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Discovery and Access Steering Team

 

Background

With the implementation of LionSearch (Summon) in August 2011, both the Next-Generation Interface Team and the Summon Implementation Task Force have completed major portions of their charges and have been decommissioned. Ongoing coordination and oversight of LionSearch, The CAT, and other discovery and search tools will become the responsibility of the Discovery and Access Team. The Team will work closely with Web Steering, Sirsi Steer, the CMS Team, the Content Stewardship Council, Web Tools Working Group, and the Libraries’ Usability Expert Team to ensure a cohesive and integrated search experience across all of the Libraries’ discovery products.

 

Charge

The Discovery and Access Steering Team will provide leadership in managing, maintaining, and enhancing the Libraries’ discovery tools to ensure an engaging and user-centered search and discovery experience.

  1. Operational Issues - Make decisions regarding the implementation of new features and functionality and new releases. Work towards interoperability between systems and how a change in one system affects other systems; update online help; determine policy, navigation and display changes. Draft and recommend applicable policies for integrating new resources into new and existing discovery systems.

  2. System Interface Issues - Collaborate with the Web Steering Committee, Sirsi Steer, Web Heads, and others as appropriate on interface issues. Coordinate common look and feel, and ensure consistent branding and user experience across interfaces where possible. Conduct ongoing usability studies and use results to make system changes that reflect the way Library patrons use Library systems. Ensure all systems are optimized for mobile platforms.

  3. Collections/Content - Continue to review collections and how they are made available. Prioritize the integration of collections into Libraries’ discovery systems to ensure their searchability and findability.

  4. Databases and eJournals - Continue ongoing review of online access to subscription content to ensure multiple and effective methods of access, depending on user need. Provide the most direct user access from discovery to full text of the desired resource.

  5. Assessment - Develop methods of regular assessment to determine effectiveness of resource discovery and user experience. Report regularly on the impact of multiple Libraries’ discovery systems on the findability and usage of our Libraries’ resources. Determine appropriate vehicles for user feedback for all systems, coordinate response to user feedback and integrate feedback into the assessment process.

  6. Accessibility - Work with the Libraries’ web accessibility liaison to ensure that all discovery tools are accessible and compliant.

  7. Communications - Develop ongoing communications with the Libraries’ faculty, staff and patrons regarding changes, enhancements and upgrades of Library discovery systems. Develop and encourage a means for receiving suggestions and enhancements of Library discovery systems.

  8. Reporting - Provide ITCC with a monthly activity/project status report, including a list of completed projects, status of current projects and potential future projects.
 

Membership

Co-Chairs: Binky Lush and Emily Rimland

Discovery and Access Steering Team Members
Name
 Area Represented
 Responsibility
Emily Rimland Library Learning Services
 Provide undergraduate perspective, insight on how undergraduate users search, instruction, communication, experience with one-on-one assistance with a broad range of students, reference and integration of Refworks, Endnote and other citation managers.
Becky Albitz eResources Group Provide expertise in subscription resources
Linda Klimczyk Local Collections Provide expertise in harvesting of local collections and metadata.
Jade Atwill Reference, Collections and Research
 Provide user perspective, marketing and communication to other subject librarians, subject expertise, training for subject libraries, communication with faculty outside of the Libraries.
TBD Knowledge Commons
 Provide front-line user perspective, interface with public and access services
Jason Reuscher Campus Libraries Represent campus interests, unique issues and circumstances of the Commonwealth Campus Libraries, provide campus communication.
John Attig Technical Services Provide expertise and oversight in cataloging, MARC formats, and mapping data.
Binky Lush I-Tech Provide project oversight, project leadership, integration with the Libraries’ Web site, coordination with Web Steer and Sirsi Steer.
Laura Ax-Fultz Dickinson School of Law Library Represent Dickinson's unique interests and issues in patron search and access to unique materials
David Brennan Hershey College of Medicine Library Represent Hershey's unique interests and issues in patron search and access to unique materials
Maryam Kutchemeshgi, Ex Officio
 I-Tech Online catalog expertise, eResources API expertise, development assistance.
Adam Yocum, Ex Officio
 I-Tech Provide perspective on discovery systems integration and perspective on new and different ways of providing resources to library users.
Sandy Confer
 Administrative Support
  
 

Terms of Appointment

The term of appointment will be for one year, ending March 1, 2013.

 

Reporting Structure

The Team will report to ITCC through Dace Freivalds, head of I-Tech. Binky Lush will represent the team on Sirsi Steer, Web Steering and Web Heads. Emily Rimalnd will represent the team on Web Tools

 

Sponsors

Dace Freivalds
Lisa German