Meeting Minutes - January 26th

Welcome

Follow-Up from previous meeting

Signage - Signage indicating cell phone use has been distributed throughout the library.  It is especially prevalent in the silent study areas in TML.

Renovation Updates - The Multimedia Collaboration Room space in the basement will start construction in February.  This renovation is supposed to continue for six weeks, hopefully completed mid-March.

Extended Hours Pilot Numbers - The number of people who used the library during the extended hours period nearly doubled from the previous year during the same time.  Due to these numbers, we will continue extended hours during finals in the spring.

Open Discussion

STF Funds - Our guest, Shannon Jones, introduced how the library uses Student Technology Funds to enhance the technology at the library.  Previous funds has helped the library update computers, purchase digital media equipment and enhance collaborative spaces.  Some suggestions submitted were presentation recording systems, more electrical outlet extensions, and Apple desktop computers.  Please continue to think about technology which could enhance your experience here at the library.  Either submitted to the blog or email Emily. 

Quick Search - Our second guest, Erin White, demonstrated the features of the VCU Libraries new search tool Quick Search.  This is tool which can be used to find books, journals, articles, etc from one source.  Feedback on this tool has been positive but librarians caution that this tool is not as precise as a subject specific database like PubMed or LexisNexis.  This can be a great place to start your research to see what materials are available.

TML Website - Erin brought a card sort activity to organize the links available on the TML Website.  Participants organized the links into categories and labeled that category with what they thought was a recognizable label.  Please see the attached image.  Another activity involved marking up the TML Website with hearts, x's, and question marks.  This will help in future redesign projects to allow the designers know what is important to students when using the TML Website.

Request for More Feedback - Emily has been accepted to present a poster on the creation and initiation of the Tompkins-McCaw Library Graduate Student Advisory Committee at the Medical Library Association Annual Meeting.  She will be soliciting more feedback from you to create this poster and improve programming for TMLGAC.   

Submitted: Friday, February 3, 2012

Next Meeting: February 16th, 2012 - First Floor Conference Room - Tompkins-McCaw Library