1. Meeting was called to order by Ivan Edelman. 2. Projects for Discussion and Action a. Mary Ellen reported on options in response to the ALS decision to move VISTA II to a Web-based product. There is concern over the number of dumb terminals still in branches and the cost of going to PCs. Some other vendors, such as EBSCOHost, ProQuest Direct, and IAC SearchBank may provide better dumb terminal support as well as the Web interface. Committee agreed that demos should be arranged for the major periodical index services so that we can compare them to the Dynix product and get the best product to meet our needs. Issue should be passed to the Reference Committee. b. WebPAC, and Web interface to our Dynix catalog, will soon to be available. WebPAC would make home access to the catalog easier and more secure since telnet would no longer be necessary. With the NetConnectII upgrade we should be able to install this product. Committee agreed that the system office should pursue implementation as it becomes available. Mary Ellen also explained the PAC for Windows product. Most libraries would run PAC for Windows or the current character-based OPAC in their libraries, while using WebPAC for remote users. PAC for Windows requires Windows95 and libraries would need to upgrade machines. The product would make the PC stations more secure. The responsibility of Dynix vis-à-vis making the PCs they sold us Windows95 ready needs to be clarified. Mary Ellen also distributed a FAQ sheet on the Dynix RSS (resource sharing system), an ILL management system. Dynix is offering a free 6 month evaluation period for people to try out the RSS system. c. The major upgrade 170 needs to be scheduled. It mainly fixes problems with serials and acquisitions, but does also enable direct vending of orders to jobbers and publishers. Laura firmly nixed a June upgrade. Systems will attempt to schedule the upgrade before May 1st or after July 15th. 2. Training Mary Ellen is working with Keith to pull together a list of routine maintenance tasks that should be performed at each agency. Some of these tasks may require training. There may be other training which Systems could/should provide. Committee members will e-mail their ideas to Mary Ellen. John noted that if Fresno County gets the ?? Grant, then they will have a computer training facility in the library, which will be available for SJVLS use. 3. CODI John polled the members for those planning to attend CODI in Salt Lake City. The system can pay major costs for four people to attend, or partial costs for 5 attendees. Laura, Mary Ellen, Keith, and possibly Ivan are planning to attend. Others wishing to attend should contact John K. who will take the proposal to the Council. 4. Status Reports a. John reported on Phase III - The NetconnectII upgrade has been mostly completed and we will now have to pay for it. Keith is still discovering it's capabilities, but it does provide us with a firewall and will become our Web server. Frame relay is progressing with the circuits and lines installed and awaiting ALS support to make the final conversion. John clarified that Armona should have been on the list of sites converting to frame relay. We are also nearing the time when Dynix will ask us for final acceptance. b. John reported that the Linked System Grants are being reviewed by the State Library. The SJVLS Circulation Committee is sending the procedures for the linked system grant with Black Gold ?? to the Council. 5. Status Reports Related to Projects with other Committees a. Catalog Committee - Laura had nothing to report b. Reference Committee - nothing to report c. Circulation Committee - will be sending a proposal for custom programming to Council for displaying DOB in the view box of patron registration. Ivan raised the issue of custom programming and the new area codes many system members will soon face. Both John and Ivan expressed the opinion that this feature should be part of the module, not a custom program. Those attending CODI are encouraged to push for this enhancement. 6. Other John suggested that after CODI the committee should meet to discuss long range planning. Marge discussed Kern County's solution to the ACLU suit and Internet filters. Kern will provide at least two Internet workstations in each branch, one filtered, one not filtered. The Board of Supervisor's policy was not changed by this decision and staff will tell people to leave objectionable sites. 7. Next meeting, April 29, 1998 at Tulare Co. Those who attended CODI should be ready to give reports.