Clam Chowder

President's Note

FULL TEXT PERIODICAL DATABASES VIA THE INTERNET

At the November conference, we had four vendors set up stations on site for demo. At this writing there are about twenty three colleges which have signed on to the group subscription deals of full text periodical databases via the Internet. Most of the libraries which have not subscribed are in the process of evaluation and serious pondering. While we are all excited about the possibility of expanded resources and access, some perplexing issues remain to be tackled. The following is a list of some of the issues:

• availability of computer stations
• cost control (What is life like after the group deal?)
• access speed
• searching capabilities
• graphics (pros and cons)
• printing cost
• downloading (Sizable number of students do not have access to computers.)
• access vs. ownership of materials
• access control and authentication of remote users

CLAMS members may wish to continue on comparing notes on these products.

THIRD-GENERATION LIBRARY SYSTEMS

If you are investigating for a new automated library system, Marie Zimmerman (Director, Highline) suggested an article "A Virtual Interview with Vinod Chachra [president of VTLS]" by Laverna Saunders which appeared in COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES (February 1996, p.58-93).

According to Dr. Chachra, "The goal of third-generation library systems is to organize, control, distribute, and access information located within and outside the boundaries of the library." The article gives a brief history of the three generations of library automation systems and reviews the characteristics of the third-generation systems.

NOTES ON CLAMS FALL CONFERENCE, 1996

The CLAMS conference on "Distance Learners and Libraries: What's the Connection?" held at Skagit Valley College on November 14-15 was well attended by about 85 participants. About one third of them were non-CLAMS members. Many of the four-year public and private institutions sent at least one representative. We even had two attendees from Idaho and one librarian flew in from California. The attendance reflects the high regional interest in this topic.

We were introduced to a range of models and possibilities at this conference, but Washington state colleges still have much to learn on providing library services and instructions to remote users. As more information resources become accessible from remote sites, the emphasis will be placed on teaching remote users information literacy skills instead of just information delivering.

Dr. Brinton Spraque, SVC's Vice President of Educational Services, welcomed the group.

Jan Yoshiwara (SBCTC) started the program with some statistics on distance education in Washington state community and technical colleges. According to a study of 1995-1996 distance education study conducted by Ron Baker (Highline), twenty eight colleges reported telecourse activity. The number of computer conferencing classes rose from three in Summer Quarter to 23 in Spring Quarter. The number of one-way video teleclasses increased from four in Summer Quarter to 21 in Spring Quarter. The study did not include statistics on student retention rates.

Yoshiwara briefly explained the Strategic Technology Initiative Plan which was pending for the Legislature's appropriation and the State of Washington K-20 Educational Telecommunications Network project. The goal of the K-20 Network is to enhance and streamline the delivery of education and to facilitate collaboration among K-12, community and technical colleges, and public 4-year institutions in the state. Yoshiwara also briefly reported on the Western Governors' Virtual University (WGU) project which is a plan of about 14 governors to collaborate in the development and delivery of distance learning courses. (For update see note on K-20 and WGU.)

CLAMS particularly appreciates the participation from the Academic Librarians in Public Services (ALPS) from British Columbia. The BC panel included Trish Rosseel from Open Learning Agency and Sheila Comeau from Electronic Library Network. The panel demonstrated a provincial system-wide model on resource sharing, site licensing agreements, and document delivery. By pooling library resources, technology and expertise together, the province-wide system aims to achieve an "equitable, expanded and cost-effective" approach in serving the information needs of their users.

Sandy Slade, Director of Extended Campus Services from University of Victoria, BC gave a humorous report on his recent exchange experience in Australia. Slade is the co-author of the highly recommended book, Library Services for Off-Campus and Distance Education: the Second Annotated Bibliography. (Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. 1996. (ISBN 1-56308-465-1)

The Northwest panel included Karen Lange (Univ. of Wyoming), Cath Finney (Central Oregon Community College), Yvonne Chen (Seattle Public Library) and Dick Hol (Spokane Community College District). Their presentations demonstrated the interest and need for more collaboration among different agencies as the state and other regional agencies are expanding into distance learning programs.

