Meeting Minutes

Present: Mary Davies (Chair), Penny Dade, Brian Murphy, Fiona O’Brien, Ann Sainsbury, David Ward, Christine Wise (Secretary)

By invitation: Graham Fisher, Chief Executive, ALM London

Apologies for absence were received from Adam Edwards.

These were accepted as a true record, subject to the following corrections:

• Ann Sainsbury did not attend the previous meeting and had presented her apologies in advance.
• Under item 5, ALM London, Fiona O’Brien reported that an "economic impact evaluation" had been commissioned.
• Under item 5, Regional Library Consortia, Fiona O’Brien reported that she had been invited to join the National Steering Group for Inspire rather than the regional group.

CW reported on behalf of Adam Edwards that he had recently circulated further details of regional library consortia and their business plans. This information was available from http://www.uklibrariesplus.ac.uk/libraries/consortia.htm.

MD welcomed Graham Fisher to the meeting.

GF made a presentation on two key areas: the current review of MLA, and other projects of mutual interest.

Current review of MLA

GF reported that the current review of MLA had highlighted some major issues: the relationship of MLA to the DCMS, and to the 9 regional agencies. As a result, a process of strategic and operational change at MLA had begun. The MLA Board decided in November 2004 to create an integrated model for MLA: one integrated structure for the corporate entity, with 9 regional presences. Two sets of consultants have been appointed to undertake the following:

a) A strategic review of the long-term vision and strategic position of MLA and regional delivery programmes;

b) An organisational review of structural options to bring the MLA family into 1 structural unit.

MLA would also be undertaking significant staff relocations, with the first tranche expected to relocate from London in March 2006. The Library Policy function had recently moved from the DCMS to MLA, and the post of Senior Advisor had recently been advertised. A formal consultation with the regional boards would be conducted mid-March to mid-May 2005. The view of the ALM London Board was that there should continue to be a strong regional focus.

The ongoing review of MLA presented benefits and opportunities, such as better integration of work between the regional boards and the centre, the potential for more resources for regional delivery and enhancements to sector and national advocacy and regional strategy. Risks involved in this exercise included a planning blight, impact on staff morale, loss of regional flexibility and lost opportunities.

GF suggested that academic library sector concerns could be fed into the MLA review process. MD would raise this at the M25 Consortium Steering Group. ACTION MD

Other projects of mutual interest:

1. the economic impact study would be published in April 2005.
2. ALM London was working closely with Lifelong Learning UK (http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/)
3. ALM London was working with the Creative and Cultural Skills Council (http://www.ccskills.org.uk/)
4. ALM London was involved with the Modern Apprentice Scheme, a pilot public sector programme for the 16-19 year group in London (https://www.realworkrealpay.info/apprenticeships/default.htm). Libraries, archives and museums would be involved in the pilot scheme from autumn 2005, from NVQ level 2 to Foundation Degree level. GF chaired the Employers and Engagement Group.

MD thanked GF for his presentation and extended an invitation to him to make a further presentation to the Working Group once the MLA review process was further advanced.

AS reported that she had attended the most recent ALCL meeting, held on 14 January 2005 and had presented a report on behalf of the M25 Consortium. The top ten facts about the M25 Consortium had been of particular interest, as had collection development policies.

Current issues for ALCL included Framework for the Future; Libraries, Learning and Information in the Next Decade, published by the DCMS (http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications/archive_2003/framework_future.htm) and the promotion of leadership development schemes.

This standing agenda item was covered by Graham Fisher’s presentation.

DW was maintaining a watching brief on collaboration with the British Library. It was agreed that Jan Wilkinson would be invited to make a presentation to a future meeting of the working group. ACTION MD

In view of DW’s departure from the working group, it was agreed that a new liaison representative would be appointed. ACTION CW for agenda.

MD continued to liaise with Peter Griffiths regarding topics of mutual interest.

MD, PD and FOB commented on the recent successful conference, Making it easy: facilitating seamless access to resources http://www.llda.org.uk/cms/contentpage/conferences, held on 25 January 2005 at the British Library Conference Centre. FOB had produced a report on the conference. The conference had been both well-attended and well-received and had highlighted topics for future sessions.

FOB had produced a written report for this meeting, with updates under the headings:

• Olympics
• Libraries and Health: Information for Patient Choice; LLiL & Health
• Reader development: Rooster Reads. Under this heading, FOB noted in particular that this promotion had taken place under London China Week, which was designed to promote inward investment, to encourage students to study in London and to promote London as a tourism gateway.
• Future promotions: May 2005, Eurocrime Fiction (ie, works translated from European languages into English); Londonlibraries website
• Skills for Life
• FRESA, being lead by the London Development Authority (LDA)
• Children and Young People: Magical Tales
• Making it Easy event
• London Portal, which contains content for residents, visitors and business, and in which education features prominently
• Business Information Services
• Legal Services Commission / FAINS bid
• LLiL / Inspire

MD reported on the meeting she had held with Michael Reynier of London Higher (http://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/ on 17 January 2005. Amongst other current topics of mutual interest, London Higher was working towards a Vision & Excellence event (http://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/news.htm), aimed at establishing London as the knowledge capital. London Higher was concentrating on bringing together groups of member institutions with particular specialisms, eg, in the creative industries (http://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/projects-creative.htm) and healthcare education (http://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/projects-healthcare.htm). Other significant projects included contributions to the Olympics 2012 bid (http://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/projects-olympics.htm) and StudyLondon (http://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/projects-study.htm).

London Higher was currently undergoing a review to establish the needs of members and the interests of stakeholders. The report on this review was due at end January 2005.

MD reported that a promotional brochure on information resources available in London Higher member institutions would be produced in collaboration with the M25 Consortium and that she would be meeting with Michael Reynier after Easter 2005 to progress work on this, including apportionment of funding.

Regional library consortia

AE continued to monitor developments in this area.

CW continued to maintain a watching brief on RLN developments.

Further to recent discussions at the Working Group and at the Steering Group regarding the application for membership by the Institution of Electrical Engineers, BM reported that he had approached the Institution regarding interest in a collective membership from the consortium of engineering libraries. He was awaiting their response.

DW drew attention to the forthcoming CPD 25 training event, 24/7, to be held on 26 April 2005. Further details were available from the CPD25 website.

Working Group members offered their good wishes to DW for his retirement and for the future.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Monday 25 April 2005, timing in the afternoon to be confirmed, at Senate House Library, University of London.

Christine Wise, Secretary to M25 Collaboration & Partnership Working Group.

April 2005