Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 5th February 2003 at Royal Holloway University of London (Gower Street)

Present: Mary Davies (Chair), Angela Conyers (Secretary), Adam Edwards, Christine Muller, Brian Murphy and David Ward

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from David Pearson and Emma Robinson.

2. Minutes of the last meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 5th December 2002 were agreed as a correct record.

3. Matters arising

Item 4 - Completion of Pilot Questionnaire - AE reported that his questionnaire return for Roehampton was in the process of being completed. CM would e-mail her completed questionnaire for South Bank to all members of the Group.

There were no other matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

4. Report from M25 Business Meeting on 24th January

Those Group members who attended the M25 Business meeting on 24th January reported that the Consortium members agreed that the proposed Consortium-wide mapping questionnaire was feasible and worthwhile.

5. Review of Pilot Questionnaire & Plans for Distribution of Questionnaire to all M25 MembersM

The group discussed further amendments to the questionnaire. CM and DW reported difficulties in filling in the tables, suggesting that a tick box approach to the Key Partners table would help. DW suggested that a completed example, such as that from Queen Mary, would be a model to follow. MD and BM agreed to make amendments to the Key Partners table (so that a tick box approach could be adopted); draft a covering note to M25 members explaining the purpose of the questionnaire and the potential benefits of the results; and draw up a contacts list by dividing the M25 institutions between the Group members, thus providing help and support to the heads of service to whom the questionnaire would be addressed. These documents would be circulated to Group members for comment before being distributed to the membership. Action: MD & BM

6. Progress on Action Plan: allocation of roles to Group members

Responsibilities for progressing the various points on the M25 action plan for this working group were allocated as follows:

1. Mapping M25 activities against other co-operative schemes (eg CALIM) - AC
2. RSLG - ER (MD to contact)
3. Empowering the learning community - DP (MD to contact)
4. BL and liaison with Geoff Smith- DW
5. LHEC - MD
6. NHS- BM
7. FE - CM
8. LSC and Learn Direct - DP to be asked to combine with 3 above
9. Government libraries (Chair of CDL is at DOH) - AE

The aims of these investigations were to promote engagement and identify areas for collaboration. A number of contacts and ideas were suggested. For example, CPD25 events could be promoted outside the M25 membership and this may in itself lead to further ideas for collaboration. In the case of other co-operative schemes, the idea was to look for examples of best practice and to see how they were linking in with the relevant regional agenda.

Action: all members of working group. MD to contact those not present.

7. Potential for Co-operation with SEMLAC

BM reported that he had spoken to Margaret Coutts, who was the M25 representative on SEMLAC. SEMLAC was developing a library strategy and Margaret was looking for areas of possible collaboration with the M25 Consortium. It was noted that there was much common membership between SEUL (South East University Librarians) and M25 and that further discussion was needed on the M25 approach to SEMLAC.

It was agreed that AC would arrange a meeting with MD, BM and Margaret Coutts to discuss M25 links to SEMLAC.

Action: AC

8. Review of Business Plans of Potential Partners

MD reported that she had had no suggestions from members of the working group for possible omissions in the business plans under review. There were some obvious gaps, for example, in widening participation, social inclusion and economic regeneration which were key areas for M25 involvement.

Members of the working group agreed to have a further look at this before the next meeting.

Action: (all members of working group)

9. A.O.B.

LMAL - At the last meeting, the group had been unclear as to the role of LMAL. BM tabled two papers, a work report and a draft operational plan. The draft was about to go to Resource and then out for consultation. Members of the group were asked to email their comments to BM, but were asked to note that as the plans were already costing more than the budget, it was unlikely that any new projects could be considered.

BM was thanked for this report and for his work with LMAL.

DCMS - MD drew members' attention to a recent DCMS call for bids, which was mainly directed at museums but might be of interest to libraries bidding in partnership with museums.

10. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting was fixed for 10.30am for the 26th March 2003. The venue would be ULL (room number to be confirmed).