Announcements:
- Opening discussion about how cool the new Safari test drive with the library is. All seemed very excited about the possibilities. Questions about the ability to print chapters.
- Sony ebook reader - neat idea but DRM makes it barely usable
- First ever ITCH Buzzword Bing game was held during this meeting. Thank you Jonathan!
1. Library Computing Resources - Lee Lyttle
Library technology group has focused on:
- the use of technology in the library
- the library as a sense of place
- classroom teaching space in the library 200-300 workshops per year
- main floor - shared classroom w/ LRC
- 3rd floor classroom - will be adding more technology to
- basement space is ready for technology (power/ethernet)
Envisioning the library basement teaching space:
Library currently has potential donors, we want to think broadly about how a new teaching area and envision a space that supports more interactivity between people and technology and human contact. Reference Educause "Interactive Age" article. Maintenance costs are an issue that must be addressed.
Lee wants to be able to have a vision statement to present to donors. We need to be flexible so that are needs can meet the donor's needs.
Discussion:
- What about thinking about spreading technology throughout the Library vs. concentrating in a "hidden" basement lab? (Erik)
- Electronic communication will never be as effective as face-to-face. How we can invest in technololgies that will fill in the gaps where face-to-face isn't possible. (i.e., reservation program, tacoma, time-shifting) (Thad)
- Accessibility issues - how can we make lecturers be heard? we used to have mics in the lecture halls, these don't work that well as well.
- Evergreen is not centralized - we need to discuss teaching/technology needs with our constituents (library staff, faculty and students) then bring new ideas to the ITCH to share/coordinate
- How do we get input from people who aren't already our constituents to make sure they aren't further marginalized? (Rip)
- If we truly want to experiment - what about mobile classrooms - laptops on a cart.
Next Steps:
Library tech group will continue to work on this - and of course vet with community.
2. Core ITCH update - Aaron
Will recommend that the CMS position is funded for 6 more months.
Next steps: how can we better manage the ITCH's process of reccomending this fund? A page in the ITCH site will be created and where people can put their idea. It would be great if the proponent of each idea were linked to the IT strategic plan.
3. IT peer review - Aaron
- Aaron summarized the discussion that happened at the Core re: the IT peer review. See ITCH Core mtg. minutes [0] for details.
- Dave M. is interested in student prespective on poor wireless coverage. Is this still an issue given the recent wireless deployments. This topic digressed into...
- Cell phone coverage on campus. Most agreed that this is not a technological issue but a social and political issue.
- Expressive Arts faculty will be writing a response letter to Aaron and Don Bantz - in particular around faculty training and classroom technology infrastructure for arts faculty.
4. New Media Center update (Peter)
Academics will fund design. Peter wants to bring the design of the center to ITCH members for input.
5. Media equipment fund - Peter
The process has begun for prioritization - need to do consultancy across groups for input.