SCONUL groups
SCONUL deals with a range of topics through the work of its various groups. These topics identify anticipated trends and issues for information services and support collaborative sharing and development of good practice around the core interests and services of SCONUL. They are listed below. Each topic has an introduction, links to its relevant publications and papers and also a link to the appropriate group. For more information please contact us.
Access
SCONUL fully supports the principle of reciprocal access between libraries,
based on the principles of managed referral, reciprocity and flexibility
both within the HE sector and across sectors and its member libraries
play a key role in implementing the widening access policies of their
parent institutions in support of government strategies. SCONUL is responsible
for the operation of two existing schemes (SCONUL Research Extra and
UK Libraries Plus) and is a significant partner in a third – Inspire
which is creating a culture of lifelong learning regionally.
More information
on access…
e-learning
e-learning strategy, practice and research and evaluation has long
been a part of the SCONUL agenda and this is an exciting time to be
shaping national initiatives and strategies in relation to libraries
and e-learning. SCONUL members have a wealth and diversity of experience
in e-learning and recognise the imperative to work strategically with
partners from other professional groups to progress this key national
issue
More information
on e-learning...
e-research
SCONUL is interested in raising awareness and understanding of the
issues associated with support of the e-research landscape and is working
with partners in helping shape our understanding of the part that academic
libraries can play in supporting e-research within a UK-wide infrastructure.
More
information on e-research
Health strategy
SCONUL aims to strengthen HE community impact in the strategic area of health information with focused development in the twin areas of external advocacy to a range of stakeholder groups in the UK (including CILIP, the NHS and Department of Health as well as professional bodies in the health sector and across the UK) and of engaging with cross-sectoral policy development affecting health libraries such as common procurement and licensing of electronic content, accreditation, information literacy etc.
More
information on Health strategy
Information literacy
Informed by ongoing debates about graduate skills, research training,
communities of practice, e-learning, digital library developments and
learning and teaching using digital information environments, SCONUL
continues to take a lead role in the strategic development of theory
and practice in relation to information literacy and in supporting the
role of libraries and librarians in the process of learning and support
for learners and researchers.
More
information on information literacy...
Performance and quality
Not many parts of higher education can demonstrate such commitment as SCONUL to getting the facts and showing the trends
in our annual statistics, as well as in work related to e-measures and usage statistics plus the new area of work in relation to impact measures and VFM.
In addition, SCONUL continues to respond to the ongoing need for engagement with QAA and other organisations responsible for the quality and standards of
higher education provision, both in regard to advocacy and to practical help and advice based on experience of quality procedures and examples of best practice.
More
information on performance improvement...
Scholarly communications
SCONUL aims to strengthen community impact in the strategic area of
scholarly communications issues with continued focused development in
the twin areas of communication within the community and external advocacy
to a range of stakeholder groups in the UK
More
information on scholarly communications...
Space planning
SCONUL helps members face challenges in relation to meeting information
and library requirements within flexible learning and research space
in an increasingly e-environment. We support members through stakeholder
and partnership relationships at national and international level and
by the development of a strategic framework of activities in relation
to space planning issues including themed events and visits and a buildings
database
More
information on space planning...
Joint CILIP/SCONUL Group
SCONUL works with CILIP via appropriate facilitative and collaborative
working to promote excellence in library services in higher education
and national libraries through joint advocacy and sharing of good practice
to improve service delivery to users and to support members in planning
for future services.
More
information on the joint CILIP/SCONUL group...