Present:
Philip Payne (Chair), John Sumsion, Biddy Fisher, Maurice Wakeham, Noeleen Cookman, Alan Cooper, Ros Cotton, Bruce Madge, Pat Gannon-Leary, Juliet Eve

Apologies
:Linda Banwell, Liz Hart, Clare Nankivell, Judy Palmer, Carolynn Rankin, Isobel Thompson, Dorothy Williams, Steve Morgan

1) Welcome to new committee members

New committee list was circulated. New member Juliet Eve added to list. Liz Hart stood down as Secretary, Committee thanks for efforts and contribution to the role. Chair suggested establishment of Vice Chair - succession planning and to split workload which is likely to increase in the context of relationship with new professional body. Treasurer 'shadow' also proposed for succession planning. Current co-options to committee all formalised. Steve Morgan had expressed wish to continue as co-optee.

2) Minutes of last meeting

Accepted, except JS pointed out page 2 section 10 for LISU read LIRN.

3) Matters arising - future strategy

Members of LIRG - especially those belonging to neither LA or IIS - to be approached about feelings with regard to relationship with new professional body. AC referred to newsletter of Implementation Group www.la-hq.org.uk/unify. This spells out timetable. PP to approach Chair of Working Party looking at future of organisations in liaison.

4) Working groups

Groups generally perceived as unsuccessful. How to make for effective? JS commented that Editorial group is a virtual one, an insurance policy and that, as such, it has been successful. Publicity & Marketing to continue website work. Committee feeling that all to be involved in central/core activities. Fluidity the key - planning event; pulling people in as/when required. Identify activities and identify those to be involved. Agreed that too many people in group doesn't work. BF while endorsing empowerment pointed out the only clearance necessary is when money involved and Treasurer must be notified.

5) LIRN 76

JS circulated outline contents of a 'thin' issue and requested advice on possible inclusions, e.g. response to Shepherd Report from BAILER and LIC Research Committee; relevant (research) section of MLAC consultation paper. JS requested that Committee members contribute comments and references about websites and journal articles that they feel others should know about to an informal column. Discussion on getting articles from LIS students who got distinctions for their dissertations and how best to obtain these.

6) Awards and prizes

NC requested that PP post messages to discussion lists such as SCONUL and BAILER to remind academic librarians about research for Daphne Clark prize. Publicity to go to Public Library Journal - perhaps referring to 'innovations' rather than research? Elsevier prizewinner required to make presentation on receipt of award with regard to intentions. Committee felt that it might be desirable to get a post-research presentation too. UG/PG prizes may need to be reviewed. BF reported that the Daphne Clark account is now closed. BM is pursuing sponsorship for awards and prizes. Committee signed off evaluation forms for all prizes. These will be published in LIRN.

7) Events

i) Effective Academic Library PP circulated a draft programme which received some feedback. 3 one-day seminars envisaged, probably in London:

a) Benchmarking/performance indicators (Oct?)

b) Impact on Learning, Teaching and Research (May?)

c) Effectiveness in electronic environment (Oct?) ii)

Museums Research Debate ensued as to whether this was too hot a topic and should be relegated to the back burner or whether it was too important to ignore or defer! Event could afford an opportunity for a cross-sectoral exchange. RC had already done some preliminary work on this, including contact with Neil Chambers from Natural History Museum. She will pursue.

iii) Research Methods

BM will take forward the Health-related event. BF pointed out need to adjust costs to ensure profit since the original course was set up to be an income generator and the London and York events ran at a loss. Fees and numbers were critical. Consideration being given to running event to minimise risk, e.g. a three day intensive course to include at least a Saturday or Sunday. It had already been suggested (from feedback sheets completed by participants) that workshops one and five could be combined so the event was reducible to four days. Long planning timescale necessary to pre-publicise. Feb or Easter 2001?

iv) Annual lecture 2001 Start thinking now of potential speakers and venues. PG-L to get information about OU Conference venue.

8. Web pages

AC advised on eligibility for LA grant. Submissions to be in by Sept. will be considered and decided in Oct. Optimism expressed as to likelihood of our bid to develop a website being successful. Maximum amount of grant is �500 (about half estimated costs). This initiative would replace existing site. AC to check out the current site and remove out-of-date links, label as "under construction"

9. Research Portal

MW attended LIC Seminar on LIS research portal. David Haynes is producing a report and will make a proposal to go to the LIC. LIRG should get a copy of this. MW will circulate and put on next agenda. There appears to be a potential role for LIRG involvement in this project.

10. Shepherd Report

JS summarised main issues:

a) Money for BL/LIC to continue in some form or other?

b) Future research agenda and how far it should focus on government priorities such as lifelong learning, social exclusion etc. How far it should be cross-sectoral. BF raised another issue, namely that money might be available to the academic community but not to practitioners or independent researchers. Points to be summarised and published in LIRN since it seems too late to make a formal response.

11. AGM

The annual lecture was to be given by Susi Woodhouse of the People's Network. All prizewinners were able to attend. Michael Mabe from Elsevier would present the Elsevier Award

12. AOB

BF delivery annual accounts at AGM but gave Committee members a preview. JS requested review of LIRN costs, although previous year's rise may be accounted for by special e-Lib seminar issue.