1. To facilitate access to London's diverse and complex range of library resources for learners and researchers, through the development and delivery of collaborative services.

1.1 To develop collaborative resource discovery, resource sharing and coordination strategies to support learning, teaching and reasearch 

• Maintain (through the M25 Systems Team) the suite of existing InforM25 services (Find-a-Library, Visit-a-Library, Search Catalogues and the ULS) in accordance with the agreed Service Delivery Plan                          

• Develop a usage statistics data system for logging the M25 services and websites.

•  Actively pursue external funding opportunities for developing the Search-catalogues service to enable connection to it via Z39.50.

Ongoing

Drop? 

•  Follow up the recommendations (July 2005) of Information Management Associates, and in particular, look at practical ways in which to enrich the resources available for the Search-catalogues service

• Continue work on an exit strategy for InforM25.

• Follow up opportunities for working in the area of e-repositories, sharing metadata,
  and support to e-learning, where collaboration between Members is appropriate. The group will also monitor regional, national and international developments in the RD arena and follow up any opportunities for funding to develop and improve the M25 services provided for members.

1.2 To ensure that existing national and regional reciprocal access schemes meet the needs of learners and researchers in Consortium institutions                        

• Keep national and regional schemes under review and ensure gaps are filled by the M25 Consortium’s own scheme.

 1.3 To identify opportunities for further pan-London collaboration in access arrangements of benefit to Consortium members 

•  Keep watching brief.
  

• To review opportunities as they arise
• DSNWG to consider reciprocal access and enhanced services for disabled and special
  needs users. 

2. To encourage and enable mutual support of member libraries in improving services to their users.

2.1 To develop and promote the Consortium’s support for Members in the area of disaster preparedness.

• Exchange of Experience session in November 2005 to promote awareness of regional practise and encourage participation in disaster management activities.

Session attended by 21 disaster plannig representatives from Consortium libraries. Disaster scenarios, facilitated by Mary Auckland, highlighted provisions of Mutual SupportAgreement. Feed back from participants highlighted used to produce FAQ's on the Agreement which are now avaible on the web.

• Survey members in January 2006 to establish the extent and nature of disaster plans in member libraries.

• In collaboration with CPD25 develop a programme of staff development to ensure members are kept up to date with regional and national initiatives as well as developments in best practice.

Seminar on disaster preparedness to be held in conjunction with cpd25 in late Spring 2006.

Preliminary discussions held with London Metropolitan Network exploring a joint seminar on sharing good practise in business and service continuity.  

• Review and update the Disaster Control Template and launch an additional section on Business and Service Continuity Planning in January 2006. New content on e-resources, infrastructure and resilience and archival documents are also planned.

•  Review and update the website and use the DMG Information list to keep members abreast of developments in the field and identify emergent areas of concern within the Consortium. Revise the website in line with the recommendations of the Web Review Panel, and add FAQ’s.

Results of literature review on business and service continuity have been added to the bibliography in the Disaster Control Template.

DMG pages fully updated to prepare for migration to the new website. Outline breif prepared for web design company to assist with developing the new disaster control plan template.

•  Share and develop expertise by pursuing links with relevant bodies and participating at external conferences and seminars. The Chair will continue to represent the M25 Consortium on the AHRC-funded project Safeguarding Heritage at Risk Advisory Panel.

Group have offered content for the forthcoming issue of SCONUL Focus on collaborative disaster planning.  

Chair has attended two meetings of hte AHRC - Advisory Panel.

• In collaboration with the Advocacy Working Group, promote awareness of the Consortium’s services, products and expertise in Disaster Management, specifically the Mutual Support Agreement and the new content on Business Continuity Planning.
  

 Advocacy group has been updated on new developments and their expertise will be used in drawing up a campaign to launch new resources and content.

• Continue to offer and improve the events programme as the core CPD25 activity.
   
  

• Undertake preliminary work and assess viability of the provision of added value activities e.g. staff exchange register, mentor register for managers.

• Implement and maintain a staff development training policy repository on the CPD25 web pages.

• Continue to reassess the efficiency of current administrative systems and make appropriate improvements.

Ongoing.

CMS on website will make updating faster

2.3 To assist Consortium Members in providing support to library users with disabilities

• Produce advice on how to draft a disability policy with a suggested template and keep libraries informed of best practice and legal changes.
• Continue to run annual exchange of experience seminar for members.

2.4 To support Consortium Members in relation to service quality monitoring and measurement activities.                     

• Report on a survey on focus groups by September 2005 and continue to investigate and monitor quality related activities within the Consortium, specifically qualitative measurement processes.    
  

• In collaboration with CPD25 organise a workshop on focus group and work to develop a wider programme to promote staff training in relation to qualitative measurement processes. 
   

• Maintain an up to date list of Quality contacts in the Consortium.

• Monitor and investigate HE practice both regionally and nationally and provide relevant information and links through the website.
  

• Develop and disseminate good practice guidelines on user feedback methods.
  Promote the use of the Service Level Definition template and report on an investigation into the feasibility of comparing service level definitions in key service areas with a view to benchmarking.

2.5 To investigate further ways in which the Consortium can support Members in supporting students.

• Student Centred Task and Finish Group to bring proposals to SG

SCTFG SG

Initial report Dec 2005

• Establish obligations and rights of placement students at their host HEI and NHS placement library similar to the UK Lib plus and the TVINSPIRE schemes.

