Meeting of cpd25 Task Group 3: Operations Management

23rd September 2011 at 2.30pm

London Metropolitan University: Library Seminar Room

Present: David Archer, Martin Carbonell, Andy Ekins, Caroline Fletcher, Claire Hackshall (Administrator), Aniska Kumra, Catherine Phillpotts (Chair), Rob Wannerton and Judith Wells. 

1. Apologies & new members

Ian Clark, Alan Doherty, and Peter Williams sent their apologies. Andy Ekins and Rob Wannerton were welcomed to the meeting as new members of the group. Martin Carbonell confirmed that this would be his last meeting as a member of Task Group 3. The group thanked him for all his hard work, particularly during the last year when he had stood in as Chair for a couple of meetings. 

2. Minutes of the last meeting: 23rd September 2011

These were accepted as an accurate record, except that CF wanted it to be recorded that her comment under 6.8 about Twitter related to her event only. 

3. Reports on any events held since the last meeting

3.1 Academic Libraries after the Browne Review

DA reported to the group that this event had gone very well, with a good selection of speakers who were very topical and lots of discussion had taken place on the issues raised.

3.2 Organising Student Enquiry Services

AK reported to the group that this event had also gone very well, although in retrospect it could have been longer, perhaps starting at 10 – 10.30am and finishing around 4pm.

3.3. Visit to SOAS

This visit had now taken place and had gone well. 

3.4 Visit to Imperial War Museum Library

This visit had now taken place and had gone well. 

3.5 Follow us on …. Using social networks and technology to reach readers

CF reported that this had been run in July to see how much interest there would be during this holiday period. 17 people had attended the event and there was some good feedback afterwards. CF reported that she might run an event on QR codes the summer after next as the London Olympics next summer would mean that it would be very difficult to run events during July. 

4. Update on/planning for 2011-12

4.1 Events we had already started planning

4.1.1 Business Process Re-engineering

It was hoped to run this December/January, depending on the availability of the main speaker. 

4.1.2 Business Continuity Planning

It was hoped to run this event December/January time.

4.1.3 Digitising Collections

This event will be run on 24th November.

4.1.4 Space Planning

This event is hopefully going to be run around December time at Goldsmiths and will cover how to make the most of your existing building. The Estates Officer at Goldsmiths will be speaking plus another speaker from possibly London Metropolitan or Queen Mary. It is hoped that some poster sessions could be arranged too and so an area at Goldsmiths would need to be set aside for these.

4.1.5 Visit to NMRC

This visit is being worked on at present.

4.1.6 Visit to Senate House

This is on hold at the moment.

4.1.7 Visit to the Horniman Museum Library

CP hoped to arrange this visit shortly.

4.2 Potential events

4.2.1 The boutique library

CF is currently investigating this topic for a possible event.

4.2.2 Models of IT support in the library

IC and AE would be the organisers of this event, with AD and PW assisting where necessary. One possible idea was to invite a speaker from ‘Norman’ along.

4.2.3 Collections showcase/Marketing of special collections

This idea originated from an M25 meeting held earlier this year and AK would like to be one of the organisers of this event. It was agreed to ask Task Group 5 if they would like to be involved in running this event too. 

4.2.4 Planning for the new fee regime

It was agreed to investigate whether there is enough information available on this topic, to make running this event viable.

4.2.5 Others

A possible gadget-show type event on the operational issues arising from the various products now available, was discussed at length and members agreed to go away and think about it further. CP said she would also discuss this possible event at the next steering group meeting.

5. Any Other Business

It was noted that organisers need to keep an eye on speakers at their events over-running their time allocations and that they need to act quickly if this happens.

6. Meeting dates for the year

CP agreed to look at these for the next academic year and would go for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only.