Resource Discovery Meeting Minutes

1. Welcome, Apologies for Absence and Membership Update

Present: William Marsterson (Chair - WM), Gavin Beattie (GB), Sarah Crofts (SC), John Gilby (Minutes - JG), Robert Hall (RH), Gurdish Sandhu (GS), Maureen Wade (MWa), Marcus Woolley (MWo).

Apologies: Rosemary Lynch (RL).

WM welcomed SC and GS to their first RDWG meetings and noted that due to leaving the sector Marion Peulevé had resigned from the group. Thanks were expressed for her contributions over the years.

2. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

The minutes from 30 April 2008 were approved.

3. Action Update and Matters Arising

Progress on actions from the previous meeting held on 30 April 2008 and earlier meetings are summarised below.

Previous meeting:

Action 4.1 Complete - JG verbally summarised the differences between the current version of Joomla used on the m25lib and cpd25 websites and the new Version 1.5.x now available:

• better functionality and much improved editing interface
• future proofing
• many components written more for the newer version and still being developed

JG stated that the original website designers estimated a total of two days work for migrating both websites to the new version.
Action 4.2 Complete - JG had spoken to the AIM25 Project steering group regarding their dissemination plans for later in the project period. It was suggested that JG write an article about the InforM25-to-AIM25 linking once it was operational.
Action 5.1 Complete - MWa/JG had an informal chat with JISC regarding suggestions on consultancy to consider the planned review of InforM25 and the new collection description service. This is covered in more detail under Item 5 below.
Action 5.2 Complete - WM had finalised the RDWG contribution to the overall M25 Action Plan for 2008-9.
Action 6.1 Complete - JG had forwarded his report to the M25 Administrator.
Action 8.1 Complete - JG had arranged future group meetings for 2008.

Actions from earlier meetings:

JG to progress InforM25 'Landscaping' document - Action continues.
JG to look into the Talis Directory further and also about the feasibility of using the existing Find-a-library data/system with Google Maps - Action continues.
[Note subsequent to meeting - the issues above may be covered in the planned review of InforM25 during 2008/9.]
MWa & JG to draft letter to RCN about the addition of their Z-server to InforM25 - Action continues.

Matters Arising

WM had a chance meeting with Richard Osborn of London Health Libraries and the issue of collaboration was again raised. Subsequent to this JG had sent an email detailing possible ways forward but no response had been received.

4. M25 Systems Team Manager's Report

JG noted his most recent report (No.20) and added that in the last day, Oxford Brookes' catalogue had been added to "Search-catalogues" for the first time bringing the number of catalogues on the service up to 46.

AIM25
JG reported that work to reconfigure the AIM25 Z-server was complete and that good progress had been made with incorporating the search of AIM25 into the "Search-catalogues" keyword and subject search types. JG demonstrated a stand-alone software module that had been written to enable the searching and also demonstrated the module being used by the InforM25 test website. The next stage was to add this new module to the live service.

Usage Statistics
JG commented that the work on Google Analytics configuration was complete. Currently the statistics are associated with an LSE Google account but a modest amount of work was planned to change this to an M25-only account. Various reports have been configured and these are automatically emailed to JG every month. The package offered by Google is very flexible and JG is planning to meet with the M25 Secretary and CPD25 Administrator to show them what data was available.

WAM25
MWa and JG explained that Stage 1 of the project was now completed and the outcome of the latest bid for further funding for Stage 2 was awaited. Three new partners had agreed to take part in the pilot service bringing the number of partners up to eight.

5. External Review of InforM25

For the benefit of newer group members, JG briefly described the thinking behind the planned external review of InforM25 to ensure the services were still providing an effective service for the Consortium and to look at whether the technology underpinning the separate services is still appropriate. JG also summarised the new service idea for a regional collection description service that would somehow bring together existing but independent services such as AIM25, InforM25 and MASC25.

Previously the group had acknowledged that there was overlap with the review and the ideas for a new service, and both these also needed to take into account other national activities. Following further discussion, the group agreed that it would be better to concentrate on one issue at a time and the review of InforM25 was deemed the issue with the highest priority.

It was agreed that a brief should be ready by the next RDWG meeting and to that end, MWo volunteered to set up a Wiki for the group so that all could contribute to the brief. MWo and JG to add initial details and then others to add contributions by 25 August.
Action 5.1 All to provide input to the InforM25 Review Wiki brief.

6. M25 Support Staff Reorganisation 

MW introduced this item explaining that the three 'business units' of the Consortium (cpd25 administation, M25 administration and the Systems Team) were being brought together to form a central support team led by JG from 1 August 2008. M25 finances would also be brought together making the annual subscriptions clearer to understand.

It was suggested that the Systems Team as a separate entity would no longer be appropriate and that the following job titles had been agreed by the M25 Steering Group:

• M25 Administration & Project Manager (JG)
• M25 Administrator (Genein Cox-De Sousa)
• CPD25 Administrator (Suzy Ball)
• M25 Web Services Project Officer, 0.5FTE (to be recruited)

The group discussed how best JG should report relevant activities in future meetings and it was agreed to include the following:

• Very brief news on m25lib and cpd25 websites, the content management system and M25 server hardware as necessary
• Details on the InforM25 services as currently reported
• InforM25 usage statistics
• Projects as reported to the Steering Group

The current M25 Systems Team Service Delivery Plan will in effect be replaced by other Consortium documents.

7. AOB

MWa reported on a visit to the LSE Library from Anne Poulson of RLUK and the mention of work looking at catalogues across the UK. MWa had reminded Anne of the size and importance of InforM25 and that it was hoped contact would be made by RLUK to the group. RH volunteered to become involved if appropriate.

8. Future Meetings

Future meetings are at LSE Library on 18 September and 20 November 2008 at 2pm.

Minutes by JG