Notes from the meeting held at Guys Campus, KCL

Present: Betsy Anagnostelis [BA] - TVU (NCL), Paul Ayris [PA] - UCL (NCL), Melanie Brocklehurst [MB] - LSBU (SEL), Maggie Haines [MH] - KCL (SEL), Paul Hockney [PH] - QM (NEL), Angels Horrocks [AH] - Kingston (SWL), Gary Horrocks [GH] - KCL (SWL), Richard Osborn (Chair) [RO] - NWLSHA, Ray Phillips [RP] - SWLSHA, Cheryl Twomey [CT] - LHL eKAT, Andy Richardson [AR] - LHL eKAT, Anne Weist [AW] - NELSHA, Jane Williamson [JW] - NCLSHA, John wolstenholme [JIW] - TVU (NWL).

Apologies: Ruth Fosker [RF] - SELSHA, Janet Smith [JS] - Imperial College & CPD25 (NWL).

1. Discussion on the role and purpose of the group

1.1 Relationships with other groups

There was an extended discussion about the work of some of these groups and how they relate to each other:

• University Health Science Librarians (UHSL)
  http://www.uhsl.ac.uk/ - this group is not active at present. In the past has met on an ad hoc basis with one study day a year. AH is on the executive.



• UMSLG (University Medical Schools Library Group)
  http://www.umslg.ac.uk/umslg.html - has one open annual meeting usually focussed on cross sectoral issues (in March). There is also an annual "members-only" meeting. BA and GH are on the committee.



• NHS/ HE Forum
  http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/nhsforum.shtml - PA outlined the cross sectoral role of this group which includes JISC. Basically, it is a strategy forum with two main strands:
  1. connectivity at a technical level - it highlights models of technical good practice that overcome the barriers between the NHS and HE;
  2. content issues The forum has a joint procurement group under the aegis of JISC. This group is currently looking for matched funding from NHS. Ben Toth is the current NHS Lead. The Group has also recently formed an alliance with SCONUL. JW suggested that there should be more NHS representation on the NHS/HE Forum. PA felt that this was best through the content sub group.
  
  
  
  
  
  Note: the NHS / HE Forum has already been informed by London usage statistics.



• SCONUL Health Strategy Group
  http://www.sconul.ac.uk/activities/health/ - MH outlined the work of this group. At present it is involved in strategic discussions including consumer health information. They want to scope and determine what their key role is and don't want to duplicate work that is already being done by the NHS/HE Forum. Procurement is only one key area. Other areas include information literacy, research and publishing research.

1.2 Communication

It was agreed that this group (LHL / M25) needs feedback from all the key national and London Groups. One suggestion was that notes from all relevant meetings should be circulated to this group.
ACTION: ALL to copy all relevant meeting notes to this group.

1.3 Joint procurement arguments

It was agreed that the two distinct funding streams i.e. Department of Health and Department of Education and Science makes joint funding more difficult. If joint purchasing is really going to be pushed forward, the two funding streams need to be brought together. All participants accepted that such a change would not happen without sustained lobbying and clear arguments indicating the benefits of joint procurement.

It was agreed that the group needed to commission a procurement map that builds on the work of John Thornhill. JISC are likely to part fund this work.
ACTION: PA to write a short proposal requesting that LKDN match JISC funding. Proposal to be sent to JW before the next Exec Team meeting on 13 April.

1.4 Terms of Reference

It was agreed that the current terms of reference could be more specific and that there should be a stronger link to relevant national groups. Points 3 and 4 could probably be linked.
ACTION: JIW to make some amendments and circulate for further email discussion.

1.5 CPD25 / LHL

Co-operation is good on the LHL CPD Training Group. Janet Smith (JS), CPD25 and Ray Phillips (LHL) organised a very successful joint study day in November. JS is also on the LHL Learner Support Project Steering Group.

1.6. Work plan for the LHL/ M25 Group

Following further discussion, it was agreed that the group needed to identify key workstreams. It was agreed that the following 6 areas should be included:

1. Procurement
2. Students on placement and access
3. Development of the workforce
4. Information Literacy
5. Getting research into practice / research repository
6. Accreditation / QAA

The group agreed to concentrate its future work in these areas.
ACTION: JIW and RO to draw up a detailed action plan for the group for 2005/6.

2. Information update from London Health Libraries

RO distributed copies of the London Health Libraries strategic framework for healthcare library services in London 2005-2008. He briefly went through the mission statement and the 3 key strategic themes, highlighting services that will:

• Inform patient choice
• Improve the quality of decision-making
• Support the development of the whole workforce

3. Information update from M25

UCL is leading on learning repositories for learning objects. The definition and scope of the work is being determined. This M25 repository will possibly link into the JISC funded one.

M25 Observer status has been dropped. JIW gave a review of group activity. More details can be found at http://www.m25lib.ac.uk/m25sec/business/workinggroups.htm

4. Outline proposal for the operation of an LHL/ M25 procurement group

This paper was ratified.
ACTION BA to set up a procurement group with representatives from HE / NHS.

5. Dates for future meetings