ACIL Meeting Minutes - 13th November 2003

Date: Thursday 13th November 2003
Time: 11.30 a.m.
Venue: Octagon Boardroom, Stafford Campus

UNCONFIRMED.

1. In attendance and apologies
In attendance: Hilary Johnson (Chair), Deborah Bragan-Turner, Peter Godwin, Liz Hart, Jo Parker, Janet Peters, Helen Hathaway, Stephen Town, Wendy White
Apologies: Martin Jenkins.

2. Notes and Action
Notes of previous meeting: Meeting no. 5, 25th September 2003.
Confirmed with the following amendments:
Noted that PG did not attend.
Item 2: Note the change from Patty Wiles to Kathy Wiles
Item 7: Note change from “ESRF roles” to “ESRF rules”

Outstanding Action points from meetings. Updated to October 2003
04/02. JISC Regional Centres: Agreed that this liaison action should be removed from the Action points list.
04/06. LTSN/HE Academy: This action has been superceded by events
04/18: LH to invite Ruth Stubbings and Emma Place to February 2003 meeting
05/04. EMAIL list. DBT unable to access to archive. LH to check and ensure this is available for all. Action: LH
05/06. Learning outcomes joint papers. HJ reported on a conversation with Kathy Wiles. KW is changing roles and therefore this may need to have a brief hiatus. However KW has confirmed she will leave this issue as an outstanding action for her successor. HJ to continue to follow up.
JaP queried the possibility of joint funding which HJ would raise with KW’s successor. JaP also mentioned the possibility of an LTSN grant for this.
Action: HJ
05/07: Learning outcomes case studies: JaP reported on initial outcomes of this work. JaP requested case studies from key practitioners across sector. Responses to date had been positive. Agreed that the input should be brief (2 pages of A4) and to be available by end of January 2004. JaP confirmed that this work will be freely available for ACIL to publish where we wish.

Any additional action points
None

3. Matters arising from meeting 5

• IFLA debate. Follow up of the International Information Literacy Certificate to move to become part of the Action Plan for ACIL.
• UCISA Joint event. Progress with event organisation: positive progress has been made for the event which is now fully booked. (DBT)
• Issue of joint funding and income share. (JaP email 7th November). JaP had reported on this to the group via email. Toby Bainton has agreed to discuss this matter with UCISA for the future but the overall stance was acknowledged. In future it would be important to agree on an approach of joint risk at the outset. It should be noted by SCONUL Executive Board as a future issue for SCONUL in terms of support for income generating events.
  Action: LH to include in Executive Board summary
• 7 pillars model. Diagram circulated (HH email 6th November refers). ST reported on this iterative process. It was important to finalise this and to have at least 4 versions: vertical, horizontal and both black and colour. It was agreed that the vertical and horizontal diagrams are important as this made the whole model more dynamic. For the future it should also be considered as a dynamic multimedia version. The committee agreed to retain the 7 Pillars as a title despite the variations in design. The SCONUL name will need to be added to ensure the ownership and origins are clear to all. ST and HJ felt it was important that the model was context free and could be applied to any level. HH suggested that the website should contain examples of its use in various contexts. HH further suggested that the model should attempt to demonstrate that the associated attributes are ongoing, open ended and that each pillar should link to more information and potentially learning outcomes. This will be greatly facilitated by the use of the ACIL website. Further comments to ST and also Selena Lock.
  Action: All Committee.
• EDUserv Grant. JaP had contacted EDUserv previously and was chasing this again currently. HH has put together a few relevant points towards the evaluation project for the MOSAIC initiative but the main issue was who could undertake this work on behalf of ACIL. The cost was likely to be approximately £5000. LH suggested the use of consultants as an appropriate choice for this work rather than appointment/s and that this would lead to a short tender process. JaP to pursue CERLIM and LH undertake a similar process for UCE.
  Action: JaP, LH.
  LTSN should also be consulted for potential funding. HH and DBP to progress
  Action: HH, DBP
  An outline specification would be produced by the members undertaking the MOSAIC initiative
  Action: HH, DBP, JoP

4. ACIL Action Plan
Note from LH on new format and SCONUL requirements. The new format was discussed and agreed. The Committee then discussed the content in some detail. Agreed that LH would produce a draft version for rapid circulation. Final version required for 28th November 2003 for submission to SCONUL Executive Board.

5. Development of role of ACIL
Outline paper from LH
This item was taken in conjunction with item 8: SCONUL discussions concerning e-pedagogy.
HJ outlined the e-pedagogy issues for the Committee. HJ had attended SCONUL Executive Board meeting on 7th October. The suggestion was made that SCONUL set up a group on e-pedagogy. HJ made the point that ACIL did regard itself as being contextualised within Learning and Teaching. Sue Roberts was tasked with setting up a discussion group including Nick Smith, Phil Sykes, and HJ. Invitation also extended to Karen Veitch, TLIG. This group to produce a proposal for SCONUL as to how this should be progressed and HJ produced an outline for discussion and consideration by the Group. The responses to date have been neither enthusiastic nor negative.