Saul Weisberg's after-dinner speech gently reminded us that technology expanded access to education, but computerized simulations should not replace real-life exploration. Weisberg is the director of the North Cascades Institute.

Harvey Gover, chair of the ACRL Guidelines on Extended Campus Library Services led a session on the Guidelines. See Gover's report. (NOTE: Gover has recently expressed his appreciation for the high quality of the input gathered from the CLAMS session in one of his listserv comments on the Western Governors University project. The seemingly lack of commitment and coordination of the WGU for library support services has caused some concern among the extended campus library service community.)

The conference received overwhelmingly positive evaluations. The slate of presenters representing different roles and perspectives was cited as most valuable. Many wished there were more time for discussion. Everyone agreed the delightful evening banquet provided a welcome change of pace. The hors d'oeuvres and entrees delicately prepared by the SVC Culinary Arts students cheered the spirit. (Linda Hendrick said not to mention the cases of wine!) So thanks again to the marvelous Skagit Valley College support team and the site coordinator Linda.

I would like to give my thanks again to the Executive Board members who were the conference planning committee, in particular: to Robin Crane, CLAMS secretary, and Helen Feeney, the treasurer, who had to handle the unusally large number of registrations; to Kate Bradley for finding the "perfect" banquet speaker and for preparing the periodical database comparison chart with Sarah Beasley. CLAMS also would like to thank the Washington State Library, EBSCO, IAC, UMI, and SIRS for their contributions.

I look forward to another fruitful gathering to learn about incorporating information literacy into curriculum at the CLAMS Spring Conference 1997 at Wenatchee Valley College on May 15-16!

UPDATE ON K-20 TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND WESTERN GOVERNORS' UNIVERSITY

Expenditures were approved for the Washington state K-20 project to build the transport backbone that will connect 4-year public institutions, community and technical colleges, and school district headquarters. CTC (Communications Technology Center) hopes to complete all installations by this summer.

The Western Governors' University Steering Committee has agreed to incorporate the organization to secure accreditation and to hire a director and an academic officer. The WGU is soliciting courses for its first AA degree program and it plans to be operative in summer 1997. Washington state is participating in the planning group, but California has pulled out to form its own version.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON DISTANCE LEARNING ON CLAMS' HOMEPAGE

Please check the distance learning section for links provided by the panelists and subscription instructions for OFFCAMP (national) and NWOCLS (Northwest-based). Both lists address issues related to library support services for distance learners. AAHESGIT, a listserv moderated by Steve Gilbert, provides a national forum for thoughtful discussion on issues related to information technology and distance learning. A survey of guidelines on library support services compiled by Jennifer Wu is posted on the SUNY Library Association Web site on distance learning.

Spring Conference

CLAMS' Spring Conference will be held at Wenatchee Valley College on May 15 and 16. CLAMS is thankful that Meredith Patterson has graciously agreed to be the conference site coordinator. The theme of the conference will be information literacy in the digital environment. Bellevue Community College's project on "Information Literacy Across the Curriculum" and other Web-based instructional models will be featured. Please watch for further announcement.

Fall Minutes

CLAMS BUSINESS MEETING, November 15, 1996

Minutes for spring 1996 CLAMS meeting were approved.

WLA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: Mary Ellen Bartholomew (Highline) is the new co-liaison to WLA Legislative Planning Committee. She and Phil Meany (Centralia) will be representing CLAMS on the Committee.

WLA Legislative Planning Committee Meeting
Friday, November 15

Joan Weber presided over the meeting.

Post election update from Steve Duncan, WLN Legislative Representative:

This Senate is more conservative than the previous one; the House, equally conservative (Steve's characterization). Our new (liberal?) Democratic Governor, Gary Locke, will probably be tested early in the session by "gay marriage" and "harmful to minors" bills. Library related issues could be reforming the local property tax system which would (probably negatively) affect public library districts and a proposal to elect rather than appoint local library trustees.

The Budget will remain approximately the same meaning that if there is a move toward salary increases for educators (librarians), this legislature would probably fight to make it at the expense of higher ed or one of the welfare type issues - so a battle!

