Minutes

Prospector Cataloging Reference Committee

November 18, 1999

 

Attendance: Sandy Arnesen, Joan Beam, Bill Garrison, Judith Heck, Lois Jones, Vick Nichols, Helen Reed, Carol White, George Machovec

 

This was the first meeting of the new Prospector Cataloging and Reference Committee which replaces the Prospector Cataloging/Reference Task Force.

 

 

  1. Project Overview and Update

 

An overview of the history and development for the Prospector system was provided.

 

Currently the Alliance office is doing programming and testing for the incorporation of records from the Alliance libraries using the CARL system (DPL and Regis) into Prospector.  The University of Wyoming and the Colorado School of Mines will be migrating to the Voyager system by Endeavor so their incorporation into Prospector will be delayed until both libraries are stable in their new system and arrangements can be made.

 

Bill Garrison reported that CU/Boulder (Norlin) is in the process of cleaning up and loading the Early American Imprint (EAI) microform set into their local Innopac and these will be coded to load into Prospector.

 

  1. Review of Committee Charge

 

The Committee reviewed its charge:

 

Established: October 1999

 

Type of Committee:  Standing Committee

 

Charge:  The Prospector Cataloging/Reference Committee will be responsible for issues related to all bibliographic and display issues with the Prospector system.  Responsibilities will include: indexing, PAC displays (Web and character-based including online assistance), matching algorithms, overlay and precedence tables, training and advising new sites on implementation, developing orientation materials, monitoring member library compliance with Prospector policies, maintaining and recommending modifications in system  parameters, testing and recommending new software and products, assisting each other in addressing issues such as work flow and problem-solving, recommending software enhancements, ongoing interfaces with other systems, and recommending best practices for libraries.   Recommendations will be forwarded to the Prospector Advisory Committee who will approve issues or forward them, if necessary, to the Prospector Directors Group (annual meeting of the Prospector library directors).

 

Frequency of Meetings:  Bi-monthly or as needed.

 

Membership:  Six to eight members from Prospector libraries.  At least one member should be from a public library.  At least one member should be from a reference department.  Two-year term of office and terms should be staggered so no more than half of the committee changes each year.   The Chair of the Committee will be chosen by the Committee.  Communication of the Committee minutes will be posted on a Prospector listserv.

 

Crossover:  This Committee replaces the Prospector Cataloging/Reference Delivery Task Force who was responsible for the development of initial Prospector policies and procedures and will remain in place through September 1999.  During the first year, half of the new Committee will be members from the original Task Force and the initial chair will be a participant from that group.  This will provide a continuity of expertise and experience.  The original Task Force participants who have transferred to the new standing committee will serve one-year terms.

 

 

  1. Selection of Committee Chair

 

Helen Reed was selected as the new chair of the Committee.  She will serve a one year term.

 

 

  1. Development of a Meeting Schedule

 

The Committee choose to establish their next three meetings.  Meetings will be held at the office of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (3801 E. Florida, Suite 515) on Thursday afternoons on the following dates:  January 27, 2000 (1:30-3:30pm); February 24, 2000 (1:30-3:30pm); March 23, 2000 (1:30-3:30pm).

 

  1. Develop a list of issues to be worked on and carry over issues from the previous task force

 

The Committee worked on a list of issues which it may be addressing in future meetings.

 

 

Respectfully submitted by

George Machovec

Associate Director, Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries

gmachove@coalliance.org