NASIG Newsletter

TECHNOLOGY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE
Donnice Cochenour, Project Manager

This is the third update on the status of the website migration.

The NASIG website content is being migrated from the old site to the new site by Jia Mi and members of the Electronic Communications Committee. The biggest item left to complete is migration of the conference Proceedings. Other publications (Newsletter and NASIGuides) have been migrated, as well as most of the remaining Web pages. An exciting change on the new site will be the ability for members to update their personal information in the membership Directory through their “My Profile” Web page. We will continue to link to the existing Jobs Blog rather than setting up the ArcStone Jobs function at this time, leaving that function to implement later.

The development of private Web working space for committees has been completed and operates based on the committee assignment being checked off on a member’s record in the membership database. Updating access to this work space will be as simple as unchecking the committee box in someone’s record in the membership database and checking it in the new committee member’s record. A committee member accesses their private work space from a link off their “My Profile” page under the “My Membership” tab. Private Web space for a new committee or task force can be created simply by adding that committee to the list of committees in the membership database. While this isn’t a perfect solution (there still appears to be no way for a committee to upload a file and keep it confidential – anyone with admin permission to upload documents will be able to access any documents uploaded to the site), this has been one of the most difficult tasks for ArcStone to complete to our specifications.

ArcStone continues to work on the integration of the website with the AMO Administration modules. Yet to be completed are: linking the “Search the Directory” function with the membership database in Admin, completing the ability to search the website, linking the “Events Calendar” with the events function in Admin, linking the Discussion Forum to the website, and linking the Photo Gallery in Admin to the Conference Photos Web page.

DISCUSSION FORUMS
The Discussion Forum space has been created for the general NASIG membership and currently has three different “chatrooms”: one for the annual conference, one for general discussion topics, and one for announcements. More chatrooms for different purposes can be added upon request, but must be done by ArcStone staff. (This isn’t something we can do ourselves through the AMO Admin module). ArcStone also created a separate configuration of the discussion forum software to allow a committee to conduct private discussions to test as an alternative to using the listserv to communicate committee business. The ECC is the pilot committee for this test. There is apparently no way with this software to create a chatroom within the general discussion forum and restrict access to a limited group of people. Each committee will have to have their own discussion forum space, separate from the general membership discussion forum if we decide to use this method to replace listserv communications.

WEBSITE PERMISSIONS
The Rights/Roles/Users function of AMO Admin now allows appropriate permissions to be assigned for Web editing, as well as for access to specific functions within the AMO Admin modules. Individuals can be given permission to edit content on a single Web page, or all content within a tab such as “About NASIG”, as well as permissions for AMO Admin functions for Events (Conference), Members (database), Discussion Forum (allows deleting and editing content, but not creating a new chatroom), Messaging (broadcasting emails to the entire membership, or selected groups, committees, etc), Jobs, and Administration (assigning permissions, uploading files, survey management, etc).

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL/JOIN NASIG
The ability to pay dues to renew membership or for someone new to join NASIG through the website is under development. The online form for new members is being developed, and membership renewal is being tied into the credit card payment system and the membership database to automatically update the “renewal date” at the point of payment.

CONFERENCE EVALUATION
The Evaluation & Assessment Committee chair has been introduced to the survey software on AMO and is in the process of creating the conference evaluation instrument. There is an issue with non-members being able to complete the survey online because the standard implementation of the survey software requires users to log in through the membership database. We are still investigating alternatives to this login requirement with ArcStone.

CONFERENCE HANDOUTS
The ability to upload PowerPoint, Word, Excel, PDF, and other document types is now functional in the AMO Admin – Documents Upload section. A separate directory exists to upload conference handouts. After a file is uploaded, the AMO software assigns a URL which can be used to create public access to the file on the website. This is the alternative for the Moodle space used for conference handouts in the past.

PHASE II
The blog and wiki have been placed in a Phase II implementation and won’t be completed until after the main website goes live. There are also several items in the reports functionality that need to be completed. (We are currently unable to draw membership reports based on join date or renewal date, for example). We will not wait for this to be fixed before we go live with the website, as it is a back end function.

One of the biggest challenges for both the NASIG volunteers who have worked on the migration, as well as ArcStone staff, has been to have site development, migration and public use (registration, discussion forum, voting) all going on at the same time. The site is still on the development server with all debugging software in place which causes many error messages to appear at unpredictable times and also slows down response times. ArcStone has assured us that performance will be much faster once we are in production and out of testing/development.

