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[Editor's note: the following is representative of the editor's views, but does not necessarily represent a consensus view of the committee as a whole.]
Librarians know online. They've been at a forefront of an expanding universe of online information resources. Well before such activity was part of everyday life, librarians had been utilizing databases and online catalogs and instructing others in their use.

Librarians know change. Just ask a reference or instruction librarian dealing with new resources and modified interfaces. Or, check with colleagues learning new features of an integrated software system.

And, yes things have changed. (As much as they've stayed the same?) The world has caught up with libraries as to the facility of online information. With inter-networked, hyper-linked resources, mash-ups and multi-media, how do we place the library in this universe?

The hype (as well as the real facility) surrounding commercial elephants such as Amazon and Google is a factor here. It may be more and more common for our students to start their research via the open internet, but how do we increase the chances that they will end up using resources reviewed and selected by our librarians? What are some of the new tools and techniques that the SUNY library system should consider to optimize the use of library resources as well as the final product of student or faculty research?

These are some of the questions being examined by the Shared Search & Discovery Services Committee. (Okay, that is a mouthful; around OLIS we make mention of the "futures group.") A spin-off from the Shared Services Task Force, it includes representatives from many of the SUNY library sectors.

Membership in the Futures Group includes Robert Cushman (Shared Services Task Force, Brockport), Pamela Flinton (Shared Services Task Force, Oneonta and formerly Fulton Montgomery Community College), Katherine Bouman (Binghamton), Bill Drew (SUNYLA Information Technology Committee, Tompkins Cortland Community College and formerly of Morrisville), Ken Fujiuchi (Buffalo State), Marguerite Horn (OLIS, ex officio), Mark Ludwig (Buffalo), Stephan Macaluso (New Paltz), John Schumacher (OLIS, ex officio, project manager).

The group's charge is: Evaluate and recommend enterprise-level search and discovery tools for SUNY library resources.

Task: Recommend procedures and applications for improved and unified discovery of campus
library holdings, SUNY-wide library holdings and electronic resources. Identify enhanced
services for patrons.

Goal: To establish a 21st century vision for shared library services that integrate with teaching, learning and administrative activities on our campuses (SUNYConnect Advisory Council).

This will involve evaluating various catalog "overlay" systems, federated search tools, enterprise-based search solutions as well as an assortment of "web 2.0" and web 1.0 approaches for improving and increasing the use of disparate library resources.

After striving to create a shortened list of possible approaches, it is likely that the group will be inviting vendors/representatives to present demonstrations of their products/approaches and to make the case for their suitability for the SUNY System.

As of now the group plans to make recommendations to the SUNYConnect Advisory Council (S.A.C.) as of the first quarter of 2008.

Members will be seeking input from their colleagues in this regard. You should seek out your sector representative/s on the committee and/or John Schumacher to volunteer your say on this aspect of a 21st century vision for SUNY libraries.