Please find attached the notes from the LCAOM meeting in San
Francisco on April 30, 2008.

May 1, 2008

Minutes of  CCAOMLCAOM meeting in San Francisco, April 30, 2008

In attendance: Jim Emdy, Five Branches University (Chair), Claudia
O'Neill (ITEA), Autumn Grubb (Dragon Rises), Johnathan Heywood (Yo
San), Naomi Boering (Pacific College, San Diego), Minmay Liang
(ACAOM, Houston), Andres Beth (ACCHS, Oakland Ca.), Mahate Osborne
(AIMC Berkeley, Ca.)

1. Discussion of an information packet provided by the Chair,
including minutes of the last meeting in Portland, library survey,
software evaluation and book lists.

2. Discussion of impact of a doctoral degree on library resources.
In general, smaller libraries may face more difficulties in this
area.  The consensus was that a multi-faceted approach is needed to
assess and create the necessary resources for a doctoral degree.
These resources include books, AV resources and sources of current
awareness of developments in the alternative and mainstream medical
arenas.  Physical periodical holdings and online resources must be
adequate to address the needs of the institution, and sufficient
tools and training should be provided to utilize them.  Some of the
resources can be developed in individual libraries, while other
information may be gathered by using the resources of nearby public
and college libraries.

3. How are libraries to be evaluated for resource adequacy?  A three-
prong criteria set was discussed:
	 A. Assessment of the goals and mission of the institution.
	 B. Assessment of the library and information resources in
relation to A.
	 C. Assessment of the tools and training needed to make
resources available.
Mere qualitative examination of a library, e.g. number of titles,
computers, etc may not be giving the best picture of library
performance, but are part of a larger, quantitive analysis, taking
into account also
	 D. Sufficiency of budget resources.
	 E. Future plans to enhance information programs.

It should be understood that these criteria are goal-oriented
suggestions and not a formula for specific lists of required texts,
etc.

4. There was some discussion about current periodical materials,
whether it can be done entirely online,  It was generally agreed that
there should also be basic physical copies of ournals to at least
supplement online resources.

5. Naomi provided information on Cybertools for libraries, a major
software package used by a number of the larger schools of Oriental
Medicine.  Libraryworld.net was also mentioned, and  a number of
libraries are using this software.  Libraries using the same software
package may be able to form "union" connections, which allows for
direct sharing of catalog records.  She also provided information on
a program called Marchive, which provides offsite catalog services
and maintains a database which can later be converted to a an
internet library software provider.  Access to the OCLC database
provides  many usable catalog records, particularly for items in
Chinese, Japanese or Korean languages.

6. A very provisional survey of library size and resources was
presented and discussed.  It is clear that there is great disparity
in the size and scope of member libraries.  A more refined survey may
be carried out to get a sense of the OM library world and assist in
finding ways to provide mutual assistance.

7. The group recommended that libraries that are not part of the
CCAOMLCAOM group at Yahoo.com be encouraged to enroll.  The only
requirement from Yahoo is that you have or establish a free email
account with the provider.  We urge the executive director to send a
blanket email to school presidents to encourage wider participation
in the group, which currently has about 30 members.

8. The next meeting of the group will be in Chicago, Ill. in October.

Please find attached the revised notes from the LCAOM meeting in San
Francisco on April 30, 2008.  Corrections/additions in upper case.

May 1, 2008

Minutes of CCAOMLCAOM meeting in San Francisco, April 30, 2008

In attendance: Jim Emdy, Five Branches University (Chair), Claudia
O'Neill (ITEA), Autumn Grubb (Dragon Rises), Johnathan Heywood (Yo
San), Naomi Boering (Pacific College, San Diego), Minmay Liang
(ACAOM, Houston), Andres Beth (ACCHS, Oakland Ca.), Mahate Osborne
(AIMC Berkeley, Ca.)

1. Discussion of an information packet provided by the Chair,
including minutes of the last meeting in Portland, library survey,
software evaluation and book lists.

2. Discussion of impact of a doctoral degree on library resources.
In general, smaller libraries may face more difficulties in this
area. The consensus was that a multi-faceted approach is needed to
assess and create the necessary resources for a doctoral degree.
These resources include books, AV resources and sources of current
awareness of developments in the alternative and mainstream medical
arenas. Physical periodical holdings and online resources must be
adequate to address the needs of the institution, and sufficient
tools and training should be provided to utilize them. Some of the
resources can be developed in individual libraries, while other
information may be gathered by using the resources of nearby public
and college libraries.

