Minutes of 10/06/04 TERMinators meeting

1:30-2:30

Present: Mark Dehmlow, Nastia Guimaraes, Alan Krieger, Mary Lehman Tom Lehman, Laurie McGowan, Kathie Ryan-Zeugner Absent: Linda Sharp, Cheri Smith

1. Request from Margaret Porter for new term "Journalism" in the facet "Subjects"

Members discussed what criteria to apply when new subject terms are requested. One criterion is that subject terms relate to the University's departments, programs, centers, or institutes. Additionally, a new term can be justified if a librarian has been assigned responsibility for an area of academic interest. Margaret has funds to expend and is doing bib instruction for journalism.

Members approved the new term "Journalism." It will be listed under the larger grouping "Arts and Humanities" on the "Find by Subject" page in the DDW. Tom reported that Margaret had already identified a number of existing resources to receive the new term.

2. Review of Dan Marmion's draft charge for TERMinators

Tom suggested an addition (in the form of a "subtitle") to the name TERMinators to make it more descriptive. Members approved the wording: TERMinators : the Libraries Vocabulary Group. Tom noted that the final sentence should read: "... that one third of other members will rotate on and off at six-month intervals."

Members discussed the group's relationship to other library groups having "vocabulary" issues, e.g., MetaLib. Mark is a part of a group looking at MetaLib and reported on its status (awaiting version 3 of the product). Tom reported on Pascal Calarco's having indicated that the DDW vocabulary would most likely carry over into MetaLib.

3. Describing the DDW facets as part of vocabulary overview

Tom introduced the topic "What are the group's 'deliverables'?" From the group's charge, we are to "... formulate guidelines and written procedures for how the vocabulary is to be used ..." Members questioned whether guidelines should be at the specific facet/term level or should be at more-of-an-overview level. Some see both aspects needing to be addressed. Some sense that the group should guard against being overly prescriptive. We need to develop criteria to help with vetting requests and usage.

Tom distributed a handout "Number of times terms used" for the six facets: Formats; General and local information; Genres; People and organizations; Research tools; and Resource types. Many terms have not been used at all yet, or only one or two times. To provide guidance to those assigning facets/terms for DDW resources, Tom asked group members to draft one-or-two-sentence definitions for the six facets noted above and send them to TERMINATORS-L before the next meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lehman