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Electronic information resources group: Terms of Reference

1. Mission

To provide advice on collecting priorities and development priorities through a process which identifies and responds to user needs and supports the execution of the JISC Collections Strategy.

2. Core Aims

  • Provide leadership for national negotiations designed to lower the cost of access to electronic information resources
  • Facilitate debate and, where appropriate, action to help implement possible long-term solutions to the rising costs of scholarly communication
  • Develop and advance strategy for cost-effective content acquisition and delivery of electronic information resources which takes account of the dynamic nature of the information market place and the changing needs of the community
  • Assisting the community in achieving and demonstrating value for money
  • Commission research to assist the community in the effective exploitation of electronic information resources to support research and teaching
  • Work in collaboration with JISC to support the enhancement of innovative resource discovery and library collection management services
  • Communicate with all stakeholders in order to foster a mutual understanding of the issues around electronic information resources
  • Ensure the best possible licensing terms and conditions and preservation arrangements for the library community

3. Work Plan

3.1 To prepare and annually update a two-year work programme, providing a schedule of activities and target outcomes, for annual endorsement by the JISC Collections Board of Management. Activities will include:

  • Development of economic models to support sustainable access to electronic information resources
  • Facilitating dialogue and communication between the stakeholders
  • Development of licensing, preservation and continued access to electronic information resources
  • Providing guidance and support for the initial evaluation of possible new electronic information resources acquisitions and for the renewal of existing agreements
  • Providing guidance in identifying user needs and priorities for:
    • the acquisition of journals and other electronic information resources
    • the development of tools to locate and access electronic information resources content through the evolving Information Environment
    • the development of services for the delivery and evaluation of electronic information resources, including usage statistics and other tools to evaluate return on investment

4. Meetings

4.1 The working group will normally meet four times per annum, fitting in with the negotiation cycle

5. Membership

5.1 The structure of the working group will be:

  • Chair
  • 10 senior members from the academic library community
  • 1 representative from JISC

An executive member from JISC Collections will be in attendance as required.

5.2 Code of best practice for membership

Public service values: Electronic Information Resources Group members and its executive must at all times:

  • Observe the highest standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to stewardship of public funds and management of JISC
  • Comply fully with the principles of openness, and comply with all reasonable requests for information from Parliament, funders, users of services and individual citizens
  • Maximise value for money by ensuring that services are delivered in the most efficient and economical way, within available resources, and with independent validation of performance wherever practicable.

Responsibilities of members

  • Members have responsibility for advising JISC Collections on the use of public funds. Other important responsibilities include:
    • ensuring that JISC Collections follows the principles of openness, which include giving prompt responses to public requests for information
    • ensuring that JISC Collections operates sound environmental policies and practices
    • ensuring that high standards of governance are observed at all times
    • overseeing the delivery of planned results by monitoring performance against agreed strategic objectives and targets
    • in reaching decisions, ensuring that JISC Collections has taken into account any guidance issued by its funders

Responsibilities of individual members

  • Individual members should be aware of their wider responsibilities as members. Like others who serve the public, they should follow the seven principles of public life set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee)
  • Protecting confidentiality as appropriate

Term of Membership

  • Membership will be reviewed every two years
  • A member will be considered as having stood down if:
  1. The member has two un-notified absences in a row ("un-notified" means the member did not call a reasonable contact in the organisers before the upcoming meeting to indicate they would be absent)
  2. The member has three notified absences in a row