Collection Anywhere Center Minutes - March 21, 2017

Feedback on what should go in the Center

1. Sarah asked the committee what they thought was the best way to get feedback from staff concerning what should go in the Center.  She suggested we conduct a survey to ensure we get the information we need.   The committee suggested having examples of what we are looking for and provide a link to last month’s minutes with the list of the committee’s brainstorming ideas.  Include areas for staff to provide other ideas.
2. The committee shared other feedback they received from staff:YA classic paperbacks

1. Oversized books/AV in bags. Based on library individual definition. Atlases might be more useful at library.
2. Box of maps.  Might need to consider the value of maps.
3. Auto repair books should be a library decision.  Members want the information immediately and may not have access to the online services.
4. Most staff are fine with anything going to CAC, so long as it is available fast. Every library get a delivery every day.
5. Think carefully about what non-fiction goes in the center.  Members may not wait for nonfiction.   Children writing reports usually want the information immediately.  If the topic they are looking for is not available, they’ll take whatever is on the shelf. We may need to have different criteria for JNF than ANF.

3. Sarah suggested that the committee continue to gather feedback from staff and discuss after the results from survey area available.

Collection Philosophy-DRAFT

1. Sarah presented a draft copy of the Collection Anywhere Collection Philosophy. 
2. We need to know why before we know how.  The philosophy will shape what ends up in the library and in CAC.  Adult collections will get smaller. More popular/high demand collections in the library.  CAC with a deeper collection.
3. Provide new ways to deliver our products faster and easier.  Consider adding kiosks.
4. Staff waiting to see what it looks like.  Aides are excited about some of the changes.  Some staff are worried about cutting down browsing collection, especially in smaller locations.  Getting newer stuff out faster may help.

Space in libraries-more standardization on space.

1. Some libraries will reduce collection footprint to make room for other things, such as maker spaces or collaborative use.
2. All libraries will also change the collection space itself.
   
   1. Shorter shelving-helps with lighting and some line of sight/opens library up.  Better accessibility for those with disabilities.
   2. Eliminate lower bottom shelves to make it easier for browsing. 
   3. Face out shelving, windows of opportunity.  We need to determine what percentage of collection should be face out.
   4. Consider bins for picture books to do more face out. 
   5. Music CDs and DVDs-consider utilizing processing provided by vendors. 
   6. Face out within the collection.  Eliminate barriers so members don’t feel that displays within the collection aren’t for them to take.  Consider signs or speech bubbles strategically placed within the displays.  Aides should be trained to refresh displays.   
   7. Consider displays near the stacks.  Benches near displays to invite members and offer seating options, i.e., take out one range in the middle to strategically place a bench in an inviting or attractive section (i.e. cooking or gardening). 
   8. How to utilize the taller shelves currently in libraries.  Remove top shelves.
   9. Display furniture.  At some libraries end caps have been more successful than face out within the collection. 
   10. What kind of furniture do you prefer? Mixed use, seating area and display combined, doesn’t work well. 
   11. Need to automate location codes for displays to assist with retrieval and locating by staff and members.
   12. Sarah asked the committee to talk with staff and report back at next meeting. 

Potential visits

1. Sarah indicated that there will tours scheduled to visit the storage facilities at OU and OSU
2. Consider visiting the Las Vegas Library System which has a large storage facility from which they transport 40,000 items per day. 
3. Sarah asked the committee for questions that can be asked as staff visit with other facilities:
   
   1. Has circulation gone down for items housed in the storage facility? 
   2. Do you do anything like virtual browsing for items in your center?
   3. What was done with the space freed up in libraries, programs, statistics, maker spaces?
   4. What are your goals for turn-around time? How many deliveries per day? 
   5. How did they decide what materials went in the center?
   6. What are criteria for weeding the center?
   7. What kind of staffing do you have in the center? Professional? Support?
   8. How staffing at library impacted with receiving items from center. 
   9. How they pull requests? 
   10. How are items inventoried? 
   11. How was the public educated and what is public reception?
   12. Do they buy new material for the center?
   13. Does the collection float? 
   14. Does the center do more holds than the library or whichever one is closest? 
   15. Who is responsible for what is added to the center?  Does everything the library weeds go to the center? 
   16. What services do they supply, other than storage or distribution? 
   17. How do they manage general weeding system-wide?
   18. How do they communicate between the center and libraries? 
   19. How many libraries do they serve and how big is the geographic area?

Sarah requests that the committee continue to discuss with staff and gather feedback.

Meeting adjourned.

Action Items

• Formulate survey questions for staff to provide feedback on the CAC.
• Continue to gather feedback from staff and discuss after the results from survey are available.
• Discuss shelving and space needs with staff and report back at next meeting.
• Send Sarah any questions you'd like to have answered while surveying or touring other libraries that have materials warehouses.