Fall 2003 Meeting Minutes

DIGOR Fall Meeting

Friday,October 17, 2003

Hatfield Marine Sciences Center , Newport

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. In attendance were Barbara Kahl, Susan Westin, Valery King, Ted Smith, Alex Toth.

Minutes of the Spring 2003 meeting were approved.

Chair Alex Toth reported that we have $746.71 in our account. Our membership as of October 1 is 26, a decrease of two since Spring.

OLA PROGRAM

Alex Toth reported that he has reserved a slot for a Digor program at next spring's OLA conference, with a tentative theme of developments in electronic formats in government information. The Technical Services Round Table had a similar concept in mind, and wants to cosponsor the program with us. Alex and Valery King agreed to work with Debbie Hackleman (Oregon State University) on this. The group suggested several possibilities for presenters: Jey Wann to talk about the OrDocs program, Tom Stave or Lori Robare from the University of Oregon to talk about the Data for Local Communities project, Judy Andrews (Portland State University) to discuss what's happening at the Federal level.

OrDocs

Susan Westin (State Library) noted that the OrDocs depository stakeholders meeting scheduled for October 30 is an important meeting and encouraged people to sign up for it. The State Librarian has asked for a review of the Oregon Revised Statutes regarding the program, with a specific emphasis on the role that electronic publications should play. OrDocs staff have met with representatives from the state agencies; the October 30 meeting is the chance for librarians to give input. There will be a subsequent meeting on November 12 with select members from each group to discuss the future of the OrDocs program.

There was an ensuing discussion on the issues surrounding electronic access to government information.

GOVSTATS

Valery King announced that OSU's longstanding Govstats web site is to be taken down, with a target date of mid-February at the latest. OSU is looking for institutions to take responsibility for the existing datasets. The National Agricultural Statistics Service is working at finding another partner institution to take over the 1992 Census of Agriculture; the University of Virginia may add the import/export data to their existing service. OSU is still looking for homes for the economic census data and USA Counties.

VISION for DIGOR

Alex Toth expressed a need for Digor to come up with a new vision; the organization needs to reinvigorate itself. Issues include declining membership and low participation, as evidenced by the attendance of only five at this meeting. Alex suggested that the group needs to start thinking in multi-year terms, not just focusing on the current year. He will work with Chair-elect Valery King to facilitate this. Other suggestions in the ensuing discussion included providing more continuing education opportunities at meetings, reaching out to non-Digor members in OLA (such as public librarians in non-depository libraries) and outside OLA (e.g. Federal and State agency libraries).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rita Eberle has taken a position at Springfield Public Library. She continues to serve as the documents librarian at Central Oregon Community College, at a reduced tenure of five hours a week until Christmas.

At Multnomah County Library, Arlys Fones is now retired. Barbara Kahl is now managing their participation in the Federal Depository Library Program.

At the State Library, two librarian positions have been lost. Susan Westin is taking over as the FindOr librarian.

Pacific University is looking forward to groundbreaking for a new library in Spring 2004. Government documents will now be able to move into the new facility when it is ready.

At the University of Oregon, the grant-funded Data for Local Communities project sponsored by Orbis-Cascade is now live. Map Librarian Andrew Nicholson has left, and there are no immediate plans to hire a replacement.

The group will next meet at OLA in the spring. Members should e-mail Chair Alex Toth (tothalex@pacificu.edu) with any agenda items.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m. After lunch the group was given a tour of the Hatfield Marine Sciences Center by Janet Webster.

Submitted by Ted Smith, DIGOR Secretary