3. How are libraries to be evaluated for resource adequacy? A three-
prong criteria set was discussed:
A. Assessment of the goals and mission of the institution.
B. Assessment of the library and information resources in
relation to A.
C. Assessment of the tools and training needed to make
resources available.
Mere QUANTITATIVE examination of a library, e.g. number of titles,
computers, etc may not be giving the best picture of library
performance, but are part of a larger, QUALITATIVE analysis, taking
into account also
D. Sufficiency of budget resources.
E. Future plans to enhance information programs.

It should be understood that these criteria are goal-oriented
suggestions and not a formula for specific lists of required texts,
etc.

4. There was some discussion about current periodical materials,
whether it can be done entirely online, It was generally agreed that
there should also be basic physical copies of ournals to at least
supplement online resources.

5. Naomi provided information on Cybertools for libraries, a major
software package used by a number of the larger schools of Oriental
Medicine. Libraryworld.net was also mentioned, and a number of
libraries are using this software. Libraries using the same software
package may be able to form "union" connections, which allows for
direct sharing of catalog records. She also provided information on
a program called Marchive, which provides offsite catalog services
and maintains a database which can later be converted to a an
internet library software provider. Access to the OCLC database
provides many usable catalog records, particularly for items in
Chinese, Japanese or Korean languages.

6. A very provisional survey of library size and resources was
presented and discussed. It is clear that there is great disparity
in the size and scope of member libraries. A more refined survey may
be carried out to get a sense of the OM library world and assist in
finding ways to provide mutual assistance.

7. The group recommended that libraries that are not part of the
CCAOMLCAOM group at Yahoo.com be encouraged to enroll. The only
requirement from Yahoo is that you have or establish a free email
account with the provider. We urge the executive director to send a
blanket email to school presidents to encourage wider participation
in the group, which currently has about 30 members.

8. A WORD DOCUMENT LISTING DIRECT CONTACT TO OM LIBRARIES WAS CREATED
SOME YEARS AGO.  IT HAS BECOME VERY OUT OF DATE.  WE BELIEVE THAT THE
NEW CCAOM WEB PAGE WITH CLEAR LISTING OF MEMBER SCHOOLS IS ADEQUATE
FOR CONTACT PURPOSES AND THE WORD DOCUMENT WILL NO LONGER BE MAINTAINED.

9. The next meeting of the group will be in Chicago, Ill. in October.

This is a reminder that the Library Committee will meet on Wednesday,
October 15th in Chicago at 1:30 p.m.  Room at the hotel to be
announced.  Please submit items for the agenda through this group.
Here are a couple suggestions:
1. implications of the new ACAOM library evaluation format.

2. Possibility of forming local consortia to jointly purchase more
expenseive databases.

3. Procedures for providing materials to faculty--purchase or loan
from the collection?

Jim Emdy
Chair

This is a reminder that the Library Committee will meet on Wednesday,
October 15th in Chicago at 1:30 p.m. Room at the hotel to be
announced. Please submit items for the agenda through this group.
Here are a couple suggestions:
1. implications of the new ACAOM library evaluation format.
I am working on getting the form for distribution.
2. Possibility of forming local consortia to jointly purchase more
expensive databases.

3. Procedures for providing materials to faculty--purchase or loan
from the collection?

4. library role in preparing students for local and national examinations.

Jim Emdy
Chair

From a recent meeting of ACCAHC

Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care
ACCAHC Research Working Group (RWG) Sets Priorities in Face-to-Face
Retreat July 22-23, 2008
After a year of phone conferencing, the ACCAHC RWG met face-to-face at
the home of co-chair Christine Choate, DC, PhD, director of the
research center at Palmer College. All but one of the RWG members were
able to attend. RWG co-chair Richard Hammerschlag, PhD, from the
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, chaired the meeting. The group
first clarified a mission statement:
ACCAHC Research Working Group Members at the July 22-23 Retreat
Left to right, standing: Reed Phillips, DC, ND, Mitchell Haas, DC, MA,
Carlo Calabrese, ND, MPH, Martha Menard, PhD, CMT, Wendy Weber, ND,
MPH, PhD, Lixin Lao, LAc, PhD, Janet Kahn, PhD, LMT, Heather Zwickey,
PhD (observer)
Seated, co-chairs:  Christine Choate, DC, PhD and Richard
Hammerschlag, PhD
Not present: Patricia Herman, ND, MS, PhD, David Barnes, PhD
Photo (and ACCAHC staff person): Beth Rosenthal, PhD, MBA, MPH

