Minutes:
8/24/00
9/14/00
9/28/00
10/19/00
11/02/00
11/16/00
12/07/00
12/21/00
1/11/01
2/15/01
3/01/01
8/07/01
9/20/01
12/06/01
Annual Reports:
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MIT Libraries Undergraduate User Group
Undergraduate User Group minutes: 12/21/00
Present: N. David-Millis, M. de Popolo (minutes), T. Gabridge, C. Sherratt, S. Wenzel
1. Meeting will be on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 11:30-12:30 in Spring term.2. We discussed the question of Open Library Hours, referred to our committee from PSMC. The group had earlier agreed that a survey of undergraduates on the question of hours alone would not be a reasonable way to proceed. Focus groups might be a better approach. De Popolo suggested that we might be able to gather information from undergraduates in their residences, if we continue on our visits to residences or were to participate in some of the "stochastic dinners" that Dean Redwine and Dean Benedict described in a recent meeting of Library Council. We also have hours information from earlier surveys of undergraduates to draw upon. Wenzel mentioned the increasing amount of electronic information available through the libraries, and how that might affect study habits. Sherratt talked about the impact of digital reference on open hours.
It was decided that we prepare a Talking Points paper for Ginny summarizing what we know about hours. It might include: electronic reserves; 24-hour access to online resources; comparisons of our open hours with those of ARL libraries; benchmarking open hours with other universities in urban locations; the 24-hour study facility planned for an expansion and renovation of building 14; and the impact of digital reference (also what hours that should most desirably run; 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. was reported by Dean Redwine as the students' most intensive study period outside of classes). It was felt that reference librarians would be a source of information about students' habits of study; we could also see if any data exists about the timing of AskUs! questions. De Popolo agreed to draft an outline.
3. We discussed the web page for undergraduates drafted by Gabridge and Wenzel. The co-authors agreed to do a pared down version that might be easier to maintain (balancing educational entertainment and maintenance being critical). Gabridge will draft a few of the new pages needed, to see how much time is involved.
Next meeting: January 4th (note: may be January 11th)
Agenda: Outline for Hours paper; next draft of Ugrad web page