1. Scholars Portal Search
SIRS Working Group
New to Ontario, blah blah blah
Review the mandate of this group and get your ideas on the kinds of things we should address and how we might go about our work.

2. Terms of Reference
Solicit feedback from OCUL librarians and users on Illumina functionality.
Conduct research on the ‘single search’ approach to searching multiple databases.
Make recommendations to SIRS regarding Illumina promotion and instruction.

3. I understand from CSA that this interface is the result of a lot of usability testing. Nice clean look, easy to use. All you have to do is select a subject area, put in some search terms. Or, you can select specific databases.

4. Single Search Approach
Good!
Simplify ‘complexity’ of our information environment: - knowledge of sources
- interface differences
- vendor interests
Concerns?
Loss of sophisticated functionality?

5. Questions, for example:
How is it different from searching a subject specific database?
Is it more useful for some kinds of searches than others?
How do users cope with results and de-duping?
How do users approach thesauri?

6. Access & Promotion
What access points might a library consider for its website?
Instruction and promotion templates?

7. Methods Small working group
Solicit interface feedback from all institutions
Review existing evidence on single search functionality
Possibly conduct small usability studies

8. Timeline
Deadline for expressions of interest in membership: this Friday
Meeting late December
Report to SIRS end of March 2005

9. Martha Whitehead
Associate University Librarian
Queen’s University