LINC Policy Council Meeting Minutes (not yet approved)
August 29, 2002
Members Present: Sally Duchow, Jan Ison, Barb Turner, Phill Cohee, Lynn Schmit, Cynthia Helms, Glenna White, Clara Schroeder, Mary Bissey, Bethany Bolduc
Members Absent: Janet (Sutherland) Cler
LTLS Staff: Pat Boze, Merdy Smith
The meeting was called to order at 1:10 p.m. The minutes of the April 10, 2002 meeting were approved. By concensus, members of LPC determined that further meetings will begin at 1:30 pm.
Pat Boze demonstrated iPac. Staff received training in July and have moved forward rapidly to complete the configuration of this product. We are currently in the process of configuring individual iPac accounts for each of the libraries that have a Pac Port. IPac will be mounted on a server at LTLS and each library will receive a unique Œurl¹ that provides access to their catalog and scopes to their holdings in the same way that Pac4Windows currently scopes to holdings within a library.
Pat demonstrated the various library catalog searches, access to patron information, community resources, bestseller/reading lists, and reference databases that are available through the new interface. There is a test version of ipac now available at-
A draft iPac FAQ was passed out and reviewed by LPC. We hope to test this product with public use during the month of September and then will distribute a memo and information to directors on how to set up access to this product in their library. The timeline includes rolling out iPac to the public by November 1 and de-installation of Pac4Windows and discontinuation of this product by the end of calendar 2002. There are several issues remaining that still need to be resolved. IPac uses ports differently, allowing 5 users to simultaneously search on 1 port at a time. This increases the number of users that will have access to iPac but users will be able to access from both within and outside the library through a web address. LPC members mentioned that the Œbuttons¹ to place either bib level or specific copy holds are confusing. Also, there is an issue with holds placed from home. The system cannot recognize that a patron is at home and will give the message Œitem is on the shelf¹ instead of allowing a hold to be placed. LTLS staff will investigate options for resolving these problems. We also are developing new graphics for the product and hope to have them available for downloading in the near future.
There was some discussion about publicity and how this will be announced to the public.
Merdy reported on the activities of the Database Standards Committee. They have met twice and have discussed several issues, including Dublin Core, designation of accelerated reader items, and movie ratings in the bibliographic record. A proposal from this committee was distributed to LINC Policy Council, changing the current policy of Œnot allowing MPAA movie ratings¹ in LINC bib records to Œrequiring MPAA ratings in LINC bib records if the ratings are found anywhere on a video recording.¹ This policy change will be considered and acted upon at the next LINC Policy Council meeting.
Pat mentioned that several things have happened over the summer: eight libraries have signed contracts to go online with LINC (all 4 Tolono school buildings, Oakwood Grade School, Martinsville Public Library District, Ashkum Elementary, and Bement Public Library District); LTLS used Live & Learn automation funds to upgrade equipment in the training center; we have purchased the OCLC QuestionPoint product to use as a customer service referral point; and an upgrade to Dynix Release 190 is scheduled for November.
LINC Policy Council discussed issues related to migration to a new system or upgrading to Horizon. LPC asked LTLS to develop a position paper explaining the compelling reasons for considering an upgrade to Horizon instead of migrating to a new system. Clara motioned and Glenna seconded that LINC Directors Group be presented a recommendation to develop an RFP for an upgrade to Horizon, this motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at3:45 p.m.