Introduction of new members - minutes of last meeting
Pat reminded everyone that the minutes are posted on the OSL support page (minutes.oslri.net)

PROQUEST:  Pat reminded everyone that ProQuest is no longer offering obituaries from the Providence Journal, and hasn't been since March 2008.  Beth mentioned that at Cranston, they have posted a message on their website to alerts patrons of this fact.

ENCORE:   Jenifer Bond, a former member of the RWG,  now at Bryant University, was invited to share her experiences using ENCORE as implemented by the HELIN system.  Jenifer showed us HELIN's current interface, and a "tweaked" version HELIN is working on.  We also looked at some other systems and how they are linking to ENCORE from their websites.  

Encore provides the user with a new interface that is similar to commercial websites and hopes to provide a more modern feel to our "classic" catalog. You can still access the classic blue catalog from Encore by clicking on the Advanced Search link or the Find Out More link.  Encore currently does not include the ability to save preferred searches and there is no cart feature or "save a list" feature.  Limiting is also different in Encore, but using Advanced Search will bring you to the classic advanced search that we currently use.  (To see more of how Encore works, please visit http://library.uri.edu/.  For public libraries using Encore, see http://library.scottsdaleaz.gov/ or http://www.westervillelibrary.org/)

Joan mentioned that Innovative should be installing Encore at OSL in January, but that date could change.  Once the product is ready, the rollout of Encore will take place sometime in the following months.

Jenifer suggested that OSL might want to think about ideas for launching a marketing campaign for staff & patrons, as well as sufficient training for staff, in order to make the transition smoother.  She also mentioned that while it may be possible to have the 2 different interfaces, old and new, would that undermine our attempts to have a unified OSL experience for each public library user?

Finally, Jen mentioned that although she was skeptical and sometimes frustrated with Encore in the beginning, after using it and experimenting with it for the last few months, she has gotten used to it, and grown to like it.
 
Discussion ensued as to patrons' and librarians' acceptance of Encore.  Some patrons may have difficulty, some not. Same with librarians.  RWG should keep looking at Encore and keep giving input about improvements.
 
DATABASES:  Joan mentioned that Susan Aylward is establishing a committee to look at our current OSL databases and products, as many of our contracts are due to expire in June 2009.  
 
ECONOMY/JOBLESS RATE:  The group talked about how to best serve our patrons due to the extreme unemployment rate in RI.  Beth told us that a member of the Cranston library staff is a career counselor and is offering a workshop series in January, with instructions on resume and cover letter writing, and interview skills.  

Pat at Newport is offering a 6-week, hands-on series in February focusing on job skills, how to find and fill out job applications online, and how to attach resumes to email.  Some libraries are using "Book a Librarian", allowing patrons to schedule uninterrupted time with a librarian for specialized help.

Could we make a special Featured List on the OSL catalog main page that listed resume/career/test guides titles in the catalog?  Lisa said that it was possible, but might be labor intensive.  Pat suggested that we wait a couple of weeks to finalize a list and revisit this idea in the future.  

Colleen and Julie showed the group Learning Express, an electronic resource that offers online practice tests, skills tests, and resume and interviewing courses.  Beth mentioned that this may be something the OSL might want to purchase for the whole consortium.

Lauri passed around to the group brochures that she received on Employment Opportunities for the 2010 Census.  More brochures are available by contacting the US Census Bureau.

The group talked about the recent press that libraries have been receiving both in print and on television, especially on NBC Nightly News.  Several members discussed how we should try to set up regionalized workshops for our patrons throughout Rhode Island, instead of each library trying to go it alone and creating their own separate materials.  Beth mentioned that she would talk to her coworker about setting up workshops in other libraries.  

OPAC UPDATE:  Lisa showed the group how the "Cancel All" holds button on the patron account page in the OPAC has been simplified so it is less confusing to the user.  The old Cancel All button used a "checkmark" icon and led users to believe that they were only cancelling the "checked" holds, when instead they were cancelling all holds.

Meeting adjourned 4:30 p.m.
Next meeting:  January 20, 2:15 p.m., OSL offices.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Holden (PAW)