Governance former Working Groups Disabled and Special Needs Support Working Group Disabled and Special Needs Support Meeting Minutes 18th January 2005
| 18th January 2005 |
Notes from the meeting held at the British LibraryPresent: Anne Poulson (SOAS) (Chair), Liz Kerr (University of the Arts), Eileen Nazha (Queen Mary), Judith Preece (University of East London), Colin Smith (University of Surrey), Mark Walton (British Library) Apologies: Carole Pickaver (University of Kent), Nikki Trigg (University of Westminster) Anne Poulson was welcomed to her first meeting as chair of the group. Margaret Coutts was unfortunately unable to attend, and we wished her well in her new post at Leeds, with appreciation for her work in setting up the Working Group and chairing it until now. Virginia Malone had resigned, as she had also resigned from the M25 Advocacy Working Group and so could no longer be their representative on this one. 1. Minutes of last meeting and matters arisingThe minutes were accepted as an accurate record. Matters arising: Transcription - discussed ideas on how we might carry forward transcription services in the M25 region, using the facilities in place in various institutions. Anne suggested that it might be a suitable student project for a library school student to carry out a pilot study, and she would email London Met, TVU, City University to find out if this were a possibility. She would also ask the Steering Group if they could contribute money towards getting the project off the ground. Action AP Alternative formats - Eileen had produced a note of best practice to be put on the web page. 2. Publicising the WGNothing to report. 3. Training eventsMental health - planning for a half-day event, possibly in May, was ongoing. Judith was investigating various speakers. Two staff at Reading were experienced and could do this, but wanted to know who the audience would be and what was required. Trainers based in Bristol were reported to be very good, but not sure if they would come to London. Mark said that someone from the College of Psychiatry had spoken to British Library staff about the experience of being ill and coming through it - we would also need a student counsellor to present the session from a practitioner point of view. The Exchange of Experience session held last year had been very well received, and it had been decided to repeat this every year. Decided to link with Mental Health training session. Suggested venues included the British Library and SOAS. Action JP Other possible events:
Mark reported that the British Library had bought an online training package on disability awareness that could be included in the induction of all new staff, and he could give details to anyone interested. 4. Assistive technologyAssistive technology - a demo had been planned for the Directors' meeting at the end of January, however Liz reported that suppliers she had contacted were not interested for the money that we could offer. Suggested that we look into holding it in a place already well-equipped? Action LK Discussed a survey of M25 institutions on what equipment they had, where it was kept, whether networked or not etc. It was thought that a question on access schemes, and what the policies were on disabled access, could be included in this survey. Decided that Anne would circulate this to M25-DIRS. Action AP 5. Website management (standing item)Reported that John Gilby would continue to deal with items for the website. 6. New publications re. SENDA and libraries (standing item)Margaret had been asked to edit a book on libraries and disability for Facet - this had not yet been published, but noted that we should look out for it. 7. AOBDiscussed increasing our membership, especially from the larger central London institutions. Anne would try to pursue this. Action AP 8. Date of Next Meeting13 April 2.00pm at Camberwell School of Art. EN |