Library Legislative Day is scheduled for Wednesday February 26! We'll hear more about that.

There was a discussion of the WLALPC web page and its use.

Last, but not least, Joan Weber announced that when she takes office as president of WLA in April, she will look carefully at the makeup of WLA committees with an eye toward paring them down. She specifically feels that LPC is too large and questions whether members of the committee who are not representatives of WLA interest groups should remain on the committee - CLAMS, ACLU and the four year academic directors group. She DOES want the LPC members to be directly involved in the political process, i.e. be the ones who read and interpret introduced legislation, determine library related issues and get the info out all.

CLAMS Listserv

The list name, by popular demand, will be CLAMS-L. To subscribe, send a message: TO: LISTSERV@CTC.EDU
Subject: [leave blank]
-----Message Text-----
SUBSCRIBE CLAMS-L [Your Name]

The listserv will respond with a welcome message that includes several commands that the subscriber can use to tailor their subscription to their wishes, including how to stop mailing while on vacation, avoid having your e-mail address displayed on your postings (to keep off marketing lists), and get a complete listing of listserver commands. Stephen anticipates reviewing the listserv parameters at the next business meeting; anything objectionable can be changed anytime. Currently, the list will be un-moderated and open to any who wish either to join or contribute. Archives of the discussion will be maintained and searchable.

Submitted by Stephen Badalamente, Columbia Basin College

LMDC Report

I attended the LMDC meeting on November 8. The group spent the Thursday evening and part of the Friday morning on discussing the LMDC's technology proposal. There was a wide range of perspectives and suggestions on how to proceed if funded. A motion to form an Implementation Process Committee to develop recommendations was approved. CLAMS was invited to send a representative to serve on the Committee.

Debra Gilchrist (Pierce) reported on information competency. She will compile an inventory of current information competency activities at the colleges. Gilchrist will also check whether information competency is written into the new (October) NW Association standards.

John Thompson (Spokane Falls) recommended Open University (Britain) as example of a well developed distance education site and distributed two handouts on distance learning. The handouts are "Guiding Principles for Distance Learning in a Learning Society" ((ACE/CALEC) and "Principles of Good Practice for Electronically Offered Academic Degree and Certificate Programs." (WCET)

Washington State Library has a new Web site, http://www.wa.gov/wsl.

Jim Grossman of Green River Community College invited CLAMS to hold a conference at the college. Green River has a new library building!

Library directors were reminded to send their membership dues to CLAMS treasurer, Helen Feeney (Everett). CLAMS membership dues are used to help support our conferences. This is a critical time for CLAMS members to stay current and relevant in order to meet the rapidly changing needs of the instructional programs at the colleges. More than ever, we need good support from our administrators and from each other!

Treasurer's Report

FirstChoice Checking Account

Balance on 04/22/96                                  $ 2,131.86

Income:

• Membership                            750.00

• Conference Reg. & Fees (Fall '96)   1,658.00

• Interest                               12.06

• Total:                      $ 2,420.06

Expenditures:

• CLAM Chowder                           80.94

• Conferences (Fall)

  •    Afterglow/Gifts             265.58

  •    Speaker                     190.56

  •    Donation:  Freedom to Read  200.00

  •    Banquet                     290.79

  •    Mailing                      16.64

• Total:                     $ 1,044.51

Balance on 11/13/96                                  $ 3,507.51

FirstChoice Savings Account

Balance on 04/22/96                                  $ 1,631.06

• Interest income                       18.57

• Total:                     $ 1,649.63

Balance on 11/13/96                                   $ 1649.63

GRAND TOTAL 11/13/96                        $ 5,157.14

Institutional Memberships paid 11/13/96: 16

Income:

• Conference fees                 $ 1,793.00

• Vendors contribution                120.00
  (EBSCO/SIRS/UMI)

• Total Income:             $ 1,912.00

Expenditures:

• Speakers                        $ 1,319.00

  • Honorariums & expenses

• Incidentals                         217.54

  • Folders & copies, refreshments

  • Decoration/misc.

