Reference Committee
Minutes: September 16, 1998, Porterville
  
THOSE ATTENDING THE MEETING: Kathie Poundstone, Porterville; Marie Stanley,
Fresno County; Janet Harader, Kings County; Greg Koster, Tulare County; 
Stan Matli, Madera County; and Louann Nickerson, Kern.
  
NOT ATTENDING: Tulare City, Mariposa County, and Coalinga/Huron.
   
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - June 24, 1998, Selma (Evaluation of periodical 
databases) 
    
SJVLS COUNCIL MAKES PERIODICAL DATABASE DECISION - The Committee was 
pleased with the recent decision by the Council to choose the magazine 
database IAC General Reference Center.  The Committee was doubly pleased 
that the Health Reference Center was also chosen.  This means that the 
Reference Committee got all of what it recommneded.  The Committee's 
thoughtful evaluations paid off.
   
RAND CALIFORNIA; CALIFORNIA STATISTICS -  Rand California provided a 14 
day trial of its Web Site. The link was through the SJVLS Web Site.  The 
Committee discussed whether or not this should be subscribed to by members. 
Members at this time thought it was not a necessary item.  Although the 
statistics were organized in one place well, the statistical information
can be found in other places on the Internet.  There was also nothing in 
the literature about cost.
    
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION PROJECT WEB SITE - Chair Stan Matli, who had
recently attended a workshop on the Evironmental Web Site explained what 
it was and told of the many questions it can answer.  While we have it, it 
should be used and the public made aware of it.  There will be an 
evaluation of the Project in the summer of 1999.
   
THE INTERENT AND HARDCOPY REFERENCE BOOK SELECTION - There was agreement 
that although information may be on the Internet, most patrons do like
hardcopy reference sources. Smaller libraries with limited budgets use
the Internet as a prime source for government and business information
to which they would not otherwise have access.  For example, even remote
branch libraries with the Internet can now have access to the 29 California Codes and a plethora of stocks, bonds, and other financial
information.  No library as yet has established guidelines for reference
book selection factoring in the Internet, although some medium sized
libraries are curtailing some purchases because of its availability on the
Internet.
    
HOW DO LIBRARIES PUBLICIZE THEIR REFERENCE SERVICES? - No library
jurisdiction has a continuing article in a newspaper or a continuing radio
or telelvison spot.  Articles and spots appear from time to time when new
materials or a new service appears or someone wants to emphasize a service.
No library has a reference person assigned publicity.  Fresno County 
shared a handout on telephone reference service entitled: "If you can't 
come to the Library, the Library can come to you!"  It has been an 
effective way of publicizing a reference service.
           
AMERICAN BUSINESS INFORMATION - There is a trial of the Web Site in
progress.  It was decided to continue testing it and at the January 1999
meeting decide whether or not it is something that might be purchased
collectively.
   
SOFTLINE INFORMATION: ETHNIC NEWS WATCH, GENDER WATCH & ALT-HEALTH WATCH - 
The Committee received information on the product.  Many of the newspapers 
and magazines included in the full text databases of Softline Information 
were for the large public or academic library.  There was not a majority 
for a demonstration of this database at the Committee level.  Kern County 
thought it could be useful for them.
       
NOMINATIONS FOR NEW CHAIR AND SECRETARY - Nominations were held.  There 
were two volunteers: CHAIR, Louann Nickerson; SECRETARY, Greg Koster.
  
SHARING OF NEW REFERENCE BOOKS
    
ADJOURNMENT
Respectfully submitted,
Stan Matli