2015 Annual Meeting

ANNUAL MEETING of the CONTENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
of the OHIO PUBLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION NETWORK (OPLIN)

Minutes — February 26, 2015

1. WELCOME and CALL TO ORDER

The 2015 annual meeting of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was called to order at 10:05 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2015 by OPLIN Director Stephen Hedges at the OPLIN office in Columbus, Ohio.

Present were committee members: Don Boozer, Tamar Kreke, Kirstin Krumsee, Francie Labriola, Chris May, Joe O'Rourke, Jeff Regensburger, and Randall Fulks; David Topoleski and Charley Voelker were unable to attend.

2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was approved as presented without a vote.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The minutes were approved as read without a vote.

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There was no public participation.

5. OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business to come before the committee.

6. NEW BUSINESS

6.1. Discuss Ohio Web Library collection

There was general discussion of recent interface changes by vendors. Stephen Hedges noted that they make more use of graphic elements. He also reported that database usage continues to decline by about 20% a year.

This initiated a discussion of database marketing. The committee felt it was important that libraries be able to brand the databases as their own, and might then be more likely to "sell" them. Most of the committee members put their databases under a "Research" tab on their websites. More use of social media was suggested, perhaps to promote the most useful research resources, as well as possibly developing a network of local experts who could support and promote database use.

Additional resources the committee recommended included Lynda.com, auto repair information, and foreign language instruction.

6.2. Discuss Ohio Web Library search interface

The committee reviewed some proposed changes to the ohioweblibrary.org search page. There was discussion of the single search box as opposed to "app" buttons for individual databases. There was also discussion of graphic additions to the page to make it more visually appealing. The committee favored grouping of databases within subject categories.

7. ADJOURNMENT

Stephen Hedges asked if there was any more business to come before the committee. None appearing, he thanked the committee members and adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m.