The outline paper from LH was discussed with the main objective of establishing next steps. WW was keen to suggest that ACIL put such a proposal forward. This was echoed by JaP and LH who considered that this was essential, particularly as SCONUL needs to be recognised as a lead body in learning and teaching. HJ suggested that others be invited to the next ACIL meeting in February 2004. JaP mentioned the possibility of discussing learning and teaching at a larger SCONUL meeting which was already planned. HJ noted the possibility of taking on a wider focus than Information Literacy which might lead to this focus being lost. ST raised the point that ACPI are facilitating the work on impact of libraries for learning which is often about the assessment of Information Literacy.
LH suggested a proposal needs to be communicated to SCONUL Executive concerning a potential framework for linking interested SCONUL Committees together to make appropriate responses to issues relating to the learning and teaching agenda.
JaP suggested that the Chair of ACIL be requested by SCONUL to coordinate a response on learning and teaching issues. JaP further suggested that a position document might be produced as a result of inclusion in a planned SCONUL event which could consider such a framework.
ST considered there were three issues under discussion:

• The need to enhance any future SCONUL response to issues relating to learning and teaching
• If ACIL be the main, though not exclusive, vehicle for responses to learning and teaching related issues then ST believed that ACIL would require strengthening with additional membership
• There would need to be an event to bring people together to discuss these issues. ST supported this process as a vital method of progressing discussion and a clear SCONUL position.
  
  HJ proposed that ACIL be the focus, with additional support, for developing thinking in terms of learning and teaching and that an initial focus would be e-learning. ST pointed out that e-learning was where current funding was likely to exist for such initiatives and therefore should be sensibly exploited in this context. HH suggested inviting other members either permanently or temporarily to take this forward.
  HJ proposed that LH’s outline be partly re-drafted and submitted to the SCONUL Executive Board for next meeting in December 2003. HJ will also submit this to the group chaired by Sue Roberts in the interim.
  Action: HJ

6. DFeS and HEFCE e-learning strategies
Outline from HJ (EMAIL 7th November)
Contribution from Staffordshire / LH (tabled)
HJ is still to supply some draft comments for the DFeS e-learning document. Committee discussed the draft document from Toby Bainton in relation to the SCONUL response to this document. Members felt that there should be more in the context of Information Literacy and further that SCONUL should be one of the bodies who are consulted on these issues as a matter of routine. JaP felt it was important to stress that Library and IT professionals have been leading on the creation of appropriate environments for e-learning. WW felt it was also important to emphasise that there were key issues in relation to learning objects and metadata. It was also felt to be important that SCONUL respond in a generic sense about libraries rather than concentrating on HE in the response to the DFeS. HJ undertook to communicate with TB in these matters.
Action: HJ
HJ presented a draft from TB on the HEFCE e-learning document. HJ to circulate this to members on 14th November as a response was required fairly urgently by SCONUL. HJ to co-ordinate responses from members via email to meet this deadline.
Action: HJ

7. Health care related Information Literacy event with SCONUL ACHS
HJ reported on a meeting on 17th October to discuss this event to be run by UMSLuG and SCONUL. Eventually this may also include the LKDN (Libraries and Knowledge Development Network). The proposed date will be 1st March 2004 with a theme of Information Literacy for Health. This will include health education from the student to the practitioner. The location is likely to be London with approximately 100 attendees. HJ outlined the proposed content for the day which will include an initial strategic level paper followed by a presentation on accreditation of Information Literacy. HJ proposed that ACIL members present on the genesis of the MOSAIC initiative. Committee discussed the options of what might be presented which might include later discussion sessions. Committee members to communicate with HJ on this issue and HJ to send out some initial bulletpoints to colleagues on email.
Action: HJ, all committee

8. Other matters for discussion, note or reporting

• Prague Declaration (HJ). Committee welcomed this initiative, and further wished this to be noted by the SCONUL Executive Board with a proposal that it be circulated to LIS-SCONUL for use in the development of learning and teaching strategies.
  Action: LH
  
• CILIP Working Group on Information Literacy (ST). ST reported that only ST and Sheila Webber attended the meeting. Sue Brown was not available. Despite the lack of attendance the meeting progressed well. Outcomes included:
• Definitions: that encompassed a number of other things such as straplines.
• Folio of desirable things to be produced by CILIP including guide to the literature, FAQ’s, two page statement on the CILIP position on Information Literacy
  This will be fed back to Sue Brown.
  The outcomes of this meeting were overtaken by the decision from CILIP that it had rejected the creation of a CILIP Special Interest Group in Information Literacy. The Committee felt this demonstrated a mis-understanding of Information Literacy which should be regarded as at the core of the role and function of any library. ST to respond on behalf of ACIL to CILIP registering concern and surprise and to discover how this decision was reached. HH also suggested members submit letters to Update on this matter.
  Action: ST
  
• Discussions with SCONUL concerning e-pedagogy (HJ)
  Discussed under item 5.
  
• Website Developments (ST). ST reported on the website developments undertaken by Selena Lock (RMCS). Populating the website is ongoing. Work to undertake includes: About us needs to be updated; reports to SCONUL board need to be organised. Committee members approved this approach which ST and SL will progress. HJ suggested SL might attend the next meeting which was agreed.
  Action: ST/LH

9. Any other business
Expenses: LH indicated she had a SCONUL expenses form on EMAIL which would be sent to colleagues.
Jill Joy (Ecys plc) contacted HJ to indicate she has been commissioned to undertake a survey by JISC to contribute to the development of existing and required ICT skill sets for staff. HJ to forward to ACIL members for information and comment.
Action: HJ

WW suggested that the paper by Gomersal and Grayson be on the agenda for the next meeting.
Action: LH

10. Date and location of next meeting

• Thursday 12th February 2004
• Location: SCONUL HQ
• To note Toby Bainton to attend ACIL meeting/s regularly from this meeting
  

Updated November 2003 by Selena Lock S.A.Lock@Cranfield.ac.uk.