• Banquet, breakfst & bev          1,1951.92

  Total expenses:           $ 3,489.01

Balance                                              -$ 1,577.01

WSL Grant re-imbursement (not yet received)             1,000.00

      Projected Balance                      -$  577.01

News from the Libraries

Centralia

We have been trying out ProQuest Direct in preparation for selecting a Web-based periodical index. So far, most of us like the screen appearance, but not the slow speed even with T1 lines and the numerous and frequent error messages. Soon we will be testing Ebsco Host.

Last quarter saw the implementation of the new LIBR 181 course, Research Skills: Library and Internet. The course was developed as a result of the UWired Summer Symposium on Teaching, Learning, and Technology held at the University of Washington. During Fall the 6 sections were linked to French, German, Geology and Engineering courses. Currently, the faculty members from MATH 108 (Statistics) and GEOL 101 (Physical Geology) are participating. We have already lined up an ENGL 102 section and International Business for spring quarter. So far, the instructors' reactions have been enthusiastic about the benefits of the course to their students. The variety among the linked courses has been super for helping the librarians identify ways of modifying course content and focus to better integrate with the goals of core courses.

Submitted by Stephanie Carter.

Edmonds

Edmonds Community College is very pleased to announce that Kim Nakano has joined the staff as the Director of Learning Resources. Kim received both her undergraduate degree, in Fine Arts, and her MLS from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She started her library career as a systems librarian at a public library. She was the Education librarian at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for 14 years, and for the past three years was the head of the Sinclair Library on that campus. Kim comes to Edmonds with a strong background and interest in User Education and Instruction, and a solid reputation in Library Management. People may remember that Greg Golden, the former Director of Learning Resources, was only half-time. His other administrative duty was as half-time division director for Developmental Education. The staff of the library and media center were able to convince the administration that it was time we had a full-time administrator. We are please to say they listened. Kim is full-time in the Library and Media area.

Edmonds Community College is also planning for a major remodel of the library space. Currently the library occupies about 3/4 of the 3rd floor of Lynnwood Hall. The remodeling plans call for the library to occupy all of the 3rd and 4th floors of Lynnwood Hall. Remodeling is currently scheduled for the summer quarter, meaning we will probably have some service disruptions.

Submitted by Dale Burke.

Highline

Position announcement:

Faculty Reference Librarian, Media. Highline Community College Library seeks an innovative, technologically savvy librarian with experience in media materials and applications. This is a new position with the challenge to integrate media materials as a basic information resource and to assist faculty in the utilization of media materials in instruction. This position will work within both the Reference Department and Media Services. As a member of Reference this position will provide reference/ information commons service, information competency instruction and collection development in specific discipline areas. Within Media Services, this position will work with multimedia production teams and assist faculty in integrating media technology into instruction.

Highline Community College is located midway between Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. Highline offers academic transfer, vocational and continuing education programs to a student body of over 9000 (4500+ fte). The library collection is over 100,000 items, including federal and state documents depository items and the media collection. Access to local and remote electronic resources is provided through our Information and Multimedia Commons.

This is a tenure track position which starts September 97. Position requires MLS from ALA-accredited program. Minimum salary $34,032; actual salary based on experience and education. Highline is an Affirmative Action employer and seeks applicants with diverse backgrounds who can contribute to the College's diversity, multicultural understanding and student success.

For job description and application materials call or write: Sue Williamson, Director of Personnel, Highline Community College, P.O. Box 98000, Des Moines, Washington 98198-9800. Application request/jobline (206) 870-3751; Office number (206) 878-3710 ext. 3320; Fax number (206) 870-3773. Screening of applications will begin on February 24, 1997. A representative from Highline will available for informational conversations at the American Library Association Midwinter meeting in Washington, DC, February 14-20.

Submitted by Dana Franks.

Seattle Central

We would like to let the world know that while we are very sad that Sharon Simes has left to be the director of the Villa Academy Library, we are very happy to report that Sharon Spence has been hired to replace her. Sharon, a native of Jamaica, served as a reference assistant here while she was in library school and temporarily filled the position Fall Quarter. She is a wonderfully warm and talented person and we are glad to have her as part of our team.

