Minutes of the cpd25 Steering Group (cpd25 SG)

20th July 2011, 2.00pm

LSE Library, R301

Present: Robert Atkinson (RA), Martin Carbonell (MC), Sally Faith (SF), Vicky Falconer (VF), Antony Loveland (AL), Mary Nixon (MN), Pat Simons (PS)

1. Welcome, and any apologies:

AL was welcomed as incoming Chair of cpd25.

Apologies from Cathy Phillpotts (CP).

2. Minutes of the previous meeting:

The minutes were accepted as an accurate record.

3. Matters arising:

N/A

4. Financial update:

MN reported that the 2010-11 year had run well financially – with most events breaking even or making a surplus, and only three events making a loss.

5. Report from Chair on M25 Steering Group (M25 SG) Meeting:

MN reported back on the M25 SG meeting – including the survey that had recently been undertaken looking at Director-level staff development needs. The M25 SG had agreed that cpd25 should look at taking on areas of work that were relevant to its remit, and the cpd25 SG discussed the ideas suggested in the survey. It was agreed that courses on leadership and political skills could be considered – as well as repackaging courses run previously on negotiation, self-reflection etc. for senior management-level staff. MN highlighted that survey respondents talked very positively about cpd25 and its value for staff within their institutions. General comments that could be carried forward included better direction for visits, as well as better advance promotion of the programme.

6. Reports from Task Groups 2010-11:

6.1 Task Group 1 (TG1)

MC was welcomed as new Chair of TG1.

6.1.1 The final session of the Qualification Series had run; generally the series had gone well. 6.1.2 Applying to Library and Information Science had been difficult to organise but had been successful. 6.1.3 The Career Development Day for Library and Information Assistants was very successful and received excellent feedback. 6.1.4 AL reported that both of the SDO Discussions had gone well, but noted that the speaker for the first session had been expensive and had requested a cap on delegate numbers, resulting in the session making a loss.

6.2 Task Group 2 (TG2)

6.2.1 RA reported that at least one new member for TG2 was required. AL offered a suggestion from Canterbury Christ Church. Action 6.2.1.1: AL forward contact details to RA for new TG2 member. 6.2.2 Negotiation Skills had been arranged twice but not run; TG5 will consider rebranding the event to market in 2011-12. 6.2.3  The event on statistics had also not run; likewise TG5 will consider the feasibility of running it in 2011-12. 6.2.4 Employment Law was very successful. 6.2.5 Data Protection had not attracted a large amount of bookings, but received very good feedback. 6.2.6 The Copyright session went very well.

6.3 Task Group 3 (TG3)

6.3.1 MC reported that there is one vacancy on the Group, as one member had resigned. 6.3.2 Working Practices went very well. 6.3.3 Managing the Learning Environment was very successful with excellent speakers; there was scope to run it as a full-day event. 6.3.4 After the Browne Review went well, with a range of staff in different roles attending. 6.3.5 Organising Student Enquiries went well, but with too many speakers over a relatively short event. It was agreed that all speaker slots should be scheduled at a minimum of a half-hour. 6.3.6 Follow us on… went well. It was agreed that cpd25 should be actively using social media to promote events, and noted that Twitter accounts had been registered but not so far been used. Action 6.3.6.1: VF investigate registration of cpd25 and M25 Twitter accounts.

6.4 Task Group 4 (TG4)

6.4.1 SF reported that one member of the TG4 had resigned. 6.4.2 Time Management remained very popular this year, receiving excellent feedback. 6.4.3 Emotional Intelligence, likewise, was very popular and well received. 6.4.4 The Keep Calm and Carry on event for SLAs was reasonably successful, but it was felt that it an event aimed at this level of staff should be repackaged for 2011-12 [see 7.4]. 6.4.5 SF reported that attendance was down for the New Managers’ Toolkit, and it would be discontinued in its present form. However it was felt that events aimed at the same level of staff would be considered [see 7.4].

6.5  Task Group 5 (TG5)

6.5.1 Research Support had achieved very good attendance and was oversubscribed. 6.5.2 Enquiry Handling Software had also achieved good attendance 6.5.3 Focus Groups  had received good feedback despite IT difficulties on the day. 6.5.4 Despite one speaker not turning up for Mash-ups, the remaining speakers had rallied and the event received very good feedback.  6.5.5 Changing Role of Library Assistants had generated a lot of interest and was very well received.

7. Planning for 2011-12:

The following suggestions for 2011-12 events were raised and discussed  – some repeats or re-workings of 2010-11 events, others new:

7.1 Group 1

* Qualifications Series, including slightly rebranded Customer Care session and a new speaker for Supervisory Skills. Scope for one additional session.

* SDO Discussion Forums, including perhaps event(s) aimed at Senior Manager/Director-level staff.

* Applying to Library and Information Science

* Visits to Royal National Institute for the Blind, and University of the Arts London

7.2 Group 2

* Rebranded Negotiation Skills

* Event on statistics, tbc. Action 7.2.1: RA contact lead organiser.

* Employment Law

* Copyright

* An event on Investors in People

* An event on value for money and impact

* Equality

* Assistive Technology

* Possible visits to a law library, Brixton prison, Police Museum, Middlesex University, Wiener Library, Supreme Court

7.3 Group 3

* Managing the Learning Environment

* Event on space planning; incorporating session on working with Estates

* Models of IT Support

* Visits to Horniman Museum and Senate House

Action 7.3.1: MC contact CP for other ideas discussed within TG5

7.4 Group 4

* Time Management

* Emotional Intelligence

* Two events for Senior Library Assistant-level staff: one aimed at people supervising staff; one aimed at people working in a more technical role.

* An event on managing small projects

* Conference on the theme of innovative approaches to marketing

7.5 Group 5

* Changing Roles of Library Assistants

* Research Support

* An event on converged/super-converged services

* An event on shared services such as Bloomsbury VLE

* An event on changing your library management system

* An event for Subject Librarians or those in a similar role

* Visits to Surrey University, Women’s Library, Wellcome Library, Ravensbourne, QMUL/UEL/Olympics

All Task Groups will produce an event template covering all planned events for the 2010-12 year.

8. AOB:

Sincere thanks extended to MN as outgoing Chair for all her hard work.

9. Dates of next meeting:

tbc.

Action 9.1: Administrator to email cpd25 SG with possible dates.