User Services COI Updates - Spring 2020
Summary of the latest updates, best practice suggestions and decisions from the User Services COI meetings and discussions:
- OhioNet is working on a digital accessibility statement to be placed in the OPAL catalog. In the event a resource may be considered inaccessible, the statement will include hyperlinks to web forms to alert OPAL representatives of the issue. Rollout anticipated summer 2020.
- Reminder that the change to OhioLINK Encore pass-through within OPAL catalog is scheduled to be made July 1, 2020.
- How can we improve User Services meetings? Are you satisfied with format, with topics, length of time for meetings? Do you have other ideas?
- Options for future meeting times were discussed, including moving to one annual meeting or meeting at the 2020 OPAL-PALNI Conference at Defiance College.
- In response to COVID-19 library closures, various OPAL institutions are sharing free academic eBook collections and providing access to said content on VitalSource or Red Shelf.
Full meeting minutes can be found under the Meetings Documents tab at the top of this page.
Statement of Purpose
The User Services COI is focused on all aspects of the User Experience including:
- User interface of products whose primary users are library patrons
- Instruction & Information Literacy, including outcomes assessment
- Digital & technology literacy
- Access issues
- Collection development & weeding of both print and electronic resources
- Reference services and products, including evaluation & assessment using statistics, space use studies, and other data
- Library service promotion and marketing
Policies and procedures are developed in consultation with the OhioNet Director of Technology Services and are published and maintained in an online guidelines document. The COI also serves as an advisory body to the Directors’ Council, works in collaboration with other OPAL groups with shared interests, and regularly disseminates its work through OPAL communication channels.
User Services Resources
- Instructional Screencasts Archive Contains the original SWF files for Search Overview, Search by Keyword, Search by Title, Search by Author, Request an Item, and Renew Materials screencasts.
User Services COI Coordinator
There is currently no User Services Coordinator. Anyone with an interest is welcome to hold a User Services COI meeting this coming year (2020-2021).
If you have questions please contact the current COI Liaison, Alyssa Mitchell at amitchell@walsh.edu