Meeting
Chemistry DNC Project - Meeting at Hargrave Library, Monash University on August 9, 1995
Present:
- Cliff Law, Director, NLA/DNC Office
- Marta Chiba, Hargrave Librarian, Monash University - Chemistry DNC Convenor/Coordinator
- Robert Stafford, Collection Management Librarian, Monash University
The purpose of the meeting was to explore an effective approach to the project, that would lead to participation to include all institutions with significant holdings in Chemistry and a useful outcome for clients and libraries.
Notes based on the informal Agenda for the meeting:
1. CAUL Chemistry Conspectus/DNC Project - background and progress to date.
- Late 1994 - Monash Univeristy Library offers to coordinate CAUL DNC Projects in Chemistry and Mathematics.
- February 1995 - Marta Chiba advised of acceptance by CAUL to coordinate projects in Mathematics and Chemistry.
- April 1995 - Preliminary survey by Marta Chiba of collection strengths in the two subjects (source: Directory of Australian Academic and Research Libraries and others).
- May 1995 - Informal telephone discussion with some academic and CSIRO libraries re willingness to participate and expected benefits from a DNC Chemistry Project. (VU; N UNE; SU; CSIRO) (Marta C)
- June 6-July 27 - Marta C overseas - no action.
- July/Aug - DNC Chemistry listing supplied by the NLA/DNC Office - line by line analysis of holdings. (Marta C)
- Aug 1995 - Meeting for preliminary discussion on strategy, method and expected outcome. Meeting at Hargrave Library, Monash University.
2. Royal Australian Chemical Institute. RACI Serials Project
(Source: Prof Graeme George QUT).
Aim: "Australian chemists to be able to pursue research at an international level, and have ready access to current information at a time, when the cost of serials has escalated beyond the capacity of any individual library to maintain a comprehensive research collection".
- RACI interested in DNC based listing of holdings of chemistry serials which may lead to regional and national cooperation between libraries and effective access to current chemistry serials.
- Correspondence between Prof G Deacon, Prof G George and M Chiba regarding approach to project, state of current holdings in chemistry etc.
- RACI/Prof Graeme George questionnaire to Academic Libraries re collection strengths, current holdings, expenditure on chemistry serials, etc.
- August '95 Prof Graeme George to Marta Chiba "17 universities
responded to the questionnaire. All supportive of some type of chemistry DNC
project at least for serials.
- Uncertainty on how to cooperate.
- Need information regarding mode of access.
3. RACI Serials and CAUL Chemistry DNC Project
- Need visible benefits to library clients, do it for pragmatic rather than political reasons. Improve quality of library support in Australian libraries on a cost-effective basis, provision of guaranteed client access to chemistry serials.
- Expected outcome.
- Project to be driven by a Taskforce representing clients and libraries with significant research collections in chemistry.
- Libraries with Level 4 collections to serve as regional centres for
document delivery? - Regional cooperation between libraries.
- Agreed collection goals
- Guaranteed timely access to collections.
- Collection level agreements for specific areas? For how long (3 years?) to allow for forward planning in case of change of research interest etc.
4. Methodology
Quantitative Analysis.
- Cost-effective use of data in OPAC and automated library systems.
- Expenditure on acquisition and collection goals.
- Tools and the need to standandize findings.
Qualitative assessment of collections.
- By academic/research staff and subject specialist librarians.
5. Training.
Via Listserve followed up by formal training if required (Marta C can do it, provided costs are met. She did the methodology training for chemistry for the Victorian ACLIS Chemistry DNC Project).
6. Some Expected Outcomes
- Research collections identified and evaluated.
- Clients benefit by effective, timely, guaranteed access to chemistry serials and to chemistry research collections.
- Mode of delivery - electronic/fax etc. (Be guided by client need and cost considerations).
- Explore feasibility of Level 3 collections (at least at the line level) to be raised to Level 4. Where collection level is less than 3 rely on overseas document delivery services? (Probably more cost-effective).
- Formation of Consortia at regional level, regional and national cooperation between libraries.
Issues
- How to deal with electronic access to chemistry information.
- Information sources in chemistry irrespective of format and medium.
- Funding assistance for coordination of chemistry DNC project including training.
- Role of RACI, NLA/DNC Office, Taskforce and participating institutions.
Action Plan
- Chemistry DNC Project to be driven by a small dedicated group of stakeholders including RACI.
- Have a general agreement on expected benefits including proposal for regional and national cooperation for the benefit of clients.
- Action plan and agreement between partners through wide discussions between stake holders on mode of delivery and other issues.
- Marta Chiba to contact Gaynor Austen, QUT University Librarian and Prof Graeme George regarding topics and issues covered in this discussion also provide information on Level 4 chemistry collections reported in the DNC database to date.
Marta Chiba.
Last updated 7 February 1996.
