ACIL Meeting Minutes - 13th December 2004
SCONUL Advisory Committee on Information Literacy
Meeting Number 10
Date: 13th December 2004
MEETING NOTES AND ACTION POINTS
Present: Hilary Johnson, Toby Bainton, Jo Parker, Wendy White, Peter Godwin, Liz Hart, Janet Peters, Helen Hathaway
Debbi Bowden was welcomed to the meeting
Apologies: Martin Jenkins, Sheila Webber, Stephen Town, Toby Bainton
1 PRESENTATION BY DEBBI BOWDEN
DB was welcomed to the meeting by the Chair. DB thanked ACIL for the invitation
to attend the meeting.
DB outlined the purpose of the IL Group which was now linked to the Community
Services Group of CILIP. Progress has been made with the LiLAC conference and
the “bumper” issue of CILIP News. DB felt that IL should be key
to the CILIP agenda and was pushing this view strongly with CILIP. She outlined
the importance attached by the Group to Advocacy as well as practice. It was
noted that ST and SW were on the CILIP group and therefore the overlap and links
were established. Ruth Stubbings was the Vice Chair of the Group. It was noted
that coherence as to what information was available between CILIP CSG IL and
ACIL was important for the future, particularly in relation to website information
where it was agreed appropriate links need to be established via SL (via LIS-IL).
By Whom: Selena Lock Action No.: 10/01
LiLAC conference has attracted 25 papers already. When these have been vetted,
the programme will be finalised. Sponsorship has been productive particularly
through the Online Conference. It is hoped that this will become an annual event
though this will depend on the funding from CILIP which is not certain.
DB felt the group should remain with CILIP but was prepared to transfer to another
sponsor if CILIP does not provide appropriate support. DB also felt that the
group was “hidden” beneath Community Services which was challenging.
JoP suggested some form of marketing campaign to join the CILIP CSG IL group
from across the profession. This would clearly send a message to CILIP concerning
the importance of IL. HJ queried representation on the CILIP CSG IL group from
other sectors. DB indicated that there was little representation outside HE
apart from MLA, government, Schools and NHS. Public libraries were not well
represented yet and neither was FE. LH to send DB Anne Hannaford’s (current
ILGWM regional chair) email regarding links with the West Midlands Information
and Learning Group of HE institutions. JaP also noted that Andrew Green (Warwickshire)
might be a useful contact from the public library perspective.
By Whom: LH Action No.: 10/02
JISC Regional Centres were also noted as a useful contact/s as was EduServe
who also have limited funding available in terms of research grants primarily.
Coordination of work between ACIL and CILIP CSG IL was regarded as important
for the future and agreed.
The potential coverage for CILIP CSG IL was very large and therefore it was
likely that it would eventually sub-divide into more specific areas under the
overall umbrella of a coordinating Group.
It was agreed that ST and SW would report regularly to ACIL on the work of CILIP
CSG IL.
By Whom: SWAction No.: 10/03
2 NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Accepted.
Apologies to be removed as this is contained in the headline.
Page 2: Website: “Link to” to be changed to “links to”
Page 3: CONUL not CONAL
3 MATTERS ARISING
Notes of the previous meeting:
- RP and JoP had discussed the website issue and the transfer of the e-bank
and were making progress.
By Whom: JoP/SL Action No.: 09/02 - TB to remain the link person to the SCONUL Executive Board for the present
- LTSN PUBLICATION. Formal thanks were noted to Janet Peters for her outstanding
work on this initiative. To be mounted on the SCONUL website with any corrections.
Action No.: 09/03
“Spare” copies are available and can be mailed to anyone ACIL chooses free of any charges.
Action No.: 07/08 - Website: Selena Lock is currently maintaining the site very competently and the Committee noted thanks to her for this work.
- SCONUL e-learning task group. HJ reported that a further meeting had occurred
in October. One further meeting to be progressed and then a report was to
be produced for Executive Board in February 2005.
Action No.: 09/06 - HJ has not progressed chasing JISC on IL matters but she would progress.
- IFLA response was sent by LH in November
Action No.: 09/11 - JoP to discuss evidence based work with ST when he was available again in
January.
Action No.: 09/14 - JoP noted that the CETL bid appears to be progressing well.
Outstanding Action Points:
- PG noted that a brief item will be in CILIP News on ACIL
Action No.: 07/13 - JoP noted that ST and PG had attended the eLit conference and that this
item would be removed as completed. Papers would be published.
Action No.: 08/03
4 INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Update from EB on developments in Irish Universities: EB circulated papers regarding
CONUL which represents 10 institutions in Ireland. EB chairs the IL working
group to investigate ongoing developments, best practice and future strategy
for IL in Ireland. A report was produced and EB circulated this to the Committee
members and highlighted various elements of the report overall. The report outlined
an informal survey which was conducted amongst CONUL members.
It was noted that much of the activity in Ireland had not been published or
made generally available yet some work was ongoing. IL was further noted as
a major item in some institutional strategic plans though this was not universal.
The terminology used, even in the small CONUL Group, was very varied. Within
the report definitions were identified and agreed within CONUL. EB noted an
addition to the SW BLOG regarding a recent conference. EB to circulate to ACIL
members the more detailed papers as they appear.
By Whom: EB Action No.: 10/04
EB went on to outline experience and practice that emerged from the report.
Common findings between the report and the Big Blue report were noted. Overall
the report allowed considerable ongoing work to be properly coordinated and
disseminated across CONUL. EB indicated that working more closely with ACIL
would be very welcome. Committee noted that it would be useful for the CONUL
report to be placed on the BLOG owned by SW. HJ also suggested it might appear
on the ACIL website if CONUL were likely to be willing for this to happen. EB
indicated she felt they would and would action via Selena Lock if agreed.
