Annual report 2002

There were two changes to the Committee's membership this year. Julia Munro took up her new role as Secretary to the group at the start of the year. In the Spring, Pat Noon resigned from the Chair. Prior to his term of office as Chair, Pat had served on the Committee for many years. His contributions have been marked by unfailing commitment and energy, and it is thanks to him that numerous training programmes and other activities have been developed to the benefit of all SCONUL institutions.

Information provision to members

Three publications appeared this year. Organising a staff development event is organised as a series of checklists to enable flexible use and relieve strain often experienced by the organisers of events, however short. Library Staffing Structures provides updated organisational charts from some 26 institutions. Staff Development Policies offers models and examples of good practice from a similar number of member institutions. Early feedback on the value of these publications has been very positive and encouraging.

Further information for members created this year include a web page giving useful links to training consortia throughout the country. Following a check on the role of the deputies mailing list, management of this has been taken over by the SCONUL office, with the Committee's thanks for their support.

Events and Courses

Training Together 7 (TT7) took place. It attracted 48 participants and generated a useful profit. Feedback on the event has been very positive, and a further event (TT8) is scheduled for 2004. Another successful Annual Gathering of Deputies was held. This event continues to be assessed, with the aim of achieving maximum support possible for deputies in all SCONUL libraries, and proposals were under consideration at the end of the year of modifications to enable this. The three established management courses remain on our ongoing programme. The introductory course remains very popular. Recruitment to the middle management course was lower than expected. Analysis of the reasons indicates that factors beyond the Committee's control account in the main for this. No concerns were identified about the quality of the course. The strategic management course requires major review, and this work has been initiated in the course of the year, with a view to running a revised course, timed to achieve maximum value for the participants and SCONUL.

The SCONUL Award

The SCONUL Award for 2001 was won by Lindsay Martin, Edge Hill College, for planning and setting up of the electronic office. In planning for the next award, its timing has been revised.

Other Activities

Representation continued on the HIMSS project until its completion. Philippa Dolphin's report on the scope for consortial training was received with appreciation, and will be further developed by the Committee. Committee members were also invited to contribute to the new SCONUL guidelines on access for disabled users.

Margaret M. Coutts
Chair
February 2003