A history of the Local Florida Innovative Users Group by Diane Altimari. 

In 1995, Nova Southeastern University Libraries (NSU) combined its libraries and acquired an integrated library system from Innovative Interface, Inc (IUG). Everyone involved in this important undertaking realized immediately that good communication would be imperative.   Four committees formed to address each IUG module: Acquisitions/Serials, Circulation, Cataloging, and OPAC to promote the necessary communication to bring up the different modules successfully. 

In addition, the members of the Acquisitions/Serials committee decided to meet with another library to share problems and solutions. Diane Altimari contacted Suzie Seiler, Richter’s Acquisitions and Serials Librarian, to arrange a meeting at the University of Miami (UM).  Suzie demonstrated their procedures and the NSU staff left happily with many new ideas. 
Some time later when we had problems with the printers. Diane Altimari again called upon Suzie Seiler to discuss how they were handling printing. 

During this phone conversation the idea was born to have both universities' Acquisitions/Serials staffs meet to discuss policies and procedures.   The NSU Law Library hosted this first all day meeting in the Fall of  1997. Everyone met collectively after which they separated into two groups:  Serials and Acquisitions.  Each person shared similar problems and concerns and procedures.  At the end of the day everyone reunited to wrap up and to bring the day to a close.   Dick Fredricksen, NSU Systems Librarian, suggested that we could form our own local IUG group. The  group agreed and decided to meet again and to continue to do so on a regular basis.  Additionally, we would invite Stetson, Barry University at Orlando, Florida Coastal and the other University of Miami libraries to attend. 
We decided to include Systems staff, Cataloging staff, Interlibrary Loan staff, and Reference staff at these meetings. 

Our group was listed in the Innovative web page as the Local South Florida Users Group in 1997.    In July 2000, the  IUG webmaster added a live link to our website, 
http://www.nova.edu/library/floridaiug/
Kathleen Dunleavy, assisted by Mair Bonnin and Jim Hutchens, NSU librarians, worked together to create these pages. 
 

7  Member Institutions
 

Email Directory of Members

Click link above for a list of participants. 

Meetings
Meets twice a year at various member institutions.  Our most recent meeting on June 22, 2001 was held at the  Sanibel Public Library.

Minutes of June 22, 2001
Minutes of November 10, 2000
Minutes of May 19, 2000 
Minutes of October 22, 1999
Minutes of February 19, 1998

Contact person
Jim Hutchens 
Nova Southeastern University
954-262-4649 
jamesh@nova.edu
 
 

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