LISC MeetingFebruary 3, 2014
2013-14 Council on Libraries, Information Systems and Computing (LISC)
Minutes
February 3, 2014
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
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Attendance: Elizabeth Gaffney, Chair; Debra Dickerson; Mary Casserly; John Delano; Dave Mamorella; Nancy Poehlmann; Christine Haile; Gary Rainstrom; Evgeny Dikarev
Elizabeth welcomed Gary Rainstrom, LISC’s new graduate student member.
- Approval of Minutes
The November 25, 2013minutes were unanimously approved.
2. Committee Reports
Library Committee – The committee met on December 18, 2013. John Delano, Chair, will give a full report at the next LISC meeting scheduled for March 3, 2014.
IT Committee – Elizabeth reported that Eliot Rich is officially the Chair of the IT Committee.
3. Report from Dean of Libraries – Mary Casserly
Special Collections receives grant from CLIR
Special Collections has received an $119,000 grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) to support its project entitled Building New Access Tools for the National Death Penalty Archives. These funds will make it possible for the Libraries to hire a full-time project archivist for two years.
Associate Director for Public Services
This position has been vacant since this summer when Mary Jane Brustman retired. The search for Mary’s replacement has been successful. The position has been offered to Debora Cheney from Penn State, and she has accepted. Debora’s target start date is April 1st.
Facilities
We have been told by Campus Facilities that there is money to fund the first phase or the pre-first phase of the renovations of the University Library. This is the addition of data, electrical, lights and wireless, as well as new front doors. Campus Facilities personnel will be doing the work, and are targeted to begin after the spring semester.
4.Report from CIO– Christine Haile
ITS has completed wireless upgrades/additions to the following areas: Campus Center Ballroom; Assembly Hall; Library Basement; Computer Science Area; Empire Commons; Alumni House. The cabling has been started in the University Administration Building. There is a possibility that ITS will do a couple classrooms contingent on funding left over from a specific legislative member item for classroom spaces. Looking at whether this money could be used for the interior lecture center areas where there is the most demand. These upgrades/additions should reduce the amount of congestion at the peak times, which is 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ITS uses heat maps which enables them to see which access points get the most utilization, and at what times, and also helps forecast capacity and expansion. Chris offered to distribute an example of a current “heat map” to the Committee. Also, over intersession, ITS completed the rest of the Business Building’s technology needs.
ITS hasalso extended the wired security safeguards to faculty and staff wireless traffic. This was accomplished by segregating faculty/staff traffic from student wireless traffic. Previously, ITS had not subjected wireless traffic to the same security controls that wired traffic enjoyed. In recognition of the fact that more faculty and staff are using wireless services, ITS has created specific wireless subnets that faculty/staff are assigned to that are subject to the same security controls that wired traffic is subject to.
Chris sought to clarify the perception that ITS limits enrollments in online courses to 20 students. When faculty teach online for the first time, ITS recommends not having more than 20-25 students in the section. This is to foster a positive learning environment for faculty and students, and is based on years of experience and research. Many UA faculty that have taught online now have sections exceeding 25 students. ITS provides consultation, course development and support for faculty teaching online.
Data Center Project is on schedule. The construction should wrap up within two weeks, with two months of commissioning, i.e., testing, cleaning. The target date for turning over the building to the campus is April 17, 2014. The migration is scheduled to take place between commencement and July.
5. Suggestions for Future agenda Items
a. Chris agreed to invite Client Support Services to do a demo on BlackBoard for a future meeting.
b. Mary Casserly will give an update on the Institutional Repository.
6.Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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