The mission of the ACCAHC Research Working Group is to promote mutual
understanding, collaborative activities, and interdisciplinary health
care education through research.  The RWG members agreed on three
broad recommendations to begin fulfilling this mission: 1) shift
culture at CAM institutions to embrace research; (2) re-direct the
research agenda regarding these disciplines so that it is of use to
the professions; and 3) build research capacity within the different
disciplines. The group decided that #2 was too large for that meeting,
and tabled it for the time being. Subgroups developed action steps to
move #1 and #3. A key focal area is practice-based research networks
(PBRN).  For more details, please contact us. Good work!

does this relate to the working and mission of CCAOMLCAOM?

also you may now contact me directly through a new email address:

librarian@...

Jim Emdy

This is a reminder that the Library Committee will meet on Wednesday,
October 15th in Chicago at 1:30 p.m. Room at the hotel to be
announced. Please submit items for the agenda through this group.
Here is the tentative agenda.  Hope to see many of you there.

1 Implications of the new ACAOM library evaluation format.
I am working on getting the form for distribution.

2. Possibility of forming local consortia to jointly purchase more
expensive databases.
Evaluation of research resources available from within the libraries,
in the community and available for purchase.

3. Procedures for providing materials to faculty--purchase or loan
from the collection?

4. Library role in preparing students for local and national
examinations.
Book lists relative to the exams will be available at the meeting.


5.  Implications for CCAOM libraries of ACCAHC research efforts.

From a recent meeting of ACCAHC

Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care
ACCAHC Research Working Group (RWG) Sets Priorities in Face-to-Face
Retreat July 22-23, 2008
After a year of phone conferencing, the ACCAHC RWG met face-to-face at
the home of co-chair Christine Choate, DC, PhD, director of the
research center at Palmer College. All but one of the RWG members were
able to attend. RWG co-chair Richard Hammerschlag, PhD, from the
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, chaired the meeting. The group
first clarified a mission statement:
ACCAHC Research Working Group Members at the July 22-23 Retreat
Left to right, standing: Reed Phillips, DC, ND, Mitchell Haas, DC, MA,
Carlo Calabrese, ND, MPH, Martha Menard, PhD, CMT, Wendy Weber, ND,
MPH, PhD, Lixin Lao, LAc, PhD, Janet Kahn, PhD, LMT, Heather Zwickey,
PhD (observer)
Seated, co-chairs: Christine Choate, DC, PhD and Richard
Hammerschlag, PhD
Not present: Patricia Herman, ND, MS, PhD, David Barnes, PhD
Photo (and ACCAHC staff person): Beth Rosenthal, PhD, MBA, MPH

The mission of the ACCAHC Research Working Group is to promote mutual
understanding, collaborative activities, and interdisciplinary health
care education through research. The RWG members agreed on three
broad recommendations to begin fulfilling this mission: 1) shift
culture at CAM institutions to embrace research; (2) re-direct the
research agenda regarding these disciplines so that it is of use to
the professions; and 3) build research capacity within the different
disciplines. The group decided that #2 was too large for that meeting,
and tabled it for the time being. Subgroups developed action steps to
move #1 and #3. A key focal area is practice-based research networks
(PBRN). For more details, please contact us. Good work!

6. Classification scheme in Library of Congress and NML schemes for
cataloging materials about acupuncture.
Proposed schedules:
W class NML
WB369 General works, including acupuncture therapy
WB369.5 Special topics, A-Z, e.g.
	 A17 Analgesia
	 E2 Ear
WB371 Cupping, counterirritation

RM class LC
RM184 Acupuncture, general works
RM184.1 Laws and legislation
RM184.2 Manuals and textbooks, e.g. Deadman
RM184.3,4 Unassigned
RM184.5 Points, Meridians(current LC practice)
RM184.6 Unassigned or possible assign to specific areas,m e.g. .K7
Korean Acupuncture
RM184.7 Acupressure
RM184.8 Five Elements
RM184.9 Special topics, A-Z, e.g.
	 .C9 Cupping
	 .H5 Hand, limbs, etc
	 .K7 Korean (or in RM184.6?)

Animal acupuncture in SF.