The go-live date is May 23 and ArcStone is committed to meeting that deadline.

Thanks to Lisa Blackwell and the Database & Directory Committee members, as well as to Jia Mi and the Electronic Communications Committee members who have been intimately involved in the daily challenges of content migration and implementation.

MENTORING PROGRAM SIGN UP APPROACHES
Eleanor Cook and Katy Ginanni, Co-Chairs

Just so members and others interested can have it on their radar, we’d like to remind everyone about the NASIG Mentoring Program.  The Mentoring Program provides a chance for seasoned conference attendees to be matched with first-time attendees during the annual conference in order for both to benefit from the chance to network. First-time attendees potentially can gain great insight into how the conference works, what opportunities there might be to get more involved in the organization, and possibly make a new good friend.

How does it work? First-time attendees are matched with member volunteers who have been to at least one NASIG conference before. We automatically provide mentors to all NASIG award winners. Other first-time attendees may sign up as well. We try to match participants based on their professional interests and other information provided. Yes, it IS a little bit like romantic matchmaking in that there is no guarantee the pairs will “click.” However, with an open mind and a willingness to get to know someone new, the experience can be loads of fun and also can provide for surprising prospects for future growth.

For more information, see the NASIG website at: http://nasig.org/mentor/index.htm.  (Please note that this web site is in the process of being updated for the 2008 conference.)

BOARD VOTES TO ALLOW ORGANIZATIONAL SPONSORSHIP
Jill Emery, NASIG Vice President/President-Elect

At the January 2008 NASIG Board meeting, the board considered a proposal to allow for organizational sponsorship at future NASIG conferences. After a long discussion and careful consideration, the board agreed unanimously to accept the proposal and move forward with organizational sponsorship at future NASIG annual conferences.

Organizational sponsorship will allow NASIG to keep the conference registration at a reasonable cost and still provide top-notch programs and numerous networking opportunities to the annual conference attendees. In addition, organizational sponsorship will also allow us to partner with other groups, such as NISO and UKSG, to offer a larger variety of preconference and continuing education opportunities to the membership.

Organizational sponsorships will be available at the following levels: Continue reading 23:1 (2008:03) Board Votes to Allow Organizational Sponsorship…

PUB/PR COMMITTEE SEEKS ADDITIONS TO UPDATED
SPEAKERS AND CONSULTANTS DIRECTORY
Glen Wiley, Co-Chair

Some of NASIG’s greatest assets are the talents, energies, and sharing natures of its members.  In order to make the most of the members’ assets, the NASIG Publications and Public Relations Committee has revamped and renamed the Human Resources Directory to the Speakers and Consultants Directory.  The Directory now features updated profiles, new subject categories, and more consistent profile information.

This revised Directory is provided to help anyone find topical experts who are willing to travel and speak at conferences, or be consulted personally about their areas of special expertise. You can browse the Directory by name or subject area.  The Speakers and Consultants Directory currently contains more than 30 member profiles and 60 topics.  Some of the new topics include: metadata schemas, open access, scholarly communications, institutional repositories, Web 2.0, RDA, usage statistics, and electronic resource management systems. To make use of this NASIG resource, go to http://www.nasig.org/publications/hrd/index.htm. Continue reading 23:1 (2008:03) Updating the Speakers and Consultants Directory…

VOLUNTEER FOR NASIG
Jill Emery, NASIG Vice President/President-Elect

It is that time of year again when NASIG starts looking for new committee members!

This year, we will be looking for one special person to become the archivist-in-training and work with Sheryl Williams to take over the role as NASIG archivist.

We are also looking for someone fluent in Spanish to serve on the Awards & Recognition Committee to help with the Mexican Student Grant Award.

The other new opportunity available is serving on the Library School Outreach Committee. An appointment on this committee can help with attracting new members to NASIG and to the serials realm.

Please indicate your abilities or interest for either of these positions or the other 25+ volunteer slots we have available on the volunteer form.

Volunteering is easy! Just fill out the volunteer form given here: Continue reading 23:1 (2008:03) Volunteer for NASIG…

TECHNOLOGY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE
Donnice Cochenour, Project Manager

The NASIG technology plan implementation is progressing.  Data from our membership database has been loaded into the new database on the ArcStone site and Lisa Blackwell and I are in the process of testing its latest iteration.  The membership database is the underpinning for much of the functionality of the new site including online voting, which is our next milestone.  A draft online ballot has been set up by ArcStone and by the time you read this, the NASIG Executive Board, along with members of the Database & Directory Committee and the Nominations & Elections Committee, will have completed testing of this function with the expectation that voting will be open to all active members on February 25.

