LIRG committee meeting (No 100) 3 February 2003
Held at SCONUL, 103 Euston Street, London

Present
Noeleen Cookman, Alan Cooper, J Eric Davies, Biddy Fisher (Chair), Eddie Halpin, Philip Payne, Carolynn Rankin (minutes), Isobel Thompson

1.Apologies
Apologies were received from Juliet Eve, Elizabeth Gadd, Liz Hart, Shelagh Levett, Maxine Melling, Clare Nankivell, John Sumsion
The Committee extended best wishes to John Sumsion who was unable to attend the meeting.

2. Chair's Announcements
It was agreed that BF would write to organisations where LIRG has co-optees - there was an opportunity to change our partnerships in view of the new SIG status. We would ask to attend the next convenient meeting to provide an update.
BAILER EH
Society of Chief Librarians NC
Health BF

Working links were already very positive with SCONUL. There was existing good practice and the recent joint event had been successful .

Other links were suggested with the AHRB, SRC and JISC.
There was potential for collaboration with other CILIP groups and this would be followed up by BF and JED with the Update editor Elspeth Hyams.
Action: BF and JED
The Umbrella event would provide a good opportunity to talk informally. Delegates could attend other SIG AGMs to help raise the LIRG profile.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting 6th November 2002
It was noted that the EGM had been held on 2 December 2002. Applications for proxy voting had been very popular and had worked well. BF recorded thanks to Jo Horsfall for administrative support, to the Vice chair for conducting the meeting and NC for taking the EGM minutes.

NC raised the issue of electronic proxy voting. The new draft rules accommodate this. It was agreed this should be an item for future discussion.

5. LIRG-CILIP assimilation
The LIRG submission is being considered at the CILIP Professional Practice Committee on 6th February 2003. This will then be considered at full Council on 12th February 2003. Bob McKee has been supportive and a press release was issued following the LIRG EGM.

We need to address administrative and practical issues relating to the officer posts. Sue Brown is a key contact. Thanks were recorded to BF and JED for progressing the draft proposed rules within the very tight timescale. There had been some email consultation with LIRG committee members and responses were incorporated. JED will re-circulate the draft rules.
Action: JED
It was noted that 270 signatures had been received in support of the SIG. Once LIRG is a SIG of CILIP AC will not be co-opted to the committee but will the liaison officer. NC also offered support to BF and JED.

6. Events
Umbrella 2003 3rd-5th July, UMIST
BF had to decide on the programme slots in a short space of time at the Umbrella planning meeting.

The issue of attendance by LIRG committee members was discussed as this relates to funding. It was agreed that LIRG would offer travel costs to committee members on Thursday 3 July and Friday 4 July where their organisation would not provide funding. It was noted that anyone just attending the AGM could book to attend as an exhibition visitor. The LIRG committee supported the request to fund Jo Horsfall's attendance at the Umbrella 2003 as this would be regarded as a staff development opportunity.
Action: PP
It was anticipated the LIRG committee members would dine together on the Thursday evening with the chosen venue being the Crown Plaza event. Attendance at the Friday night sessions would be at own expense. Details of the conference costs were in the CILIP Umbrella 2003 brochure and a copy would be forwarded to the treasurer.
Action: CR

Umbrella 2003 - LIRG programme sessions
Thursday 3rd July
LIRG AGM at 18.30
It was agreed that this session should also be a reception to promote LIRG - "Learn about LIRG." As the session would be used as a recruitment drive it was agreed to provide wine and cheese . The evening AGM was not considered an appropriate time for the LIRG prize winners to receive their awards. This would require LIRG to provide overnight accommodation, and the morning session on Friday 4th July will provide a more suitable audience, particularly as Bob McKee can present the awards.

Friday 4th July 2003
11.30 Bob McKee - setting the scene
Presentation of postgraduate prizes
Elsevier prize winner/presentation

14.30 - panel session chaired by BF

Following considerable discussion it was decided to use the theme title "Celebration of practice based research". The session would be chaired by BF with an introductory presentation by JED
Case studies from the field:
Sally Bradley - electronic support to students BF to contact
Maggie Haines - health perspective BF to contact
Kerry Wilson - de-professionalism in the sector EH to contact
Debbie Hicks - Books Connect JED to contact

PP suggested previous Daphne Clark prize winners could be asked.
Those presenting a case study need to be briefed and EH agreed to prepare a briefing specification. Those contacting potential speakers need to let EH know if they are available. EH will then provide details of LIRG speakers to J Thompson at CILIP Events Planning.
Action: EH

Publicity
It will be important to publicise the LIRG sessions. LB would be asked to provide details in the Update diary, the LIRG website, and via the usual memberships lists.
Action: LB
It was suggested that extra copies of LIR (about 35) would be needed for the LIRG reception as additional publicity
Action: EG

It was agreed that it would be helpful to have information on LIRG included in the Umbrella delegates pack. AC will find out when material is needed for the packs although. this may not be possible as the exhibitors pay for their material to be included.
Action AC.
Action: BF will ask LB to explore the additional publicity opportunities.

