See E-mail from Wednesday April 14, 2010 4:36:35 pm sent to lib-all – http://libarchi.library.ubc.ca/showmail.php?msgid=97828

Hello Everyone,

I am writing on behalf of Lea Starr to send the sincere thanks of LOMG
members to all the members, past and present, of the Reference &
Instruction Committee (RIC) for their hard work and dedication to the
RIC mandate.

Over the years RIC members have provided leadership and vision on the
development and implementation of Library reference and instruction
service, determined how to best incorporate current trends and best
practices in the development of new services, initiated discussion and
collaboration between the Library and the broader academic community
around reference and instruction, and integrating information literacy
across the University’s programmes and academic curricula.

Having fulfilled the terms of its mandate, the Reference and Instruction
Committee has been disbanded and will be superceded by the Teaching and
Learning Advisory Committee. Lea Starr, Trish Rosseel and Julie Mitchell
are co-ordinating the establishment of the Teaching and Learning
Committee. Trish e-mailed lib-all on April 1st with the Terms of
Reference for the new committee and a call for volunteers – please see
the link below on the Library staff site for full information:

https://staffinfo.library.ubc.ca/committees/public/

[From February 24, 2009 Minutes]

Change of process for approving minutes – to ensure that minutes are distributed to lib-all promptly; the recorder was asked to send out the minutes to RIC and invited guests within 3 days after meeting, giving members and guests 1 week to respond with revisions. Revisions to the minutes will be highlighted, and the minutes will be resent to the group within the next 3 days. The chair(s) will send the revised minutes to lib-all, subsequent to revisions being accepted. Current procedures are documented but not always followed through. It was agreed that the recorder be responsible for keeping track of revision dates in a timely manner. New members to RIC will be apprised of procedures, upon accepting membership.

[For roster, see http://blogs.ubc.ca/ubcric/category/meeting-dates/]

Mandate:

Leadership. The Committee provides leadership and vision based on frontline reference experience in the development and implementation of a coherent Library reference and instruction service in support of the University’s and Library’s strategic goals and objectives.

Research and Resources. The Committee monitors current trends and best practice in reference and instruction and determines how to best incorporate these trends and practices in the development of new services and improvement of current services.

Community and Collaboration. The Committee initiates discussion and encourages collaboration between the Library and the broader academic community around issues and projects related to reference and instruction.

Information Literacy. The Committee plays an active role in furthering the Library’s goals in integrating information literacy across the University’s programmes and academic curricula.

Reports to: Public Services Heads (PSH) Committee through Associate University Librarian

Membership: One representative (a librarian or a term librarian, part-time or full-time) from each of the reference/teaching units across the Library will be appointed by the branch head. One member of Information Systems and Technology, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, and the library at UBC Okanagan will also be represented. Members appointed/elected for 2 year staggered terms. Half turn over after 1 year. Chair elected from membership for a 2 year period.
The Committee will also form working groups around projects and initiatives. Working groups would be populated by members of RIC and other librarians including those with term appointments.

Roles and Responsibilities:

A. Leadership:
The Committee provides leadership and vision based on frontline reference experience in the development and implementation of a coherent Library reference and instruction service in support of the University’s and Library’s strategic goals and objectives.

Examples might include:
a. Recognizing the contributions of library staff at all levels, RIC will facilitate dialogue on Reference and Instruction issues.
i. Arrange library-wide forums to discuss reference and instruction issues and best practices. Forum topics could include the role of UBC Library in TREK 2010, website and subject guide redevelopment, best practices, etc.

b. Identify professional development opportunities and instructional support.
i. grant proposal writing workshops;
ii. ARL and ACRL webcasts;
iii. BCLA’s Education Partnership webcasts;
iv. ACRL’s Immersion Programs, a four-and-a-half day intensive workshop for libraries that would like to implement an information literacy program at their institution;
v. Host or sponsor teaching revitalization workshops similar to TAG.

c. Preparing a discussion paper on the changing role of reference with a proposal to publish and/or present at a library conference.

d. Fostering collaboration and innovation in reference and instruction initiatives and projects at UBC and beyond.
i. Conference proposals in reference and instruction.

e. Assessing reference and instruction activities being offered by UBC Library staff and identifying possibilities for coordination resulting in increased effectiveness.

B. Research and Resources
The Committee monitors current trends and best practice in reference and instruction and determines how to best incorporate these trends and practices in the development of new services and improvement of current services.

Examples might include:
a. Determining the needs of our user community (faculty, students) via surveys and other tools to elicit feedback on library issues.

b. Investigating emerging technologies and recommending implementation where and when appropriate.
i. IM and virtual reference;
ii. Blogs;
iii. Clickers;
iv. Podcasting.

c. Restructuring how reference statistics are taken to better reflect reference services delivered.

d. Integrating current research on the impact of physical and virtual space design, consider website development, subject guide redesign.