• Develop a Pan-London NHS Placement Charter to cover all London NHS Trust libraries that will highlight what is expected from both student and NHS library. 

• Promote IT literacy through encouraging reciprocal training of placement students by both NHS and HEI libraries. Where necessary this will include training in access and support requirements for the disabled in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and in relation to the implications of the Freedom of Information Act (FIA)
• Support collection development by ensuring NHS Libraries receive core reading lists prior to student placements.
• Investigate potential of cross sector collaborative purchasing allowing libraries to opt in where appropriate to their students’ or staff needs. Review requirements within HEI and NHS libraries to identify appropriate e-resources providers.

Ongoing work with cpd25

Summer 2006 (where possible)

Paper and questionnaire produced – in progress working with eKAT.

3.1 To continue to develop links and partnerships with appropriate regional and national agencies

Continue close working relationship with following organisations; M25 representatives to attend meetings:

• LLDA & ALM London
• ALCL
• University (of London) Libraries Committee

Continue to contribute to their strategic plans 


Liaise with Chair of M25 Advocacy Group as appropriate   

Chair and secretary attend ALM London board meetings and contributing towards ALM London lead 'Cultural Offer' for 2012 Olympics 

Ongoing

Progress links with the following key partners:

• FE Colleges (plus LSC and LearnDirect)
• NHS – to be taken forward via Joint LHL/M25 Group 
• Government Libraries 

Take forward LLDA/M25 cross-sectoral events twice a year

Continue to refer onto other M25 Working Groups areas for development within their remit (via Steering Group). 

In progress

Done

Held discussions with CDL on the possibility of searching across member library catalogues 

Third joint LLDA/M25 seminar held in January 2006 was well attended.

 Ongoing

• Continue to consider and evaluate potential new Consortium members 
• Continue to make recommendations to M25 Steering Group. 

Ongoing
Four new appointments at January meeting

• Explore opportunities for further collaboration with BL by working with Jan Wilkinson and Sara Gould at the BL to progress joint initiatives

• Identify best practice and new opportunities for collaboration with other academic library consortia
• Investigate potential for informal meeting of representatives from other Regional Groups
• Maintain Regional HE Consortia web page CPWG Ongoing 

3.2 To provide input to national initiatives and consultation exercises as appropriate

• LLiL/ INSPIRE  –  provide a representative on the National Steering Group. 
• Roots to Knowledge – contribute to revived initiative

• Research Information Network – respond to developments & make recommendations concerning how M25 Consortium can participate / support any initiatives. 

• Maintain a watching brief, taking action where appropriate
• On the Consortium’s behalf, continue to be involved in, and supportive of, proposals put forward by the University of London’s University Libraries Committee to prepare the region for possible areas of development such as the collaborative journals store.

3.4  To ensure, via effective marketing and advocacy, that the Consortium’s profile is raised in relevant regional, national and government circles. 

Progress the Consortium’s engagement and collaboration with London Higher Continue by regular meetings with Director and others, as appropriate. Agreed areas identified to date:

• Helping with advocacy (sharing data of libraries’ impact
• Providing M25 Consortium information for a publicity leaflet
• Contributing to Libraries publication

Ongoing

Publicity leaflet produced and disseminated. Fact sheet on HEI libraries and a contribution to London Higher's Research Excellence publication planned.

4.1 To  ensure appropriate governance structures for the Consortium 

• To review the role of the SG and WGs on an annual basis and ensure that annual elections to SG are conducted according to the rules of the Consortium.

• SG to discuss 
  Standardisation of documents, web pages and reporting on progress against Action Plan 

• Routinely review income, expenditure, reserves and subscriptions on an annual basis. Occassional strategic in – depth reviews of Consortium finances may be held to support strategic initiatives, or as requested by the SG or membership.

• Present audited annual accounts in a timely manner.

5.1 To review the Consortium’s publications and other print communications  to ensure a positive and consistent brand.

• To develop guidance for Groups and members on the use of Consortium logo and visual identity requirements and assist its implementation.
• To build and maintain relationships with designers, printers and photographers to support consortium publications activities.
• To take a lead role in preparing proof ready documents for publication and, in consultation with the Steering Group to act as final editor for official consortium publications.                   

 Onging

Annual Report re designed

• To carry out a major review of the Consortium website.
• To promote the new website
• To work with the SG and Groups in a regular (annual) audit of web content for currency and relevance and to archive, remove or commission material as relevant.
• To keep under review the functionality of the web and recommend developments e.g. CMS upgrade; potential use of authentication controls and parts of the site.

• To target dissemination of news and information to all stakeholders via e-bulletin, the web, flyers, periodic publications and other methods.
• To develop appropriate promotional material for use at consortium and other meetings promoting our key messages e.g. promotional banners; generic flyers etc.
• To target the placing of articles and news items in the information press maintaining a Consortium presence and disseminating news on current developments.

Promotional banner produced with new logo

Press release launching new website sent to information press 

• To work closely with CPD25; Inform25 and other groups targeting the promotion of specific Consortium services and products through a range of themed activities.
• To periodically survey and gather stakeholder views on effectiveness of current services and products and to develop a ‘wish list’ to assist the planning of future developments. 

 Campaign to launch new InforM25 domain and interface in progress with M25 Systems Team

Ongoing

• To support Consortium activities in influencing regional issues, lobbying and networking activities through the provision and promotion of relevant advice, practical support, publicity and proactive use of the web to maintain collaborative links and disseminate the Consortium perspective.