PSAG Conference Call, June 5 2008

Present:  Martha Whitehead, Kate Davis, Valerie Critchley, Patricia Lawton, Dana Thomas

Agenda:

1.  Progress report and feedback our research assistant's secondary research and her work creating profiles for Scholars Portal user groups.

-          Patricia reported the highlights of her research to date, including:

o   General:

• Most findings confirm what we think of searchers already, though there is some inconsistency in the study results.  Patricia will include the contradictory opinions in her write-up.
• Sources included are scholarly and semi-scholarly primary research.

o   Users and their Contexts: 

• Faculty and academic researchers' research is interdisciplinary.
• As students move to upper years they become more sophisticated searchers and use more journals (exception is humanities students who retain the use of books throughout).
• Course Management Systems such as webCT are the #1 source of information for undergraduates.
• Major finding is the need for information literacy both in the effective use and database search techniques, and also (for undergrads) in translating their research question into a search strategy.
• In terms of interface and navigation, the novice:
  • Is accustomed to Google and translates Google approach to databases.
  • Uses the back button vs. internal navigation option
  • Prefers the option to limit to full text
  • Finds jargon confusing
  • Doesn't notice tabbed options
• Interdisciplinary searchers like the option to choose their own subject groupings

-          Alternatives to the current table organization were discussed.

o   Use of mini user-profiles, either broadly defined or as defined individual personalities.  Kate will check with Terry at Usability Matters re: personas.

o   The use of RefWorks/RefShare

-          Patricia will include technologies in the context of current and potential features

o   Social networking, IM Chat, Blogs, and widgets

Action items: 
OCUL member libraries have been asked to send unpublished materials.  This invitation will be sent out to the Scholars Portal listserv (Kate or Patricia)
Martha will speak with Leslie Weir about the vision statement for UM.

2.  SFX user survey

-          Permission has been given for Ryerson to begin the survey, but other institutions will have to find out whether they need to clear it with research ethics or other local review bodies.

-          The group decided that the realistic start date for the SFX survey will be September 2008.

-          The survey questions that have been formulated will be tested on Ryerson student shelvers.

Action items:
 Dana will send a draft invitation email to Martha to collect feedback from Kathy and Leslie about how participation at other institutions should be approached.
Dana to test survey questions with students.

3.      Update on Usability Matters research

-          Focus groups went very well.  Attendees actively participated and were easy to engage

-          We will review this in detail at our June 18^th meeting.

4.      Updates from recent SPOD meetings

-          Scholars Portal Report was discussed.  PSAG looks forward to reading the final version as several items are of interest.

-          PSAG to have 3 new members TBA.

-          Content enrichment services were discussed.