Libraries in the HERMS

SCONUL has been working with UCISA on amendments to the Higher Education Reference Models (HERMs). These are frameworks that describe the core capabilities that are common across universities. They offer a shared vocabulary to underpin strategic planning and are increasingly being used to support institutional transformation. The existing Business Capability Model didn’t fully reflect the contribution of libraries to the institution and a group of SCONUL members has been working with UCISA who were very welcoming of and receptive to the proposed changes. The newly published version incorporates many of the recommendations suggested by the group. Significant changes or additions include:

• BC133 Library Management: changing 'library administration’ to ‘library management’ to reflect both the strategic oversight and operational stewardship of an institution’s library services

• BC255 Archive Management: a new capability included to indicate the preservation of and provision of access to records deemed to be permanently valuable

• BC250 Publishing Management: a new capability that was added to highlight the scholarly publishing function through a university press or institutional publishing service

The group also proposed changes that were implemented to improve the descriptions of certain capabilities. We are continuing to collaborate with UCISA on the development of their new Service Model and on reviewing other related materials.  If you want to find out more about the HE Reference models, how they are used in institutional transformation and how you might use them to support the work of the library, SCONUL will be running a webinar series on the HERMS and will share details and dates shortly.  For more information contact ann.rossiter@sconul.ac.uk.