Steering Group Meeting Minutes

Notes from the meeting held at the School of Oriental and African Studies

Present: J. Adam Edwards, Anne Poulson, Robert Hall, Nick Bevan, Maire Lanigan, William Marsterson, John Wolstenholme and Madura Rasaratnam

Michael Clarke (LLDA) and Graham Fisher (ALM London) were in attendance for Item 10.

1. Apologies

The following apologies were noted:  Maureen Wade, Graham Bulpitt, Nicky Kershaw, Christine Wise, Jean Yeoh and Mary Davies.

2. Minutes

The minutes from the Steering Group meeting held on Thursday 9 March, 2006 were approved.

3. Mutual Support Services

Members discussed possible mutual support services that the Consortium could fund. JW suggested a centralised scanning service and digital repository providing material for which member libraries had copyright licences. Individual member libraries would hold and acquire the licenses in keeping with their own needs. The service would scan and distribute digital material to libraries that had acquired a license for specific material. By keeping a repository of digitised material, the service would prevent the duplication of effort across member libraries.

Potential cost savings and copyright implications of the service were discussed and JW was asked to bring a more detailed proposal to the July SG meeting. It was agreed that David Crook could also be invited to the meeting to address questions and concerns.
(Action: JW)

4. Resource Discovery Strategies

WM presented a report summing up the discussion on future strategies at the March meeting of the RDWG. The group were taking a number of initiatives that were broadly aimed at making the service more user friendly, enriching the service and linking it to other resource discovery tools. To this end the group requested an increase in the budget which was agreed.

5. Institutional Repositories

A JISC call for bids on institutional repositories wad discussed. It was noted that this call was focussed on repositories as part of a larger e – learning strategy and Consortial bids and been recommended. It was agreed that members would ask staff from their institutions attending the Town Meeting to report to William Marsterson by 15 May providing time to scope a possible Consortium bid by the 22 June deadline.

6. Development planning

Members discussed progress against the Action Plan for 2005/6 and agreed to send MR any further updates by Friday 19 May. It was agreed that the Action Plan for 2006/7 should separate the Working Groups’ routine activities from those that are more project driven.

7. Annual Report

ML reported that the timetable for the 2005/6 Annual Report would be similar to the one followed for the previous year. Chairs of Working Groups have been asked to submit reports of 300 words each on their activities of their respective groups. The reports should be sent to ML by Friday 30 June. A financial summary of transactions for 2005/6 will also be included in the report.
(Action: Chairs of WGs)

It was agreed that a photographer will be commissioned to take images of the next SG meeting to include in the Annual Report.

8. Finance

NB presented the proposed budget and subscription levels for 2006/7. There are no significant increases to the overall budget and subscription levels. As agreed at the January 2006 meeting the calculation subscription charges for non - HEFCE will be brought in line with the method used for HEFCE members by placing them in JISC bands on the basis of staff numbers.

9. June AGM

The programme of speakers and agenda for the business at the June 9 Annual General Meeting were discussed. The final agenda would be sent to members on Friday 19 May. It was agreed that MR would approach the Equalities Challenge Unit for a possible third outside speaker.
(Action: MR)

10. Collaboration with ALM London and LLDA

MC updated members on the LLDA and related regional activities. He noted in particular an initiative to promote the access to books and literacy for homeless and vulnerably housed people. Consortium members with academic expertise in this area were asked to contact the LLDA.
(Action: All)

GF reported that from April 30 ALM London would be known as MLA London signifying the new MLA partnership. The agency would be working to a new business and work plan that emphasised participation; advocacy, capacity building and a regional strategy. Consortium members were asked to note that the Collection Care Funding Programme would be run for the last time this year.
 
MLA London’s strategy for libraries is set by DCMS and focuses on public libraries with academic and research libraries having a lower priority. It was agreed, however, that there was scope for collaborative work focusing on museums and archives within the academic and research sector.

11. Working Groups

11.i Reports from Working Groups

Reports from the following WG’s were noted: Advocacy; Collaboration & Partnership; cpd25; Disabled and Special Needs; Disaster Management; Quality; Resource Discovery; London Health Libraries and M25 joint group.

11.ii  Suggestions for QWG Action Plan 2006/7

In response to a request from NK, members proposed the following for the QWG’s 2006/7 Action Plan: maintaining a pool of mystery shoppers; collecting and distribution quality benchmarks from member institutions; sharing quality agendas, templates and assessments from bodies such as the Law Society; creating a mechanism to share experience and expertise on applications for degree awarding powers; copyright licenses and institutional audits.

12. Programme of meetings for 2006/7

12.i To note the following SG meeting

Thursday 6 July 2006 (Senate House Library)

12.ii Full Consortium Meetings: all day meetings commencing at 10am.

Friday 9 June 2006 (Brighton University)
Tuesday 23 January 2006 (British Library)
Friday 1 June 2007 (Greenwich University)

12.iii Annual Networking event

 Thursday 7 September 2006 (Imperial College)

Robert Hall
Chair
25 May 2006