National Resource Sharing Working Group
Minutes of the Sixth Meeting, 11 May 2000
Attendees
Susan Magnay (Chair)
Sharon Howells
Donna Runner
Margaret Gauld
Christine Cother
Dianne Ollerenshaw
Sue Grimes
Charu Sood
Kristen Ritchie
Patricia Woods (Minutes)
Apologies
Cynthia Love
Toby Burrows
1. Minutes of last meeting
Minutes accepted as an accurate record of the meeting.
2. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cynthia Love and Toby Burrows
3. Business arising
Comments on the ILRS Directories project should be forwarded to Erica Ryan.
There were no comments on the minutes of the National Resource Sharing Policy Committee (NRSPC) meeting of 23 March 2000.
4. Benchmarking study (Charu/Kristen)
Charu Sood outlined progress. A number of options for the benchmarking study were evaluated:
a. the ARL study with minor modifications, but broadening it to libraries from all sectors;
b. the ARL study with minor modifications, but limiting it to larger universities and the national and state libraries as was the case with the ARL study;
c. conducting a separate study to measure the performance of ILL supply, and including other sectors in this study.
The evaluation took into account the views of the NRSWG, the NRSPC and feedback received from FLIN and others that if the study was to be seen as relevant to the broad sector it must include all sectors. The NRSWG endorsed the decision to broaden the study to include libraries in all sectors. Where libraries are unable to provide full data the partial data will be reported on.
Communication
The need for a strategy to gain support for the study, communicate to the participants during the study and to convey the results of the study was discussed. Charu Sood outlined the proposed communication strategy. The NRSWG, with NLA support, will seek the endorsement of the NRSPC, and then the endorsement of peak bodies (CAUL, CASL and ALIA) for the study. University and State Libraries would be invited to participate in the study and a public call will be made to invite special and public libraries to participate in the study. ALIAs support in publicising the study and in encouraging libraries to participate would also be sought.
The meeting endorsed the communications strategy.
Timing of the Study
The timing of the study was discussed. A proposal was put forward that the study be conducted from mid July to mid September, because of the expected impact of the Olympics and university holidays. The meeting considered that the deadlines were too tight as there was a risk that recruitment of participants may take longer than allowed in the timetable. The meeting thought that it may be better to conduct the survey in October and November. Universities would still be very busy during this time and it would allow more time for the communication process. It was agreed to conduct the study during October and November.
Data Collection SubCommittee
Formal invitations have been extended to Karen Vitullo, Australian Bureau of Statistics Library, Margaret Hyland, ACT Public Library Service and Jane Turnbull, Queensland University of Technology, to join the Data Collection Sub-Committee.
5. Progress report on standards (Standards group)
Charu Sood is developing a draft paper on standards which will be distributed to the Standards Sub-Committee next week for discussion at the face to face meeting to be held in Sydney on 19 May 2000. . Two subgroups of the Standards Sub-Committee have developed draft ILL codes for discussion at the meeting.
Charu Sood suggested, and it was agreed by the Group that in developing new ILL standards, any recommended prices would have to be based on variation of the existing prices, until a comprehensive cost study was undertaken. Group members agreed that this need not necessarily be conducted by the NRSWG.
6. Strategies for consulting on standards (Consultation group)
Susan Magnay suggested that, after the Standards Sub-Committee meeting in Sydney, that a review of the consultation work from last year be undertaken to develop a strategy for communication on standards and identify bodies who may provide avenues for consultation. Susan will contact the Consultation SubCommittee after the May meeting with the aim of developing firm proposals for the June meeting.
7. Progress report on NRSWG GST statement (Susan Magnay)
The statement was issued on DocLibs and Kinetica-L on 11 May. Working group members should pass any feedback to Susan Magnay. If necessary the statement will be updated in response to any issues raised. The GST statement was formulated at the request of the National Resource Sharing Policy Committee.
8. Report on Expert Advisory Group on access to Electronic Resources (Toby Burrows)
This agenda item to be held over until the next meeting.
9. Other business
ALIA has formed an expert advisory group on interlending. No details of this groups role, terms of reference or membership have been announced, and the NRSWG has received no formal notification from ALIA about the formation of the group of how it would relate to the NRSWG.
10. Next meeting
The next meeting will be a Face-to-face meeting, 29 - 30 June in Sydney.
Meeting closed at 3.30 pm.