Submitted by Karen Michaelsen.

Shoreline

One news item here...Pat Kelley, Circulation/Reference Librarian at Shoreline will be retiring at the end of this school year. She has been here for almost 30 years.

Submitted by Tom Moran.

Spokane

Editor's note: Meet Mary Carr, the new Assistant Dean of Instruction for Library and Media Services at Spokane CC. Mary e-mailed me the following background info.

Mary became the Assistant Dean of Instruction for Library and Media Services on Nov. 18. The campus reception marking her arrival was to be held on Nov. 20, but it was cancelled due to Ice Storm '96. Without a doubt, an auspicious beginning.

Before coming to SCC, Mary was the Director of Learning Resources at North Idaho College for nearly eight years. She came to that position from Gonzaga University's Crosby Library where she had worked in various capacities for nearly 15 years. Mary began her professional career teaching Latin and heading the library at Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane.

Mary has a Masters in Business (Human Resources) from Gonzaga University, a Masters in Librarianship from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Latin, also from the UW. She's a Washingtonian, having lived in the state her entire life. She hails from Arlington (north of Seattle).

Active in professional organizations, Mary was president of the Washington Library Association from 1989-1991 while working in Idaho. She is now president of the Idaho Library Association, so naturally it was time to take a job in Washington. There's a certain symmetry there (somewhere?). She may hold a distinction for not once, but twice, heading a library association while working out of state.

In the two months since her arrival at SCC, she has found the college administration supportive and ready for the library and media center to take a prominent role in instruction. Mary looks forward to helping to define how the library-media center can best contribute to teaching and learning SCC.

Walla Walla

Walla Walla Community College Library is a participant in a Washington State LSCA grant with Whitman College, Walla Walla College, Walla Walla Public Library and the Walla Walla Rural Library. The grant has provided a means for patrons to access government documents online. Each library received a computer workstation, printer and training in accessing government documents resources. The workstations have proven popular with library users who also use them for searching Internet.

CLAMS Panel Presentation on the ACRL Guidelines
for Extended Campus Library Services

On Friday morning, conference attendees gathered for a panel presentation and workshop on revision of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)1990 Guidelines for Extended Campus Library Services. Appearing on the panel were three representatives of the host campus, Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon, Washington: Jill Shinn, Assistant to the Associate Dean of Distance Education; Larry Sult, instructor in political science and philosophy; and Alan Wolfe, student. Also with them on the panel was Harvey Gover, branch campus librarian from Washington State University at Tri-Cities and Chair of the Guidelines Committee of the ACRL Extended Campus Library Services Section (ECLSS).

Each of the panelists from Skagit Valley College spoke briefly about the experience and place of distance education in their institution's program. A unifying theme of their presentations was the great importance of librarians as human resources in the articulation of library services to distance learners in an environment which increasingly relies upon electronic delivery of instruction and information services. Larry Sult, in particular, emphasized the importance of retaining the human element as he focused on the Guidelines to make specific recommendations for revision.

Harvey Gover then presented a brief overview and background statement on the 1990 Guidelines which had been distributed to the audience on the previous afternoon. The audience was divided into five groups, each taking a section of the Guidelines to explore briefly and make suggestions for revision.

Although everyone keenly felt the need for more time to complete this exploratory process with the existing Guidelines, many very valuable suggestions for revision were made in the limited amount of time available. During the weeks which followed, Harvey Gover incorporated these suggestions, along with others gleaned from several months of communication with specialists in extended academic programs from all over the world, into a new draft revision which will appear in the February C&RL Libraries News.

A hearing to discuss the proposed draft will take place at 10:00 on Monday morning, February 17, in the Washington D.C. Capital Hilton, New York Room, immediately following the ECLSS Discussion Group, at the 1997 ALA Midwinter.

Green River Community College News

You should come look at GRCC's new library, one of the, if not the, finest library facilities in the NW in the context of integrating information technology into an academic library environment. Bring a camera!

Submitted by Jim Grossman.

Olympic College News

I have no idea who knows and who doesn't, but I thought I would take a second to let you know what's up with OC. If you want further info, Dianne Moore, Ed Bachmann, or Judith Cunneen will be happy to talk to you (360-478-4688). We also have pictures, but probably not in digital form.

