Library and Information Research Group

Agenda item

To be actioned by

1

Apologies for absence

David Ball, Juliet Eve, Biddy Fisher, Pete Smith, Stella Thebridge

2

Minutes of the meeting on  6 November 2006

Were accepted as an accurate record

3

Matters arising: 

Daphne Clarke seminar 2007. Seamus Simpson agreed to organize this to take place at CILIP in May.

David Baume talk. SS agreed to organize this to take place in May or June.

Awards and Prizes. JED and JY had pursued the possibility of securing more money (2K) from Elsevier for this year’s award but were unsuccessful.

SS 
 
 
SS 
 
 
 

4

Report from the Chair

No report was presented

5

Report From Group Councillor

JED presented his report which is available in full for inspection. The main issues were the Governance and Review Task Force Report; the New Business Model Working Group Report (NBMWG); CILIP budget; the Group Review Working Party; the response to the Better Stock Better Libraries report; membership decline.

6

Report from the Treasurer:

ADC presented her report. It was noted that LIRG’s charitable status should be flagged up. A VAT return needed to be done by LIRG due to its relationship with CILIP (receipts need to show VAT where possible). CO offered to help ADC with the VAT elements of the accounts.

It was noted that capitalization reductions as well as reduction in subscriptions presented a real threat to LIRG’s future financial sustainability. It would be important generate as much revenue as possible to offset these threats. There was some discussion of this including the commissioning of projects jointly with other organizations (CO) and joint marketing of the Group’s work with cognate groups (AC). It was noted that BF planned to do some work on the possible strategic development of LIRG

JY suggested that LIRG should draw up a business plan and have it ready in case its current base of financial reserves were to be scrutinized by CILIP.

Thanks were noted to ADC for such a clear presentation of the accounts. The accounts were to go to CILIP by the end of Feb 2007. Clarification of whether the 2005 accounts were audited and submitted to CILIP was sought. It was noted that BF might confirm this or otherwise.

ADC noted that the Group required new auditors. It was suggested that CILIP might be asked for help in securing them

 
 
 
 
 CO
 
 
 
 

 
 

BF

BF

ADC

7

Report from the LIR Editorial Board

A Report was circulated which is available for inspection. AP noted that the Group had met towards the end of 2006 and a timetable of tasks was agreed as per the circulated paper. It was noted that despite its move to e-format, the structure of the journal would be largely traditional. The last printed issue of LIR will be published in April. The new online version should be launched in August 2007. The new format is to advertised at Umbrella 2007.

DB will be the first point of contact for incoming submission to the journal. AP offered to assist MP within necessary online aspects of publication. JE is to be asked to note changes to the journal in the next LIRG newsletter

The Committee formally accepted the new arrangements.

AP and JE

8

9

Report from the Group Liaison Officer

AC provided a report. The Governance Implementation Group of CILIP’s report can be read online. The NBMWG was working to develop a sustainable strategy for CILIP. The membership engagements review is underway and will focus, inter alia, on how groups might get involved in policy development. The ICT and Web review is to be undertaken with a view to generating financial efficiencies in provision. The Framework of Qualifications Review is also pending again underpinned by the need to generate economies. CILIP’s e-meeting web facility has just been completed.

Report on Prizes and Awards

It was noted by JY that the closing date was approaching – it was noted that more money was needed to make the award more attractive to potential applicants. JED floated the possibility of getting a different sponsor and that a more formal approach to do so might be made in the future. He called for anyone with ideas on this to come forward.

AC suggested making the award biennial. CO suggested that a discussion with Elsevier might be warranted.

It was agreed that ADC would draft a letter to Elsevier to ask for an increase in the level of sponsorship.

A further call for applications would be posted to LIS-Bailer

All members

ADC

JY

10

Events

There was some discussion of this in the light of the pressing need to generate revenue. It was suggested that LIRG might appoint an Events Coordinator from within the Committee’s ranks. At the very least, it would be important to share information, for example on appropriate costings, between colleagues who were organizing events.

11

Web-site

AP noted that work on this was ongoing.

12

12.1

12.2

12.3

12.4

12.5

12.6

Discussion Items

LIRG Strategy/Action Plans

AP is to liaise with BF to bring this matter forward.

Plans for Umbrella

AP agreed to liaise with Carolynn Rankin on this. It was noted that the LIR publicity event will take place at Umbrella

Working group on IM for Accounting/finance

CO noted the relationship and possible complementarities between IM and the financial professions, particularly in small to medium sized enterprises. It was noted that the financial sector is interested in the information needs of those who read its outputs. CO expressed the wish to put together a working group on the matter, to be preceded by an exercise to determine possible complementarities. CO canvassed whether LIRG would be interested in getting involved here – funding might come from the ACCA. One outcome could be to raise the profile of IM in the financial professions. The initiative was received warmly by the group. It was suggested that LIS-LIRG might be used to publicise it. The chronology would be, first, to hold select discussions and, thereafter, to publicise the initiative more widely.

Library Research Database.

AP noted that this was moving forward and that something may be produced by the time of Umbrella.

Research Skills Audit

AP raised the issue of whether or not the information professions wanted to know how people think about research, what skills they have and what others they might wish to acquire. AP noted that the focus here is the information practitioner community. AP agreed to work on putting together a practitioner skills survey.

Use of CILIP ‘communities’

AP noted that that it might be useful for LIRG to have a presence here. AP suggested that interested members should contact him to bring this forward

AP and BF

AP

CO

AP

AP

All members

JED

13

AOB

JED noted that Campell Collaboration – engaged in policy-making in social work - had canvassed the possibility of collaborating with LIRG. JED agreed to take negotiations forward with Campell’s Executive Director, Phil Davies.

Date of next meeting: at Umbrella – to be confirmed.

JED