PIC Documents     PIC Charge     Membership     Minutes

The Public Interfaces Committee is charged with improving the usability of the library's electronic interfaces to our collections and services. This charge applies most immediately to the maintenance, ongoing evaluation and design of the library's online catalog (Orbis), Web site (the Front Door), and other library services such as Yale Links.

PIC membership is designed to comprise:

• a strong public services perspective, by including public services staff from a variety of library locations and functions
• understanding of Yale cataloging practices
• familiarity with usability principles and assessment techniques
• technical expertise with Orbis and Web functionality.

PIC members must have or be able to gain quickly a basic understanding of the technology that drives the library’s Web site, including HTML, graphic design, and database concepts. PIC is a working group; members are expected not only to participate in PIC discussions and decision-making at meetings and via e-mail, but also to volunteer to work on committee projects as appropriate.

Roles of ex officio members:

Katie Bauer, Usability and Assessment Librarian, serves as the PIC staff resource for identifying desirable reader options and recommending features that will achieve clear and unimpeded access to information about, and content of, digital, media and textual collections, and assists in the work of implementing such features. 

Karen Reardon, Manager, Web, Workstation, and Digital Consulting Services, identifies technology support, infrastructure, programming or funding needs required by PIC not related to Orbis and coordinates the allocation of resources to meet those needs.

Este Pope, Systems Librarian, identifies, implements and/or coordinates Orbis technology support and programming needs identified by PIC. Communicates PIC decisions to the Library Systems Office, Database, Projects, and Analysis Group for feedback.

PIC members are appointed by the Associate University Librarian for Public Services, in consultation with the Public Services Council. PIC members serve two-year terms that expire on July 1. Terms are staggered to ensure continuity of membership. PIC generally has ten members, including the three ex officio members.

In July 2004, a new one-year intern position was created to afford a library staff member the opportunity to learn more about PIC and public interfaces work. The intern position will be open and advertised to all library staff; appointment will be made by the AUL for Public Services in consultation with PSMC.