28 December, the library roof fell in due to 2-l/2 feet of snow and the subsequent deluge of rain. The rain was soaked up by the snow, and the weight brought down l/2 of the roof-- the portion that was over the 2 story part of the library and media center. That day, 3 staff people kept the drains open to assist with the subsequent flooding. The drowned areas included reference, reserve, circulation, media, all hardcopy magazines, videos, computers, and the entire media department in the flooded basement -- electronics, distance learning equipment, more computers, video editing equipment, all of it.

Brave souls, assured by a structural engineer that the first floor would hold the collapsed roof, went in on Monday to pull out drenched equipment from the devastated basement. One of our media techs said it felt distinctly like the movie Alien: Everything was wet, it was actively raining from the ceiling, there was standing water, it was freezing cold, stuff dangled from the ceiling and lept out at you from the darkness, disappearing again as flashlight beams raced around the room.

I was trapped at home behind a wall of snow that was stubbornly refusing to melt (lesson learned: never live on a cul-de-sac at Lake Symington. Nobody plows, nobody cares, and even an all wheel drive Subaru can get high-centered on compacted snow). Spent the day on the phone to the ALA and Moisture Control and Centers for Book Preservation and fielding phone calls from my staff and others -- many crying over the condition of the LRC.

Tuesday they told us we could not get in on time to salvage anything.

Wednesday they shored up the older surviving part of the LRC, so that the 70,000 pounds of heating/cooling equipment did not wreck what was left (we had 25,000 sq. feet; we are down to 8 or 9K now).

Thursday at 6:30 the contractors came into my office to tell me that they were touched by our pleas at the meeting, and since they "only employed sensitive carpenters", they had worked out a way to allow us to try to salvage books. The crane would arrive Friday and remove the roof (the big hunks, anyway) Saturday morning.

Friday we spent in an emergency meeting planning the salvage operation and where services would go in what we had left of a building. Friday afternoon I had a root canal. Best thing I did all week -- at least that pain stopped!

Saturday a crew of LRC folks, volunteers, construction workers, and physical plant people worked to box up the stuff that survived. After a week exposed to the air, many things just needed a dehydration environment. Many things were lost completely. Other things we boxed up (in between 'all clear' calls as the crane started moving more big hunks out). The boxes were moved over to the PE building, which was vacated for winter quarter due to a crack in a supporting beam. The media stuff is there, too, drying slowly. Then we learned that PE had three cracked beams, and for a heartstopping couple of days, PE was condemned & noone allowed in. A temporary pier is now holding up the roof awaiting permanent repair.

We worked all weekend to salvage what we could. Inventory efforts are now ongoing. The hardcopy magazines are nearly l00% lost. How much of reference and reserve we will recover is still a question. Equipment is coming to evaluate how many of the videotapes are salvageable (they were piled into dumpsters by the demolition guys and brought out by crane). Computers are drying out. Media equipment is being cleaned and evaluated.

We have l/3 of the building and are ordering portables for media people. We do not anticipate a new building for at least 2 years. The library phones (see above) are where you can reach us now; when the portables are installed [SOON, SOON!!] the media phones will be restored.

We have heat, light, networks, plumbing, an airtight building, and the circulating collection. We opened our doors the afternoon of the 8th of January -- 2 l/2 days late. There is still quite a lot to do. We are asking everyone to hold onto their gifts of materials for now -- we have no place to put them. Donations to the Olympic College Foundation earmarked for the LRC are gratefully accepted, however. Eric Lacitis did a lovely column for the Seattle Times; the Tacoma New Tribune is doing another, and you may see something in American Libraries or the Chronicle.

My staff is the best. Period. They are coping magnificently. Beyond that, LRC staff all agree: we have the best damn physical plant people in the known universe. Without them, we would still be bailing out the basement. (They removed the wet carpets, walls, and ceilings down there, but I'm expecting frogs to hatch any day now. Little disasters like this make you think in biblical terms!)

Submitted by Ruth Ross.