Technology Subcommittee Minutes


Technology Subcommittee of the CVL Steering Committee
July 30, 1998
CPE Board Room, Frankfort, Kentucky

The Technology Subcommittee met on 7-30-98 at 10:00 a.m. in the CPE building in Frankfort. An agenda of three items had been assigned by the CVL Steering Committee to the Subcommittee for discussion and recommendations. A draft timeline for subcom- mittee activities was prepared by Miko Pattie.

Present at the meeting were Angela Davig (KSU), Paul Fuller (KCTCS), Bob Glass (AIKCU), Tari Keller (UK), Roberta Kirby (EKU), Elsie Pritchard (MoSU), and Coy Harmon (MuSU).

The first item discussed was based on item number five from the consultant's list of fourteen items that should be addressed by the Steering Committee (handout available).

5. Determine the best way to offer access to external databases. Options include direct access through commercial, external sites; access through in-state servers to the external sites; or load the databases at one or more sites within the state.

Discussion resulted in the following parameters and assumptions:

*The option to acquire Endeavor statewide should be reexamined before the three year contract expires. (Note: CPE staff reported that state assistance in funding the acquisition of Endeavor as a result of the U of L contract would be available to all SAALCK institutions).

*Consider other single-system options.

*Prove the viability of the system concept then pursue a statewide effort to acquire a single system.

*Determine what the database providers can offer in the delivery of their products so that we can make more informed decisions concerning our mode of access.

The following recommendations/statements were formulated by the subcommittee and reported at the Steering Committee meeting later in the day.

A. Provide direct access to commercial databases by January 1999 with provision for CVL web page and CVL icons on local systems where possible.

B. Pursue the installation of a server within the state as soon as possible after direct access is assured and technical staff are hired.

C. Loading commercial databases within the state is an option that can be considered after the viability of the CVL system is demonstrated. However, loading Kentuckiana in-state will be required.

The second item discussed was based on item number seven from the consultant's list of fourteen items to be addressed.

7. If local servers are used, where should they be located? How many should there be? If the databases are loaded within the state, what would be the hardware/software requirements? Where should the files be loaded?

Discussion of item seven resulted in the position that a server will be necessary for some to access CVL/CVU from home and for access to project-maintained databases such as Kentuckiana. A server would be optional for other sites that want to go through a server.

The following recommendations/statements were formulated by the subcommittee and reported at the Steering Committee meeting later in the day.

A. One server should be installed at an appropriate location such as CPE or DIS and, based on the recommendations of project technical staff to be hired, a second server should be installed elsewhere in the state to work in tandem with or as a backup to the first server.

B. At this time the subcommittee has no recommendation that commercial databases be loaded within the state.

Discussion of item 15, which was added by the Steering Committee to the consultant's list of fourteen items to be examined, was limited since the Steering Committee itself had stated in an earlier meeting that "local" hardware/software requirements would be the responsibility of individual sites.

15. Inform all potential CVL participants/users of infrastructure requirements. Hardware and software needed to access the CVL will be the responsibility of the individual sites (schools, libraries, academic institutions, etc.).

The following statement was formulated by the subcommittee and reported at the Steering Committee meeting later in the day.

A. The Technology Subcommittee will send a general statement to all potential sites that local hardware/software requirements to access CVL/CVU will be the responsibility of the local sites. The technical staff (to be hired) will supply additional requirements and answer questions from the individual sites.

Note: During the Steering Committee meeting, CPE staff reported that financial assistance may be available to some sites or categories of sites to acquire essential hardware/software, line access, etc. Until this issue is clarified, I recommend that the subcommittee not send the letter mentioned above. We can discuss this at a subsequent meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. The recommendations and statements formulated by the subcommittee were reported to the Steering Committee which convened its meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thank you all for your participation. I will notify you as soon as possible concerning our next meeting.


This page was last updated September 18, 1998.

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