6. Research Methods Courses
PP reported that all four workshops have taken place. The Questionnaire workshop had proved most popular and the high attendance made the series viable. It is touch and go as to whether the workshops will make a profit or break even. Feedback from participants had been mixed. BF gave her general impression on the feedback. Some participants thought there was too much material, but we need to recognise that the workshop content challenges intellectually. JED was concerned that one workshop is much more popular that the others as it is important to look at all available techniques and methods.
The Committee discussed running the research workshops again using the same format. Advertising in advance should increase the viability. Some pre-course preparation for the topics should be a prerequisite. It was agreed to run the workshop series again next year. PP and IT would meet DH and DS to develop another delivery of the series. After this the feedback about delivery and content would be reviewed.
Action: PP and IT

It was noted that the workshops had not yet been discussed with YMLAC
Action: PP and BF
NC raised the issue of mentoring but it was felt the Committee could not take this on board at the present time. JED suggested using the LIRG web site for peer group support. EH suggested that those interested could be directed to some of the action research websites; appropriate guidance to the sites could be provided by DS and DH.

It was noted that there are issues about the potential accreditation of these workshops in the future, particularly relating to changes when LIRG will be a SIG of CILIP. The LIRG committee will need to discuss this at a future stage.

7. Evidence based web design.
AC and MW are still working on the proposal for this event
Action: AC and MW

8. Do Libraries Aid Learning Seminar - feedback
A report on this LIRG/SCONUL ACPI event was tabled by PP. The seminar was held 9-10 December 2002 in Scarborough and was facilitated by David Streatfield and Sharon Markless of Information Management Associates. The report from the seminar will feed into a book on the subject, and it was hoped the conclusions would lead to a set of guidelines or a toolkit for measuring impact. PP and Angela Conyers have taken proposals for follow up work to the ACPI committee and views would be welcome from LIRG regarding the suggested follow up. It was noted that future developments could involve the ACL, Society of University Librarians and the Audit Commission. BF could refer to the opportunities in her letter to organisations.
Action BF

9. LIR
In the absence of the LIR Editor the committee discussed the LIR January Editorial Board meeting decision on Peer Review. The Editor was seeking the opinion of the LIRG committee on this matter. It was considered a good move towards implementing peer review of articles. JED felt the peer review process should not take three months, and there needs to be clarity about the process. The Journal of Information Science was suggested as a model. It was felt that peer review might discourage some contributors, and that this process should be the author's choice. Many journals only have one peers reviewed article per issue. JED felt that practitioner based research can stand up to peer review. BF suggested that LIRG could support by running a course on writing for publication. The LIRG committee were broadly in support of the proposal. EG would be invited to revise the author guidelines and draft guidelines for reviewers.
Action EG

8. Treasurer's Report
In JE's absence BF reported on the financial situation. There is approx £11,000 in the current account with commitments of up to £5000 for the research methods accounts. There is £6000 in the capital reserve account. There are still issues about non-payment from the last research methods workshops.
The Treasurer and Jo Horsfall have discussed the benefits of using online banking and would like to move towards this. There are two possible banks of interest:
1. Co-op Community Direct Account (ethical grounds)
2. Royal Bank of Scotland Treasurers Account (standard charge)
The LIRG committee agreed that the Co-op account was the preferred choice and authorised JE to proceed to close the Nat West Bank accounts and set up new accounts with the Co-op Bank.
Action: JE

9. Web Pages
AC reported that the web pages were up to date. He would ensure that the Umbrella 2003 programme was on the LIRG website and would include details of the AGM and reception and the presentation of prizes by Bob McKee. JED thanked AC for putting the EGM information on the website. All committee members were asked to check their areas of responsibility and inform AC of any changes required.

10. Awards and prizes - update
LIRG Postgraduate Prize 2002. JED reported there had been a very high standard of entries. Three prizes have been awarded:

1st Ann Littlewood - Manchester Metropolitan University
Cyberporn and moral panic: an evaluation of press reactions to pornography on the internet.

Very highly commended Helen Cartwright - University of Sheffield
Change in Store? An Investigation into the Impact of the Book Superstore Environment on Use, Perceptions and Expectations of the Public Library as a Space, Place and Experience.

Highly commended Naomi BEHMER - University College, London.
The Role of Sanford Berman in the Elimination of Biased Terminology in Library of Congress Subject Headings.

As there were no entries this year for the Daphne Clark Award JED proposed that £150 and £50 should be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd placed prize winners in the postgraduate award as this was an exceptional year. This was agreed by the committee. EG will ask the prizewinners to write something for LIR.

Elsevier Prize
It was noted that applications had been received from Dr J Broadly-Preston and Lyndon Pugh. NC agreed to be one of the two judges and will ask CN or EH to be on the panel. BF will be the adjudicator.

JED has amended the publicity material to indicate the LIRG prizes are only open to those from UK and Ireland. NC was welcomed back to her role as Awards Secretary. It was suggested that LIRG could consider the CILIP Gala awards as an opportunity. NC would discuss this with Tim Owen at CILIP
Action: NC

11. Publicity
In LBs absence there was no formal report on publicity

12. Any other business
There was no other business

Date of future meetings
Wednesday 30th April SCONUL, London
3pm Thursday 3rd July at Umbrella 2003 Manchester