ILS Evaluation Lead Workgroup Minutes

May 1, 2024, 11:30 am

Zoom

Action Items:

None

Present: Nicole Menzel (ROM), Debbie Bird (POR), Suzann Holland (MRO), Eddie Glade (STP), Emily Whitmore (SGR), Katherine Elchert (MCM), Heidi Cox (MCF), Nate Snortum (DCL), Theresa Skov (VER), Margie Navarre Saaf (MAD), Molly Warren (MAD), Tom Campbell (MAD)

Absent: Phil Hansen (FCH)

Excused: None

Recorder: Michelle Karls (SCLS)

SCLS Staff Present: Amy Gannaway, Heidi Oliversen, Vicki Teal Lovely

1. Call to Order at 11:31 am

a. Introduction of guests/visitors

i. None.

b. Changes/Additions to the Agenda

i. None.

2. Approval of previous meeting minutes: April 10, 2024

a. Motion: T. Campbell moved approval of the April meeting minutes.  K. Elchert seconded.

b. Discussion: none.

c. Vote: motion carried.

3. Action Items

a. None

4. Discussion

a. Upcoming events

i. Vendor demos

1. Discussion: The vendor demos are starting next week with SirsiDynix on May 8-9.  Registration for all of the demos closes on Friday, May 3.  The checklists are posted.  We will send out confirmations/instructions on Monday to all participants.  Each vendor will have a different deadline for the checklists so you do not have to complete them during the demos.  You can go back in and edit what you submit as well.   

b. Options for site visits

i. Discussion: We touched on this last time.  A. Gannaway started looking at what may be available for site visits.  For Polaris Leap, it looks like Beaver Dam Public Library could be an option.  We are less confident that we will be able to find libraries in WI actually using BlueCloud.  We’ll expand and look into libraries in Illinois.   

c. Questions

i. Discussion: H. Cox asked what ILS’s were looked at during PLA?  She was reading a systems report in American libraries and was curious about OCLC’s.  It looks interesting on the surface.  There was a ton of discussion about AI with Academic libraries as well.  Could we talk to vendors about using AI or how it can be turned off if we don’t want to use it?  A. Gannaway reported that our experience with OCLC is their products don’t have the circulation functionality we need.  We could look at it more at ALA and keep an eye on it for the future.  At PLA, we just met with Polaris and SirsiDynix and looked at a few discovery layers.  Participants can ask the vendors at the demos about AI, and we could also ask follow-up questions about AI after the demos. 

5. Plan for the Next meeting:  June 5, 2024, at 11:30 am at SCLS Headquarters or via Zoom

6. Adjournment at 11:46 am

For more information about the ILS Evaluation Lead Workgroup, contact Vicki Teal Lovely.

SCLS staff are available to attend cluster meetings to share information and answer questions pertaining to this committee meeting and other departmental projects.

ILS Evaluation Lead Workgroup/Minutes/05-2024