Two website designs, one for the public (non-members) and another for members, have been approved by the board and ArcStone is in the process of setting up the infrastructure to support these designs.  All of the committee chairs have been involved in identifying the “behind the scenes” working spaces on the existing web site used for their committee activities.  These needs will be incorporated into the new website design.

Pictures from the various locations of past conferences will provide color and visual interest on the new site.  Members of the Electronic Communications Committee have been busy contacting all of the campus and city offices from past conferences asking for suitable digital images.  In addition to providing a colorful website, these images will bring back many fond memories for lots of us.

The next step in the process is developing the online registration for the annual conference.

NEW WEBSITE PREVIEW

You’ve heard about it.  Now take a look at NASIG’s new website that will be launched later this year! 

The images below are prototype versions of top level and second level pages for the public and NASIG members.  Some details will be different in the final versions.  Click on the images to view larger versions.

Public Home Page	Public Interior Page
Member Home Page	Member Interior Page

Public Home Page (PDF)
Public Interior Page (PDF)
Member Home Page (PDF)
Member Interior Page (PDF)

TECH PLAN IMPLEMENTATION BEGINS
Donnice Cochenour, Project Manager

For someone whose first technology task for NASIG was to assist with mounting the Newsletter on the organization’s Gopher site, the world has certainly changed! I’m pleased to report that the implementation of the new NASIG Technology Plan is underway. We have a very ambitious timeline with ArcStone Information Services for the project.  By January, 2008 we expect to have our new online membership Directory operational and the conference website launched, following in February with online voting, online discussion forums, conference registration and membership renewals.  By June, we expect to have the website redesigned as well as the blog and wiki setup.  I’m sure there will be other items as the project moves forward, but these are the big milestones.

Currently, Lisa Blackwell and I are holding regular conference calls with ArcStone staff to review the existing structure of our membership database in preparation for its migration to their site.  Under the new integrated structure, this requires planning for needs not currently associated with the membership database and Directory, such as requirements for conference registration, conference evaluation, and authorizing access to the restricted sections of the new website for various committee members. ArcStone has also begun its review of our existing website in preparation for its redesign. All of the NASIG committee chairs and the board have been involved in answering questions designed to address the organization’s culture and face we wish to present to the world through our new website.

As work progresses, I’ll be using that What’s New Web page to keep folks up-to-date on what’s happening, when milestones are reached, etc. Also, many of you in your roles as NASIG volunteers will be called on to test and assist with various stages of the migration.

2008 AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Patrick Carr and Clint Chamberlain, Co-Chairs

The Awards & Recognition Committee is pleased to announce the beginning of its application cycle for NASIG’s 2008 grants, awards, and scholarships. Every year, NASIG awards student travel grants, awards for promising serialists, scholarships for library school students, and an international award to aid in serials research. Since 1988, NASIG has granted over 130 student grant awards—including 6 grants for Mexican students, 5 Marcia Tuttle Awards for international serials research, 9 Fritz Schwartz educational scholarships, 22 Horizon Awards to recognize up-and-coming members of the profession, and, beginning in 2006, the Serials Specialist award to an outstanding serials paraprofessional.

Expanding awards promotion has been a priority on A&R’s agenda for the year. For 2008, our focus is on reaching wider audience for NASIG awards and attracting a larger pool of applicants. In particular, the committee has slightly modified the requirements for the Marcia Tuttle Award for International Serials Research. Plans are also in place for increased marketing of all of the awards. For more awards information, please visit the NASIG Awards Web page at http://www.nasig.org/awards/. All awards will be presented at the 23d Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, in June 2008.

2006 NASIG CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE AS A MONOGRAPH!
Carol Ann Borchert, Proceedings Editor

Mile-High Views: Surveying the Serials Vista has been published by Haworth as a separate monograph for purchase. Also published as volume 52, no. 1-4 of the Serials Librarian, the 2006 Proceedings were edited by Carol Ann Borchert and Gary Ives. The NASIG Conference Proceedings provide in-depth reporting of the various sessions at the conference which took place May 4-7, 2006, in Denver. For more information, please see http://www.haworthpressinc.com/store/product.asp?sku=6058.

The current co-editors have requested files for the 2006 Proceedings to be added to the NASIG Web pages, so stay tuned!