MINUTES
MARS Ex Comm
Tuesday, June 27, 1995
McCormick Center 139N
PRESENT:
Members: Louis Drummond, Karen Diaz, Peggy Seiden, Denise Bennett, Laine
Farley, Elliot Kanter
Visitors: Lori Morse, Marcella Stark, Lise Dyckman, Pat Riesenman, Lyman
Ross, Nancy Bodner, Pat Hawthorne
A. Action Item
ETS has revised the 1990/1991 document on guidelines for training
sessions. Changes included a move away from grid format. It also
updated facilities (including ADA compliance) and topics. The
introduction includes new terms. It has been approved by MARS
Publications committee.
DOCUMENT APPROVED BY MARS EX COMM
Will go to RASD Standards and Guidelines next.
B. Committee Reports
1. Education, Training and Support -- Marcella Stark
The committee would like to sponsor a discussion forum at
midwinter surrounding the assessment log. This could perhaps
be done in conjunction with Managers in Mars or Hot Topics.
The committee is also considering a joint discussion forum
with ACRL/STS on Internet search engines. How are they
constructed? What are we getting when we search? Some
producers of these engines will be exhibiting at midwinter
--will ask them to join the discussion. Suggestion was made
that the committee put together some handouts for the forum.
Committee is considering going back to a long range project.
Perhaps the topic of designing web servers. They will examine
and decide on proceeding at midwinter.
2. RASD Legislation -- Patty Ianuzzi
Legislative Update
The Pass-a-Buck campaign supports LSTA (which replaced
LSCA), Higher Education Act, and School Library Resources
program. Postcards are available to send to your represent-
ative. It is good if you can include local examples of how
federal money is impacting locally.
NEH and NEA are being undercut.
A legislative report of the ALA Washington Office is
available.
Fair Use in the Electronic Age is an ALA document that
states what libraries and library coalitions want. It is
council document 20.10
The Conference on Fair Use is where the above document
came from. It included several library coalitions. An NII Net
group in LITA is working with the ALA Washington Office to
educate the grassroots of ALA on this issue.
The status of the "green paper" has improved somewhat. Some
changes have been made to it.
There are two lawsuits pending concerning electronic records
of govt. information. The Clinton administration wants to
exempt the National Security Archives from the Freedom of
Information Act. Bush is trying to keep the electronic records
from his administration himself.
ALA has asked for libraries to be included in the Post Office
Kiosk program, in particular to include Federal Depository
Libraries.
GPO budget has been cut in half (passed in House, not yet
in Senate). The restructuring efforts are looking to privatize
parts and move some work to the Library of Congress.
Discussion took place on the growth of Thomas, how it
competes with and compliments GPO Access and how it
is being built. Some of the information surrounding this
is still sensitive, but it was suggested that a brief article
in RASD Update would be helpful. Another suggestion was
to have a joint discussion at midwinter with GODORT and Hot
Topics on the issue.
LSTA -- libraries are hoping for the Senate version to pass.
The FCC is supporting an NII initiative to connect schools and
libraries.
Concerning telecommunications, the Snow-Rockefeller
Amendment is requesting discounts for K-12, libraries, and
rural health communities.
There is a new amendment to the Communications Decency
Act.
3. Publications -- Pat Hawthorne
The MARS brochure handed out at the RASD booth was
quick and dirty. RASD will redo it. It needs to contain
information on MARS-L.
RASD Publications has approved an new RASD publication
proposal form. It would benefit MARS to use that also. This
will go into the revised MARS handbook.
Connie Van Fleet (co editor of RQ) suggested that RASD Update
might be a quicker way for the LSS committee to publish and
get feedback on the article about their home page. LSS will
need to consider if Update or RQ is most appropriate.
The committee will be compiling a bibliography of all MARS
publications and posting on the ALA gopher and in Update
in time for the 20th anniversary of MARS.
The electronic publishing statement still needs to go to
RASD Board.
A document called ALA Editions and You includes issues
that affect the divisions. RASD does self publish, so we may
not be affected. The statement calls for any publication to
make $30,000 in the first year. Peggy will ask at RASD
Board if we are affected by this.
ALA is considering setting up lists for any committee that
wants one.
4. Hot Topics --Lyman Ross
The topic on Monday was "Virtual Collection or Virtual Mess?"
About 20 people attended this lively discussion which focused
on how to integrate electronic materials. There were several
library directors present. There were some questions about
security. There were many problems expressed for those
having to work in a consortia. Also, contractual problems
were discussed.
A suggestion was made for the committee to follow up on
this topic, perhaps with a vendor take. Products and Services
Committee or User Access to Services might possibly team up
with them.
5. Management -- Laine Farley
Only 2 members of the committee showed up. Janice will
do an e-mail follow up. They discussed follow up of the
checklist, but have not defined a new project yet.
6. 1996 Program -- Laine Farley
The topic and $300 funding were approved. The working
title is: "Distance Education Needs: Designing and
Implementing Reference Services." The topic will include
addressing traditional reference services, not just library
instruction.
MOTION
Peggy Seiden moved that MARS should look for co-sponsor-
ship when and where appropriate for the main MARS program.
This is in keeping with the new ALA spirit of cooperation.
The motion was seconded.
MOTION PASSED
The 1996 program committee will seek cosponsorship with
ACRL Extended Campus Services (?). A listserv for the
program committee will be started.
7. User Access to Services -- Lise Dyckman
Committee discussed issues concerning video, e-mail, and
remote reference. Considering a discussion forum at
annual, perhaps immediately following the MARS Program.
Another issue of interest to the committee was the decision
a library make to create it's own interface. Why would they?
What would be involved?
Discussion at Ex Comm then took place on users designing
their own access to library resources.
8. Public Libraries -- Lori Morse
The open discussion was small but lively. They are now
looking at a discussion for next annual, but have not yet
determined a topic.
D. Section Representatives
1. Organization -- Elliot Kanter
Did not attend meeting as there was no new business
being discussed.
2. Planning and Finance -- Louis Drummond
The committee briefly looked at an old planning document.
The MARS planning document was of great interest to the
group. MARS is leading the way in planning.
3. Standards and Guidelines -- Peggy Seiden
They will be dealing with the Education, Training and
Support document.
4. RASD Conference
An RASD conference is being considered for 1998. They
are looking into the possibility of working jointly with
ALCTS. Peggy will report back from Board on how plans
proceed.
E. 1996 Preconference -- Elliot Kanter
Concern was raised about the timing of the preconference
as it would be just after the 4th of July. Perhaps there could
be a post-conference instead. Peggy will ask at RASD Board
if this is ok. Another possibility would be to make it a pre-
conference before Midwinter 1997.
F. Report of ALA Council II meeting -- Nancy Bodner
The bottom line of the discussion on ALA reorganization is
that it will be brought to a task force. Many of the same
concerns were raised there as were raised in MARS Ex Comm.
By 1996 additional discussion and information will be
shared with the membership. By 1997 a vote could be taken.
There was feeling that support of ALA 2000 shows that
membership is in support of some of the current ideals.
Council accepted document for consideration but did
not accept the concepts of the document.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30.