Information Services Advisory Group

Our Mission:
The Information Services Advisory Group is charged to advise the University Librarian and the Library Management Council on issues regarding library information services. The group will stay informed on developments in reference services and Internet issues, will share ideas and develop solutions for information service issues. The group will develop electronic information interfaces for the library. We will focus on issues of Web design, search and retrieval issues, and will organize the presentation and structure of information within the library's information resources. The group values the public services perspective.

• Marshall Breeding, Office of the University Librarian
• Melinda Brown, Central Library
• David Carpenter, Central Library
• Dennis Clark, Music Library--Chair
• Jon Erickson, Science & Engineering Library
• Gayle Grantham, Biomedical Library
• Jodie Gambill, Special Collections
• Janet Hirt, Law Library
• Amy Limpitlaw, Divinity Library
• Dale Poulter, Library Technology
• Chris Benda, Peabody Library
• Amia Baker, Management Library
• Pete Wilson, Resource Services

Meeting time:

First Wednesday of each month, 2:30 – 4:00 PM, Central Classroom unless otherwise announced.
2002-2003 dates: July 11 (note change from pattern), August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6, December 4, January 8 (note change from pattern), February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4.

For 2002-2003 the three subcommittees established in 2000-2001, all of which include participants from outside the ISAG membership, continue their activities:

• Web-based instructional support
• Cooperative and virtual reference services
• ACORN and virtual catalog development

The group publishes its minutes and its summary reports.

The group maintains a combined Reference Service Hours webpage.

ISAG advises the Web Task Force on Web developments as requested. ISAG has agreed to contribute "HOW DO I?" items for the Library's home page. Future How Do I suggestions are made by the public.

ISAG conducts Quick Surveys periodically on ACORN.
ISAG conducted an ACORN User Survey during November 1999 and February 2000. The survey form collected data automatically. In December, staff were invited to take the same survey. The report from the task force was completed in April 2000.

ISAG studied search interfaces, including Project Galileo, Ovid Technologies, WebCat, SilverPlatter WebSPIRS, and others. The committee developed a set of Interface Guidelines that describes desirable characteristics of the library's search and retrieval interfaces.

ISAG developed a set of guidelines for library web pages.