ARLIS/NA Computer Section meeting
Monday, March 9th, 1998 2:45 p.m.

9 attendees were present at the Meeting.  Marilyn Healey, default moderator (she was moderator last year and could not find a volunteer to moderate this year) read the goals of the section and the minutes of last year's session, and made note of areas of the strategic plan which could use the Division's input.  These were to assist email access to ARLIS-L, and to set up a list of ARLIS members willing to serve as computer consultants.  

Margaret Webster, sitting in as liaison for Katherine Wayne, VP/President Elect, reported that the Technology Education committe is sending a letter to chapters asking that chapters identify those members without email and identify local service providers who might be willing to donate service, etc.  Technology Education is also planning an informal survey to determine which libraries are utilizing which online systems, to provide names of contacts familiar with specific systems.  Peggy Keeran is the contact for the latter effort.

Attenders raised the question of whether a separate computer section is still necessary, pointing out that many other sections or round-tables dealt with computers in one way or another in their programs.  Living and working with them is no longer unusual.  What is the relationship of the Computer Section with the Technology Education and Technology Relationships committees?  Jack Robertson replied that the two are committees of the Board, and that they came into existence because the Computer section had not progressed in implementing the strategic plan goals.

If the section is to continue, we need to be able to provide a moderator, conference planner and ARLIS/Update column editor.  Erika Dowell volunteered to write a column for update stating the problem of the section's continued existence.

Suggestions for possible activities of the section included:

Providing a (regularly updated) list of desirable specifications for library online systems
Forming a support group for webmasters (Sam Duncan volunteered to follow up on this)--it was noted that website expertise is a checkoff on the ARLIS/NA membership form--but it was agreed that not all with responibility for websites would necessarily consider themselves expert enough to check off the form. 

The meeting concluded with a general sense that it might be time to lay down this section.  Margaret Webster volunteered to communicate the sense of the meeting to the Board in its post-conference meeting.

Minutes submitted by 
Lu Harper
Memorial Art Gallery
Rochester, NY
lu@mag.rochester.edu