California Digital Library
Users Council

Revised 1/28/08, ejm

The California Digital Library’s Users Council will consist of a Liaison from each UC campus, including affiliated libraries and Regional Library Facilities, and from each non-UC partner or former contributor to the Melvyl® Catalog.  The Users Council Liaison is responsible for communicating information between the CDL and his/her institution concerning use of the CDL tools, services and collections.  A CDL representative is an ex officio member.  

The Users Council Liaison should be an experienced user of CDL collections and services, and familiar with instruction programs and public service policies as well as other policies affecting CDL collections and services. Liaisons are responsible for the following duties:

•	Monitor communications from the CDL concerning changes, new collections and services, maintenance or problems.  Ensure that appropriate staff members receive information, either directly from the CDL or through other local communication mechanisms.
•	Serve as the “local expert” on CDL activities by being familiar with CDL goals and objectives and current projects, understanding the scope and coverage of CDL collections, and using CDL tools and services.
•	Monitor, interpret, summarize, and evaluate comments on CDL collections and services from staff and users.  Relay problems and suggestions to the CDL contact, via the listserv, or present them at scheduled opportunities such as User Services Council meetings.
•	Monitor or evaluate specific resources for quality and performance at the request of the CDL.
•	Review and comment individually or systematically organize campus responses on priorities, proposals for changes, experimental collections and functions, or other requests for input from CDL staff and advisory groups including the following:
•	Respond to requests from the groups responsible for design issues to comment on design principles and to test various changes and features.  These include services such as UC-eLinks and Request.  
•	Widely disseminate information about new collections.
•	When necessary, coordinate with campus liaisons working on the technical aspects of services such as UC-eLinks and Request to better interpret issues, questions and responses.
•	Coordinate with Heads of Public Services (HOPS) representative on local responses to public service issues. 
•	Serve as the contact for distribution of information about vendor training and CDL and vendor -produced documentation such as user guides. 
•	Attend annual Users Council meetings and CDL forums.  Meet with other advisory groups on request.

Operational details:

•	Members are appointed by their University Librarians or Library Directors and serve for three-year terms.
•	The Council meets once a year in person under the sponsorship of the CDL.
•	The CDL Users Council representative chairs the meeting.
•	The CDL will sponsor a listserv for ongoing email communications.