The annual meeting of the region's Resource Library (RL) Directors was held at the UCLA Faculty Center on Thursday, October 5, 1995. This meeting provides an important opportunity for face-to-face discussions of RML programs and services with the d irectors of the region's largest academic libraries. PSRML staff rely on their knowledge and experience of the issues facing regional libraries, and receive valuable feedback and suggestions for new and continuing RML programs. The meeting also serves t o update PSRML staff on the activities and the issues facing the directors in their own libraries.
The meeting started with a general discussion of World Wide Web (WWW) activities at the Resource Libraries. Many of the Libraries have developed their own home pages and are coping with the issue of how to integrate within their existing staffs the additional responsibilities of maintaining access to Internet resources. Several RLs are also working with different departments in their institutions to develop home pages for them. While most Libraries are providing instruction in the use of the Web and other Internet services, very few of them are able to extend access to these services to non-affiliated individuals. Either because of lack of space and equipment, or because of institutional concern over privacy, copyright and licensing issues, mos t RLs are only able to provide in-library access to the Internet for their own students, faculty and staff.
PSRML staff then provided a review of recent developments with the NN/LM Home Page and Region 7's Page which is being redesigned. Links are being made to each RL Home Page as it is developed. At the suggestion of the directors, further information about the RLs will be added, including explanations of ILL services and RL service to unaffiliated health professionals. In addition, links to regional hospital library pages will be developed as they become available.
A major discussion topic at the meeting was the suggestion to develop a cooperative approach to collection development of Internet resources among the eleven libraries in order to provide evaluative information and linkages for libraries in the regi on (see separate article for a description of these discussions). RL directors agreed that this would be a valuable service to smaller institutions in the region and PSRML will therefore pursue this suggestion.
The upcoming Technology Awareness/Transfer conference which PSRML is planning for next April 11, in conjunction with the Resource Library at University of California San Diego, was another discussion item at the meeting. Directors and RML staff exp lored various possibilities for program ideas and speakers.
After an update on recent RL activities, the afternoon discussion began with a review of the questions recently received by PSRML on its response to the proposal to serve as the Regional Medical Library in the new contract beginning next May. Sever al of the questions related to the Resource Libraries and their role in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. Directors discussed several issues, including the proposed role of RLs in outreach activities, and the need for: face-to-face meetings with PSRML staff; the addition of non-academic libraries serving as RLs in the region; and a more defined list of RL responsibilities. Everyone agreed that because of the commonality of purpose of the group and its role as a "focus group" for discussing ideas, in-person meetings were the most efficient method of conducting business. Because of their enormously varied collections and greater staff size, academic libraries are in a better position to serve as regional resources and make commitments to PS RML outreach and other program activities.
The meeting ended with a discussion of various resource sharing issues. Alternatives to a print version of the Resource Libraries Union List of Serials were debated because future changes in UCLA's library computing services will no longer allow for production of the list using current procedures. Sales of the list have dropped dramatically in recent years as mor e libraries use DOCLINE for their ILL requests. The general feeling was that while staff at the RLs as well as in the region's smaller libraries still find a printed list useful, an online searchable file would be more helpful. PSRML will pursue various possibilities for developing an online file. SERHOLD updating was also discussed and everyone agreed that the online updating capability has improved fill rates significantly. Regional procedures for updating seem to be working well.
Next, the use of Ariel by Resource Libraries was considered. While several of the RLs have this capability or are planning to implement it, there have been technical problems at different sites. Libraries who do use Ariel are not charging extra fo r this service. On a final note, the increase in costs for ILL service at Resource Libraries was discussed. At last year's meeting directors agreed to postpone raising regional charges even though several had experienced increases in their operational costs which the regional charge no longer covers. Using consumer price index information, PSRML will project current and future ILL costs, based on the last cost study conducted in the region, and will consult further with the directors before a final de cision on how much regional charges may need to be raised. It was agreed that no increases will be made during the current RML contract which expires April 30. 1996.