Ontario Engineering Librarians’ Interest Group

Does anyone have any experience with a service called Orderline?

According to their site, Orderline sells the OBC 2006 in various formats, including online. But when we asked about the advantages/differences between their online product and the e-laws version they could not say. They would not make a trial or preview available to us either.
We had been looking around for an online product superior to the e-laws but gave up on this idea. I’m curious to know what your experience has been.

-Cris Sewerin (U of T)

Does anyone have any thoughts or comments on the Synthesis Digital Library of Engineering and Computer Science by Morgan & Claypool? It’s an e-book collection of in-depth “lectures” written by experts in various fields of engineering, but heavily weighted toward electrical and computer eng. When I first saw it at ASEE in 2005 there were very few lectures available. Now 40-50 lectures are available and another ~20 are coming online this spring.
I understand that York, Toronto and Ottawa have recently subscribed. I’m interested in how it’s being promoted and used, and if there’s interest in recommending it to OCUL.

–Mike White (Queen’s)

In a recent STLQ posting, Randy Reichardt reports on a new student web site created by ICIS, publishers of ICIS Chemical Business Americans (formerly Chemical Market Reporter). Randy also reports that ICIS has included in the new site the last complete set of CMR chemical prices from Aug. 28, 2006.

Mike White

The Engineering Libraries Division (ELD) of ASEE is offering a one-time travel stipend of up to $300 for new librarians who wish to attend the 2007 ASEE annual conference in Honolulu, June 24-27.

Applicants must be ELD members in their first 5 years of employment as professional librarians. Application instructions are available at the ELD ALOHA Program website.

Mike White
Queen’s University

Minutes of the Engineering Librarians’ Meeting

OLA Super Conference, 2007

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Present: Cristina Sewerin, Brian Cameron, Jiabin Wang, Anne Fullerton, Kathryn Ball, Laura Newton-Miller, Pearl Jacobson, Gail Nichol, Leeanne Romane, Kristov Avramsson, Sharon Murphy, Lisa Doucette, Michael White, Vivian Feng, Ed Perry, Kim Cornell, Edith Arbach, John Dupuis, Morag Coyne

1) Welcome and Introductions

Cristina Sewerin welcomed the attendees and provided some background on the purpose of the meeting. Attendees briefly introduced themselves and highlighted issues that they would like to be addressed by the group.

2) Issues Raised

Networking, reference questions, forum to discuss new & present products including lobbying on OCUL consortial deals, library instruction, approval plans, the accreditation process, patents, liaison ideas, reach-out to faculty, tech transfer offices, sharing expertise, standards, Virtual reference or IM.

3) Outcomes

Vehicles to continue discussions included the ELD Listserv, the STS-L Listserv, the

CDEN Listerv (Canadian Design Engineering Network), or a new listserv.

The idea of a blog was discussed and it was agreed that an Ontario Engineering Librarians’ Blog would be created. Michael White, Cristina Sewerin, & Jiabin Wang offered to set up the blog.

Conference components and further meetings were discussed. These ideas included an

OLA roundtable or preconference session and presentations at the Workshop for Instruction in Library Use (WILU). It was noted that the ASEE St. Lawrence Section is meeting in November in Toronto. Michael White offered to investigate organizing a meeting to correspond to this event.

Formal affiliation was also discussed. The idea of forming an OCUL group, like the maps & data group was discussed but we decided to keep the group independent and fluid.

A further point regarding membership. A question as to whether we should include corporate engineering librarians or designate a liaison with other groups. Michael White volunteered to link up with ASE & Kim Cornell agreed to connect with SLA.

4) Summary

a) a blog will be created

b) a formal meeting in November at ASEE will be investigated

c) decided to remain unaffiliated

Meeting adjourned at 11:55 AM