Jim Emdy
Chair
Five Branches University
Direct email: librarian@...

i will be traveling from october 5th through October 15 and may not be
able to check email on a daily basis.  Please submit any agenda
questions to me before October 3rd.

thanks

Jim Emdy
Chair

inutes of the Library Committee from Wednesday,
October 15th in Chicago at 1:30 p.m.
Thanks to all who attended and participated in a lively discussion.

IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT LIBRARIES JOIN THE YAHOO BASED USER
GROUP CCAOMLCAOM.
Information on joining was provided.

1 Implications of the new ACAOM library evaluation format.
It was generally agreed that the new evaluation questionnaire is
easier and more focused on school mission.  Some particants felt that
the evaluation of site visit committees was somewhat subjective and
particular to a particular group doing the evaluation, and it was
difficult to know precisely why a library was written up.  The matter
of a master booklist was discussed as a guide to library adequacy.
This issue has apparently been discussed before without any consensus
reached.  There are many booklists out there, including a compilation
of recommendations available from the library at Five Branches
University.

2. Possibility of forming local consortia to jointly purchase more
expensive databases.
Research and current awareness is vital to the mission of the
libraries and some databases and services are quite expensive.  The
idea of a consortium or collective library umbrella organization
serving a number of separate libraries has been discussed earlier,
but no serious plans are todate in place.
The group came up with these initial goals for such a collective:
*enhance sharing of hard copy journals by having each library take
responsibility for one or two subscriptions and exchange full text by
way of scanning, mail or fax.
*institutional rate purchasing of for fee databases and online
resources too expensive for individual libraries to support such as
the COJ(Chinese Online JOurnals) from Wanfangdata.
*of special interest is purchase of full text articles from PubMed.
Initial exploration indicates that this may not be an expensive item:
there is a $50 dollar fee to start the service and a charge for each
offprint.
*purchase of access to medical libraries in the area on an
institutional basis or for particular researchers.
The consortium would be a part of the CCAOM organization and managed
possibly by a committee selected from member libraries.
An assessment paid to CCAOM from each member library would support
the program with an established budget.
Many of these details need to be worked out.
RESOLVED by those present that this consortium effort will be pursued.

Related item: a brief discussion that CCAOMLCAOM should revert to the
older name LOOM. It was suggested that the LOOM designation could
refer to the consortium.

3. Procedures for providing materials to faculty--purchase or loan
from the collection?
Faculty texts are generally provided by seeking free desk copies from
publishers, purchased anew or provided from the existing collection
for the duration of the school teaching calendar.  In most cases the
materials acquired become property of the library and become part of
the library's database.  Practices differ in some places.  On a
related topic, some schools maintain only reference copies of
required texts and expect students to purchase their own books, while
other libraries have some circulating copies of such material.  The
library should have at least one copy in noncirculating status of
each required text.
It was suggested that in some cases larger libraries could send
duplicate and unneeded materials to smaller libraries for the cost of
postage.


4. Library role in preparing students for local and national
examinations(NCCAOM and California Acupuncture Board).
Book lists relative to the exams were available at the meeting.
Some of the major titles on the recommended lists are earlier
editions which may no longer be readily available to students.
Students have experienced some confusion about differences in data
between earlier and later editions, for example the Bensky text
Materia Medica, 1990 edition.  There is a newer 2004 edition with
apparently some different herba classifications. Publication dates on
some the books recommended for Western medicine are also older
editions.

RESOLVED that a letter be drafted from LCAOM on behalf of CCAOM
expressing concern of this issue and asking for clarification of the
which texts are being used as basis for questons, and suggesting that
possible the latest editions of texts be used.  If needed, the book
recommendation list should be updated if there discrepancies between
cited editions and current practice.


5. Implications for CCAOM libraries of ACCAHC research efforts.

From a recent meeting of ACCAHC

Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care
ACCAHC Research Working Group (RWG) Sets Priorities in Face-to-Face
Retreat July 22-23, 2008


The mission of the ACCAHC Research Working Group is to promote mutual
understanding, collaborative activities, and interdisciplinary health
care education through research. The RWG members agreed on three
broad recommendations to begin fulfilling this mission: 1) shift
culture at CAM institutions to embrace research; (2) re-direct the
research agenda regarding these disciplines so that it is of use to
the professions; and 3) build research capacity within the different
disciplines. The group decided that #2 was too large for that meeting,
and tabled it for the time being. Subgroups developed action steps to
move #1 and #3. A key focal area is practice-based research networks
(PBRN). For more details, please contact us. Good work!