C. Community and Collaboration:
The Committee initiates discussion and encourages collaboration between the Library and the broader academic community around issues and projects related to reference and instruction.

Examples might include:
a. RIC will engage the broader UBC community, and based on their feedback, make recommendations to guide LOMG.

b. Act as a resource for academic integrity in collaboration with faculty.

D. Information Literacy:
The Committee plays an active role in furthering the Library’s goals in integrating information literacy across the University’s programmes and academic curricula.

Examples might include:
a. Furthering the library’s goals of integrating Information Literacy across the curriculum.
i. Hold a forum to discuss information literacy goals implicit in Trek 2010;
ii. Identify competencies that are appropriate to academic levels and disciplines;
iii. Operationalize information literacy in conjunction with Teaching and Learning Working Group.

b. Providing resources and support for projects.
i. Learning Commons.

c. Initiate and support TLEF proposals.

For MS Word document, see E-mail from Mon Jan 22 2007 – 10:56:12 PST – http://riondel.library.ubc.ca/maillist/lib-ri-ctee/0701/1668.html

Click here for MS Word Document

Good news!

The vendor DID finally get back to Library Systems regarding their request on behalf of RIC (for 15 Viewlet licenses) and the installs are complete.

Here is a complete list:
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Asian-118 for T. Goto DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Asian-114, Seminar Room DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Asian-101 for E. Yuen DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on BMB-102 for D. Giustini DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Education-109 for L.Dunbar DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Koehss-170 for K. Miller DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Koehss-218 for L. Ure DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Koehss-162 for eHelp GAAs DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Koehss-144 for E. George DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Koehss-165 for H. Colenbr DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Koehss-159 for S. Adam DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Koehss-219 for S. Atkey DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Mcm-102 for D. Wilson DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Mnspc-161 for A. Greenwood DONE
- install 1 copy Viewlet on Music-143 for T. Horner DONE

Hope you’ll all be able to use this new software to make great tutorials. Deb
–
Deborah Wilson
deborah.wilson@ubc.ca
Reference Librarian @MacMillan Library
(Agricultural Sciences & Forestry)
University of British Columbia
2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
tel.604-822-0295
fax.604-822-9544

Subject: Re: Possible agenda item for RIC: Off-campus access to online resources
Creation Date: Friday, October 29, 2004 4:22:36 PM
To: lib-ri-ctee@interchange.ubc.ca
From: Tom Nicol

Hi

Deb Wilson suggested forwarding the following to the group for
you to look over. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
I’m available to attend your November meeting to go over this if
there is interest.

Below is a summary of methods that are available to provide access to
library users off-campus. We would like to encourage the use of VPN
(Vitual Private Network) for the reasons listed. As a first step, we would
like to change our Connect from Home page to reflect this. Our hope is
that by Sept 1/05 most users will be using VPN as their primary method for
accessing Library resources from off-campus.A note about EZProxy staffing: the need for some additional staffing
was recognized early on. Since this wasn’t provided, I assume there
was/is no interest in using EZProxy as our primary mechanism. It is on
this basis that VPN is the recommended approach.

====================

There are three mechanisms in place for providing access to library
resources from off-campus. All work by sending requests to a campus
server which in turn passes them on, thereby appearing to the remote
server to be a request from on-campus.

They will be listed with advantages and disadvantages, followed by staff
support issues and hardware/software requirements:

1) proxy server: this was our first, and is currently our most used
mechanism for providing access. Its use requires a change to web
browser settings to direct all web requests through our server. It
uses barcode/PIN authentication.

Advantages
- relatively simple in concept; proxy server users have “joined”
the campus network.
- remote URLs are unchanged, allowing links to be specified the
same on-campus as off-campus.
- once set up, very little systems and eresource staff time required
for maintenance.

Disadvantages
- user difficulties in configuring web browser
- user unfamiliarity with barcode/PIN
- some users can’t change browser settings (eg. VGH)
- some problems with firewalls and personal security software
- significant staff support throughout the Library
- browser configurations distinct to different browsers and OSs

2) EZProxy: our second mechanism, installed to solve VGH’s policy
preventing browser configuration. It is a rewriting proxy, which means
that all web pages requested and passed back to the requesting browser
have their links rewritten. To limit access to non-eresource sites, all
starting URLs, hosts and domains have to be included in a configuration
file.

Advantages
- ease of use; the first time an EZProxy link is followed the user must
authenticate, but thereafter nothing is required.
- less staff support required.

