.

• Carol Turner asked how much work it is to maintain the A-Z list. Rich said it isn't difficult to maintain it, once the list was put together. He said the plan originally was to have only the Database Locator and Quick Links. Carol said it would be best to keep the A-Z list this semester to find out if patrons are using the Database Locator, and if it is mostly library staff using the A-Z list.

• Carol Drum suggested forming focus groups to ask what users think about the web pages and how easy they are to use.  Focus groups may be formed in mid to late October, or right after Veterans Day.

Carol said  that any changes or updates to the library goals and objectives should be  sent to Stacy Wall. A number of goals were discussed:

• Space: the library needs a plan for creating space in Library West because there is not much more that can be done with the existing space. Dale should meet with the space committee to discuss recommendations.

• Web Pages: ideas for additional pages include floor plans, maps, a Public Services page, copyright pages and more tutorials.  It was also suggested that the Subjects page be moved away from identifying the subjects by fund coding and into a more subject-based locator.  The Database Locator could be used as a pathfinder to create an index of databases for the specific subject requested.

• Training: Trudi is working on a forum series that would bring in people to discuss other areas of campus.

• Baseline Services: no progress has been made on this goal. It is difficult to identify baseline services because each division is different. For example, in Documents, staff is able to fetch books for patrons, but in Marston Science that isn't possible.

• Instruction Items: the goal for this year is to implement an undergraduate program to help teach students how to use the library. The "Just Getting Started" page will also be expanded. The statistics should be monitored to determine if staff should be moved to other priorities. Nationwide, desk statistics are dropping.

• Explore Reference Chat Service:  If a chat service was provided, it should probably be held after hours when most students are working. The hours could be from 9 pm to 1 am and on weekends. Interns could be used to work the chat hours.

• New services: What is the appropriate reference model our library is working toward to utilize the librarians' special skills?  Carol Drum said she has thought about establishing office hours in some of the colleges and departments so that students can come to her in their own environment. It might be possible to also place librarians in other high traffic areas on campus to provide assistance to students. Some places suggested were the Reitz Union colonnade and the Turlington plaza at noon.

           Carol said the library needs to take advantage of the Faculty Support Center.

4.         Internships

Carol said  that the library should look into areas in which internships could be established.  Many of the divisions could create  internship to provide library students from FSU and USF with experience in those areas. Jan said that when the  GIS position is filled in the Documents department, there might be an opportunity for an internship.

5.         Student Attire

A discussion was held to determine what guidelines should be put in place to make sure students working in public areas look professional. Access Services' guidelines state that students should have no bare feet, no bare midriffs, no bathing suits or short-shorts. Marston says no hats, sunglasses or earphones at the circulation desk.  It was decided that guidelines library-wide will include no earphones or hats, along with the Access Services guidelines.

© 1999 University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries P. O. Box 117001 Gainesville, FL 32611-7001  Please read our disclaimer. Send comments and/or questions about this site to Misty Swain Last Updated January, 2003