This reinforces the need to develop current awareness capabilities
and look forward to support of DAOM programs at those schools
involved.

6. Classification scheme in Library of Congress and NML schemes for
cataloging materials about acupuncture.
The major classification schemes are oriented to Western healing
modalities and do not provide adequate subclassification of Oriental
healing modalities.
It is proposed that an elaboration of significant classification
numbers be established as a guideline for classification of these
materials.  These would be suggestions, not requirements and would or
would not require retrofiting of existing collections, depending on
the choice of individual libraries.  These would be intended as
helpful guidelines at least for new materials added to the collection.

Proposed schedules:(there is room here for changes and alterations)
W class NML
WB369 General works, including acupuncture therapy
WB369.5 Special topics, A-Z, e.g.
A17 Analgesia
E2 Ear
WB371 Cupping, counterirritation

RM class LC
RM184 Acupuncture, general works
RM184.1 Laws and legislation
RM184.2 Manuals and textbooks, e.g. Deadman
RM184.3,4 Unassigned
RM184.5 Points, Meridians(current LC practice)
RM184.6 regional designation, e.g. K7 Korean acupuncture
Korean Acupuncture
RM184.7 Acupressure
RM184.8 Five Elements
RM184.9 Special topics, A-Z, e.g.
.C9 Cupping
.H5 Hand, limbs, etc

Animal acupuncture in SF.

RESOLVED that further discussion with librarians at the various
schools will take place to see how best to pursue this effort

Jim Emdy
Chair
Five Branches University
Direct email: librarian@...

check undef files for Della Lawhorn's documents on journals.  i am
still working on getting the nccaom and cab booklists for exams to you
as a document.

jim

Here is the message sent to Xiaotian Shen, at AOMA in Austin Texas.
He is working on the bibliography lists for the national exams.

Thank you for visiting the Five Branches University recently.


I have examined the NCCAOM web site and printed the bibliographies
listed there in support of the examinations.

Here are some questions relating to materials with more recent
publication dates than those on the NCCAOM lists:

Foundations of Oriental Medicine Module:
Maciocia, G: Foundations of Chinese Medicine, 1989.  Our latest issue
is 2005.
(This title is also listed under Acupuncture with Point Location
under secondary sources)

Acupuncture with Point Locations
(see above Maciocia)
Maciocia, G: Tongue diagnosis in Chinese Medicine, 1988.  Our latest
issue is 1994.

Biomedicine Module
The Merck Manual of Medical information, 2003.  Our latest issue is
2006.

Fischbach, F: A manual of laboratory and diagnostic tests, 2003.  We
have 2004.

Pagana, K : Mosby's manual of diagnostic and laboratory texts, 2002.
We have 2006.

I hope to hear from you.  Let me know if you need more information.

Jim Emdy
Librarian
Five Branches University

Classifications for Acupuncture in NML and Library of Congress

NATIONAL MEDICAL LIBRARY ACUPUNCTURE CLASSIFICATION

WB 369 Acupuncture. Acupuncture therapy. Moxibustion
WB 369.5 Specific techniques, A-Z
WB 369.5.A17 Acupressure
WB 369.5.A18 Acupuncture Analgesia
WB 369.5.E2 Ear acupuncture
WB 369.5.E4 Electroacupuncture
WB 369.5.M5 Meridians. Acupuncture points
WB 369.5.M9 Moxibustion
WB 371 Cupping. Counterirritation
(e.g., Mustard plasters)
WB 373 Punctures (General or not elsewhere classified)

[WB 375] [This number not used]
WB 377 Spinal, cisternal and ventricular puncture
WB 379 Biopsy
WB 381 Phlebotomy. Bloodletting



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
RM184 General works
RM184.5 Points

It was proposed at the last meeting of LCAOM to suggest a
regularization and expansion of the LC classification to account for
detailed subject areas within acupuncture general topic.  the propose
schema is contained in the meeting notes of the Chicago meeting.  I
will annotate and send these in another email.

bear in mind that the suggestions from the Chicago meeting are
*suggested expansion of the classification schemes, not required
*suggested guidelines for future classification of material, not
necessarily looking to retrofit already classified material, unless
there is a decision to do so.
*the expanded classifications may not be needed for smaller
collections (the Jones Medical Library in Houston has only 149 titles
in acupuncture all under WB369.)
*should the expanded classifications be accepted in some official
way, there may be financial support from CCAOM for reclassifications.

from meeting notes of LCAOM, Chicago October 2008

6. Classification scheme in Library of Congress and NML schemes for
cataloging materials about acupuncture.
The major classification schemes are oriented to Western healing
modalities and do not provide adequate subclassification of Oriental
healing modalities.
It is proposed that an elaboration of significant classification
numbers be established as a guideline for classification of these
materials. These would be suggestions, not requirements and would or
would not require retrofiting of existing collections, depending on
the choice of individual libraries. These would be intended as
helpful guidelines at least for new materials added to the collection.