By Whom: EB/ST Action No.: 10/05
JaP suggested that ACIL might agree to undertake a similar survey in England
though this would be a much larger piece of work. It was pointed out that Big
Blue was originally intended to do this and had partly succeeded. As a result
of Big Blue JISC has commenced a piece of work on IL skills for academic staff
in HE and FE. Big Blue project had now ended and had usefully addressed the
toolset approach but had not produced any longer term strategic issues and this
was felt to be an omission by the Committee. Other work such as that conducted
by Jenny Brook from Huddersfield, (INHALE) had been delayed by her ill health.
WW suggested that ACIL should be making more concrete suggestions to JISC as
to where the sector needs to progress. JaP suggested that a definite list of
such issues required should be included in the ACIL Action Plan for 2004/2005.
By Whom: HJ/LH Action No.: 10/06
It was noted that SCONUL was in a position to include the requirements UK wide
and also Ireland which would enable progress to be made on key issues for all
of UK and Ireland. HJ suggested that EduServe be approached to consider potential
follow ups to Big Blue, based on promotion of the good practice recommended
in that report but with an HE focussed survey, which takes some of these issues
into account and moves things forward. HJ to contact Annette Lafford with this
suggestion. It was noted that this could include the evidence based proposal
circulated to the Committee by JoP which would represent two proposals for EduServe.
By Whom: HJ/JoP Action No.: 10/07
SW attending CILIP CSG IL. Unfortunately SW was not available to attend the
meeting.
5 ACIL. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
HJ indicated to the Committee that she felt unable to continue to be chair of
the ACIL. She is proposing withdrawing with some regret. HJ also reported on
the discussions with Suzanne Enright, Chair of SCONUL Executive Board and Anne
Bell concerning the future of ACIL in the context of their review of SCONUL
Committees. They wish to re-focus SCONUL to deliver a more strategic agenda.
The SCONUL e-learning task group will also be reporting soon on how to address e-learning for the future.
HJ has attended a meeting of SCONUL, UCISA TLIG and ALT to discuss the overall e-learning agenda. HJ has been asked to attend this group via TB but is considering her overall position with regard to workload. Agreed HJ to continue. PG queried the value of the SCONUL, UCISA TLIG and ALT. HJ pointed out that this “new” body would aim to have more strategic influence on organisations such as JISC.
JaP and HJ discussed all these matters above at the SCONUL Autumn Conference
where JaP had made various suggestions. HJ had also discussed with ST who was
firmly of the view that SCONUL should continue to support IL as a key driver
for the future of the profession in HE.
By Whom: LH Action No.: 10/08
HJ requested the Committee members consider these issues: WW pointed out that
ACIL was one of the main Advisory Groups to actively and regularly link with
practitioners on the ground. LH to review the discussion for the Committee and
circulate a summary
LH requested that HJ remain as chair, with a reduced workload, in order to provide
continuity and cohesiveness during a potential time of change. It was agreed
that HJ should stay as Chair of ACIL. HJ agreed that this would be a positive
way forward.
6 MOSAIC. Proposal to Executive Board
JoP provided an overview of her tabled paper for the Committee. HJ suggested
that JoP include the numbers of students who had been put through the programme.
JoP’s paper was agreed by the Committee with due note that the paper needs
to demonstrate why this product is appropriate and does not necessarily demonstrate
favouritism to a specific HE institution. This was an important issue in the
context of the request to “badge” the MOSAIC product as a useful
partnership initiative, with a particular University, on behalf of the HE Sector.
The product itself was available, easy to use, well tested and evaluated and
a sound basis on which to begin or develop IL.
It was noted that this would need to be endorsed by TB who would have to present
the paper to the Executive Board as the ACIL Executive Board representative.
LH suggested that a short overview paper be produced to aid the proposal as
TB was unfortunately not able to be present at the meeting. Agreed that this
would be forwarded to the Executive Board for February 2005.
By Whom: JoP/TB Action No.: 10/09
7 ACIL Group Event 2006
WW to progress with TLIG. LH offered assistance as two of her staff are members
of TLIG. Warwick was agreed as a good venue for the event. Agreed this would
be a two day event commencing with a keynote at 12 noon before lunch, ending
at approximately 4.00pm on the second day. HH to progress with Warwick. JaP
suggested making preliminary bookings as quickly as possible.
By Whom: WW/LH/HH Action No.: 10/10
Keynote speakers would also need to be organised fairly quickly. HJ suggested
Phil Race (it was noted he would wish to be paid) or Chris Powys and Martin
Jenkins as joint T&L Fellows. Ruth Stubbings had also undertaken some of
the impact work and LH indicated there was a clear link to the LIS Impact studies
currently ongoing. All these suggestions were noted.
8 Any Other Business
JaP noted an item from the IL List about Polish librarians requesting relevant
IL material. JaP suggested the Learning Outcomes material on the ACIL website
but a translation might be required. If the Committee agree JaP will ask authors
if they would object to having their original material translated in this way
as there are obvious copyright issues. JaP to progress with authors.
By Whom: JaP Action No.: 10/11
HH raised the issue of the web based conference suggested by SW on email to
the Committee JoP to progress as she is participating in the web conference
anyway. The conference could be used as a potential source of papers for the
January 2006 Conference.
By Whom: JaP Action No.: 10/12
JaP offered to make a response on behalf of ACIL to the Shaping the Academy
paper currently out for consultation.
By Whom: JaP Action No.: 10/13
9 DATE OF NEXT MEETING/S
16TH February 2005
Commencing at 11.00am
Location: SCONUL HQ
Updated October 2005 by Selena Lock S.A.Lock@Cranfield.ac.uk.