Disadvantages
- significant technical/eresource support required. All resource URLs and
domains must be in the configuration file. A listserv must be
followed to
correct for errors/configuration changes.
- all eresource URLs must be prefixed with ezproxy server URL;
persistent links
to resources/journals/articles must be constructed
- compute-intensive compared to alternatives
- user unfamiliarity with barcode/PINs
- problems with firewalls and security software due to non-standard ports
- all SFX, Encompass links must be configured to use EZProxy

3) VPN: Virtual Private Network, a service provided by ITServices.
It works using desktop installed software than supports VPN “tunneling”.
A network connection must be configured to make use of the software.
All IP traffic uses VPN, so non-Web software (eg. SciFinder Scholar)
is also supported.

Advantages
- once a network connection is established, the user is essentially
“on campus”
- remote URLs are unchanged, allowing links to be specified the
same on-campus as off-campus.
- no systems and eresource staff time required for support. All support
issues can be referred to ITServices
- CWL used for authentication (i.e. no barcode/PINs)
- no library server required

Disadvantages
- set-up is more difficult than proxy server, particularly for older OSs
- possible problems for institutional users; they may not be able to
create a network connection
- current documentation is inadequate/misleading

Personnel and Computer issues
——————————–

Proxy Server: no additional staff; hardware is probably adequate

EZProxy: my estimate is that one half FTE (technically minded; probably
some BCIT-type training) is required initially; possibly 1/4 FTE after
everything
is set up. A new server is required if all eresource linking goes
through EZProxy.

VPN: no additional staff; no hardware required.

–

Tom Nicol phone: (604) 822-9894
Library Systems Group fax: (604) 822-3201
Library Processing Centre email: tom.nicol@ubc.ca
2206 East Mall
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z3

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Reference and Instruction Committee (NEW)

Chair:
Elected by the committee

Membership:
One representative appointed by the Admin. Group in consultation with the Heads or Supervising Librarians from each of the reference/teaching units across the Library. (The Head or Supervising Librarian may be appointed to serve on this committee.) Initial membership (June 2004):
Sheryl Adam
Lee Ann Bryant
Diana Cooper
Linda Dunbar
Aleteia Greenwood
Dean Giustini
Kimberley Hintz
Katherine Kalsbeek
Amber Lannon
Kirsten Walsh
Deborah Wilson [Chair]
Elim Wong
Eleanor Yuen

E-mail:
lib-ri-ctee@interchange.ubc.ca

Frequency:
Generally monthly

Mandate:
To inform ULAC on issues related to reference services and user instruction programs across the Library. To support the development and implementation of a coherent Library reference and instruction service. Reference and teaching librarians who are not members of the committee should be invited to attend meetings as appropriate.

Reports to:
AUL – Professional Schools & Operations (Rotates to other AULs)

Process for representation:
Members appointed by Admin Group in consultation with the Heads and Supervising librarians.

Activity Reporting:
Minutes are kept for all meetings and filed in Library Administration Central Files. Chair of the Committee will distribute minutes to staff through lib-all and these will be retained in the Library’s e-mail archive.

Recommended Restructuring of Committees and Task Groups
Revised, March 2, 2004

Library Operating Committees

Guiding Principles:
1. The Library’s Administrative Group establishes Library Operating Committees to meet an ongoing requirement for advice or the monitoring of a particular function.

2. Any staff member can recommend the establishment of such a Library committee or task group to her/his supervisor, but the Admin Group must approve the recommendation. The Chair of any committee can recommend the establishment of a subcommittee or task group to the Admin. Group, but the Admin Group must approve the recommendation.

3. The Admin Group or designate reviews the membership, role and usefulness of each Library standing committee and task group on a biennial basis (every 2 years).

4. Committee Chairs shall be selected using the following criteria:
a) The Chair is appointed by the Admin Group if the work of the Committee represents a significant portion of the responsibilities assigned to a particular position (ex officio status).
b) The Chair rotates if 2 positions have the work of the Committee as a significant part of their responsibilities
c) The Chair is elected by the members of the Committee if the work of the Committee does not represent a significant portion of responsibilities for one or two positions but is spread over a number of positions.

5. Committee membership shall be determined as follows:
a) Ex officio (i.e. permanent, standing) members if the mandate of the committee represents a significant part of their responsibilities.
b) Members appointed by Admin Group in consultation with the Committee Chair and approval of the supervisor.
c) Volunteers are called for and selected by the Admin Group in consultation with the Chair and approval of the supervisor.

6. Chairs may invite guests as required for special purposes.

7. Committee members are representatives for specific areas or have expertise of particular value to the committee. It is the responsibility of each person on a committee to fairly present the views of the areas they come from while remembering that they serve on a committee charged with system-wide responsibilities, and it is integral to their role that they should communicate back to their libraries, units and divisions the deliberations of the committees on which they serve.