Proposed schedules:(there is room here for changes and alterations)
W class NML
WB369 General works, including acupuncture therapy
WB369.5 Special topics, A-Z, e.g.
A17 Analgesia
E2 Ear
WB371 Cupping, counterirritation
(See separate email for complete WB369 schema)

RM class LC
RM184 Acupuncture, general works
RM184.1 Laws and legislation
RM184.2 Manuals and textbooks, e.g. Deadman
RM184.3,4 Unassigned, open to local interpretation or needs
RM184.5 Points, Meridians(current LC practice)
RM184.6 regional designation, e.g. K7 Korean acupuncture
Korean Acupuncture
RM184.7 Acupressure
RM184.8 Five Elements
RM184.9 Special topics, A-Z, e.g.
.C9 Cupping
.H5 Hand, limbs, etc

Animal acupuncture in SF.

November 26, 2008

From minutes of October meeting in Chicago, LCAOM.

2. Possibility of forming local consortia to jointly purchase more
expensive databases.
Research and current awareness is vital to the mission of the
libraries and some databases and services are quite expensive.  The
idea of a consortium or collective library umbrella organization
serving a number of separate libraries has been discussed earlier,
but no serious plans are to date in place.
The group came up with these initial goals for such a collective:
*enhance sharing of hard copy journals by having each library take
responsibility for one or two subscriptions and exchange full text by
way of scanning, mail or fax.

*institutional rate purchasing of for fee databases and online
resources too expensive for individual libraries to support such as
the COJ(Chinese Online JOurnals) from Wanfangdata.
Of special interest is purchase of full text articles from PubMed.

*purchase of access to medical libraries in the area on an
institutional basis or for particular researchers.

The consortium would be a part of the CCAOM organization and managed
possibly by a committee selected from member libraries.
An assessment paid to CCAOM from each member library would support
the program with an established budget.
Many of these details need to be worked out.
RESOLVED by those present that this consortium effort will be pursued.

Related item: a brief discussion that CCAOMLCAOM should revert to the
older name LOOM. It was suggested that the LOOM designation could
refer to the consortium.

Further considerations:
*the consortium would include libraries of oriental medicine, large
and small.  The consortium should also attempt to link up with
schools in China (Joanna Zhao at Five Branches University has
connections to some schools).  The consortium could also look to
linking up with nearby public and/or private universities, such as
University of California Santa Cruz.  Thus the consortium would
consist of a collective of libraries of oriental medicine, and become
part of other established library consortia,

*the primary focus of the consortium would be providing and sharing
of current awareness materials, for example, journal holdings, online
databases and full text research material.  While some consortia use
their own computer platform as a basis for the internet based online
resources, it would probably be less cumbersome to use web-based
access and servers used by the online sources, such as EBSCOhost,
Embase, etc.

*At this time I do not envision the consortium very active in
providing interlibrary loans of book or audio material.  To
facilitate ILL transactions, one would ideally have a union catalog
based on a single software provider.  Individual library catalogs are
for the most part available online and the cost of moving all member
libraries to an adequate library software package might be too
expensive for smaller schools.  Cataloging data and assistance can be
provided on a case by case basis through email communication via the
Yahoo user group.

*A new web page dedicated to the consortium would have to be built.
It would provide an umbrella for member libraries and be a central
point to link to available resources.

*Governance of the consortium is open to discussion.  Usually there
are several committees and groups involved, one of which would
consist of a representative from each of the member libraries.  The
need for paid staff devoted exclusively to consortium matters is
unknown at this time.

*Start up costs and funds for continual operation are unknown at
present.  The consortium would operate under the umbrella of CCAOM.
Would the parent organization provide some funding?  Assessments on
member libraries are probably necessary, exact amounts to be
determined.  There may be grant money available from either
governmental or private sources, perhaps limited at the moment by the
economic conditions.

In another message I will provide a bibliography of relevant articles
and more information.

Jim Emdy
Chair
CCAOM/LCAOM