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Notes from JSMIN meeting -- Dec. 5, 2013

Attending: Joyce, Colleen, Sarah, Robert, Mark, Kate, Boaz, Naun, Bill, Jim

We reviewed the TSI-related issues and decisions from the 2CUL Steering Committee meeting on Nov. 22nd.  We confirmed or re-confirmed the following --

1. The target date for Alma implementation is now July 1, 2016.
2. It is likely that 2CUL will move forward with the appointment of an Alma Implementation Steering Committee, project leader, and project manager in the first part of 2014.  This group will be responsible for ongoing work in the LMS evaluation process -- including site visits, monitoring progress in the development of other systems, development of a pre-implementation testing plan, etc.
3. In spite of the restrictions on TSI reporting structures, the administrations of the two libraries still see TSI as an "integration."  We can do (or at least propose) anything we want in terms of working together, as long as we don't cross any formal supervisory or accounting boundaries.
4. There is likely to be a significant overlap between the work of TSI and that of Alma testing and implementation.  While it will be important to keep the charges and priorities of the two projects separate, simultaneous work on both initiatives will still create a significant overload for technical services staff.  We may have to de-prioritize some of the work on TSI in order to meet Alma testing deadlines.

Kate updated the group on the TSI Steering Committee's work to recharge the functional working groups for TSI Phase 2.  She reiterated the underlying assumption that Phase 2 represents a shift from information-gathering to the actual work of integration.  Mark noted that at least in one case TSI Steering moved too quickly in informing working group leads about proposed changes in chairing assignments.  It is important not to undermine or circumvent the responsibility of staff supervisors to speak to individuals before such changes are announced.

We reviewed a draft of Cornell job description for an LTS/TSI Documentation Coordinator position, an assignment to be funded by salary savings from the Mellon grant.  Columbia participants suggested changes to the job requirements (to further emphasize the need or preference for considerable technical services experience) and to include something about the role of the JSMIN group to approve the concepts and design for the shared documentation plan.  Bill invited the Columbia members of the group to suggest language to cover these two points.