CSU PHAROS ICS Task Force Meeting
Meeting Report
20 June 2000, CSU Chancellor's Office

Present: Jo Ann Bradley; Lore Gravino; Elizabeth Housewright; Rhonda Rios Kravitz; Pat Lavigna; Kelley Martin; Kathleen Messer (Chair); Marvin Pollard; Deborah Schaeffer; Harold Schleifer.

  1. RSS 3.1 Software Development Update


    2. Marvin and Kathleen met remotely with John Bodfish and Brian Ingerson of Epixtech and Brian Moore of San Diego State to develop a process for RSS to interface with III libraries ( Enhancement # 82) to create a temporary bibliographic record from a RSS request.  The process creates a bib record, attaches an item to this record, and then places the item on  hold for the requesting patron, who would be notified automatically. Contrary to an earlier plan, URSA is not being used for this proces. Instead Mushroom technology isbeing used. 

    This interface will be for Innovative libraries initially, of which CSU has 12. A similar interface will then be created for the non Innovative campuses (5 GEAC; 2 Endeavor; and 3 Horizon). There will be variations from campus to campus. San Diego State will be the test case. It is anticipated that by the end of June, III will interface with RSS.

    Kelley suggested that this project (E82) described above be an ongoing concurrent project with the Task Force. We do not want to hold up the pilot implementation. She also reported that OCLC interoperability and statistics are still in a development and testing phase.
     

  2. Enhancement Committee


    3. Kelley reported that the Committee is still working with Beta software. The June 6 version of RSS 3.1 has not  been fully tested but it is delivered and ready to be tested for partial implementation as a pilot test. The Committee has identified 109 bugs. Many of these bugs have been fixed and not all are critical to a partial implementation. The enhancement list was reviewed item by item, including partial enhancements for the pilot.

    The Bug Report Summary sheet was distributed and discussed. There is a need to set up guidelines for each campus to test RSS. It was also suggested that a separate email address be established at each campus for testing the system functions.

    Concern was expressed on the delay of implementing the Task Force's suggestions on the ICS forms submitted to the User Interface Task Force more than 18 months ago. Marvin will follow up on this topic.
     

  3. Pre-Pilot Preparations


    4. Jo Ann passed out the updated timeline.  There will be a need for at least 3 weeks of testing/using the RSS for the 9 pilot sites. Then a one month break to allow for a ILL Unit Head's meeting to introduce RSS and get details ready for implementation by the other CSU libraries. Kathleen reminded us that the Task Force focus should be on implementation rather than development of the product. Marvin announced to the group that Pharos and the CSU Union catalog will be up in September 2000.

    It was decided to pilot test RSS when its general release software. The Task Force agreed that the Pilot Test is not intended to be an extended test of the Beta software.  Marvin reported that epixtech has re-scheduled delivery of the production version of RSS 3.11 for August 2000.

    A Pilot Subcommittee was formed with Jo Ann serving as the liaison from the Enhancement Committee. Other members are Rhonda and Lore. Training is a big issue in the pilot. We really need two types of training: 1, beginners and 2, trainers wanting training. The group needs to find dates for training  that  fit the Task Force member's schedules. It was suggested that we consider creating a pre-meeting web tutorial, so no one comes cold and has an idea what RSS is all about.

    Kelley passed out the Task Force’s recommendations for levels of participation for a partial implementation of RSS and the suggested levels of commitment from the Task Force members and their roles in the pilot testing. These need to be verified and supported by each campus’ university librarian before proceeding. The Pilot Subcommittee will contact the ULs.
     

  4. Future Meetings


    5. It was agreed to meet by Conference Call on Thursday, 20 July, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. as a follow-up from the Enhancement Committee and the Pilot Subcommittee.

     
    The Task Force set up two possible dates for meeting in-person at the Chancellor's office ­ Friday, 18 August, or Friday, 22 September.
Submitted by Deborah Schaeffer