Case Project: 1st 6-monthly report to HEFCE: 29/06/01

Case Project: Law Lirary Collaoration in !or"shire # H$mersi%e

Funding body: HEFCE: Restructuring and Collaboration Fund
Total amount: 160,000
Duration of aard: 01!01 " 1#!0#
$ro%ect &anager: Eli'abet( )ensler
*ead +nstitution: ,ni-ersity of *eeds
$eriod of re.ort: 01!01 " /1!06
Contents
1 Re.ort outline
# $ro%ect summary
/ $ro%ect management
0 1cademic collaboration
2 Cross"sectoral collaboration
6 Collaboration it( su..liers and .ublis(ers
3 Regional legal eb gateay
4 Future de-elo.ments it(in ne5t re.orting .eriod
6 1..endices
1& 'eport o$tline
T(e aim of t(is re.ort is to outline t(e acti-ities and .rogress of t(e Case $ro%ect since its start
date against t(e ob%ecti-es and t(e or7".ac7ages outlined in t(e or7.lan 81..endi5 69/:
and to indicate future de-elo.ment or79 T(e re.ort is structured into or7.lan areas9 ;it(in
eac( area, .rogress against deli-erables it(in t(is 6"mont( timeframe is s.ecified, it( more
detail of eac( deli-erable folloing (ere a..ro.riate9
2& Project ($mmary
T(e sub%ect associations in la and t(e legal .rofessions, led by <ir &ar7 $otter, raised t(e
issue of t(e funding of legal education, es.ecially la libraries, at a meeting it( t(e C(ief
E5ecuti-e of HEFCE on #0 =uly 16669 1s a result of t(at meeting, it as suggested t(at a .ilot
.ro%ect be de-elo.ed to establis( models of co"o.eration and analyse t(e cost of collaboration
beteen la libraries9 T(is or7 contributes significantly to meeting t(e ra.idly de-elo.ing
academic needs of a sub%ect (ose information needs are bot( e5tensi-e and e5.ensi-e9
T(e Case $ro%ect as t(erefore establis(ed as a feasibility study to e-aluate t(e .ossibility of
en(ancing access to legal researc( materials t(roug( increased collaboration9 >ased in
?or7s(ire and Humberside, t(e .ro%ect is e5amining t(e issues in-ol-ed in increased
collaboration beteen t(e se-en uni-ersity la libraries in t(e region9 T(e .ro%ect ill
de-elo. a eb"based legal information gateay so t(at researc(ers can searc( and brose a
range of resources from t(eir des7to.s9 T(e feasibility of increased and effecti-e collaboration
is being considered t(roug(:
im.ro-ed access to legal researc( material t(roug( searc(able online collection
descri.tions and collection strengt(s and ea7nesses information@
de-elo.ment of an online regional legal union catalogue of la re.orts and %ournals@
an automated regional document deli-ery ser-ice@
im.ro-ed cross"sectoral co"o.erati-e library access arrangements and resource s(aring@
de-elo.ment of a regional collection de-elo.ment strategy@
in-estigation of consortial .urc(ase and user"led customisation of a legal online .roduct9
Ance models of collaboration (a-e been establis(ed and documented, a .rocess for scaling u.
t(e .ro%ect on eit(er a national, or region by region basis ill be de-elo.ed9
)& Project *ana+ement
Page 1, Case Project report, 11/07/14
)&1 ,eli-erales
T(e deli-erables!ob%ecti-es in t(is area for t(is 6"mont( .eriod ere:
Co"ordinate <teering Brou. meetings 8Cuarterly: Feb 01 "

Co"ordinate $ro%ect Team meetings 8bi"mont(ly: Feb 01 "

Re.ort to <teering Brou. and $ro%ect Team Feb 01 "

&anage and .lan .ro%ectDs finances =an 01 "

Re.orts to HEFCE 8e-ery 6 mont(s: =une 01

Create .ro%ect (andboo7 Feb 01

+ntroduction to $ro%ect Team members Feb 01

<tart u. and maintain .ro%ectDs eb .ages &ar 01

<et u. mailing list for information on t(e .ro%ect &ar 01

Establis( focus grou.s for feedbac7 and e-aluation =uly 01

1..oint .ro%ectDs su..ort staff 1.r 01

Disseminate findings and .rogress of .ro%ect Feb 01 "

1s dis.layed, t(ese ob%ecti-es (a-e all been met it( t(e e5ce.tion of t(e establis(ment of a
.ro%ect mailing list9 1t t(is stage of t(e .ro%ect it as not deemed necessary to (a-e a .ro%ect
mailing list as t(e $ro%ect Team is small and communication is ac(ie-ed successfully t(roug(
indi-idual and grou. e"mailing9 T(e need for a mailing list ill be re-ieed regularly9 For
furt(er information on t(e indi-idual ob%ecti-es, .lease see belo9
)&2 (teerin+ .ro$p meetin+s: T(e Case $ro%ect <teering Brou. is referred to in t(e $ro%ect
$lan as t(e &anagement Brou.9 T(e <teering Brou. meets Cuarterly to ad-ise and steer t(e
$ro%ect Team to ensure t(at t(e aims and ob%ecti-es are met " t(ey (a-e res.onsibility for t(e
strategic direction of t(e .ro%ect and for resol-ing any significant .roblems (ic( may arise9
81..endi5 691: Terms of Reference and &embers(i. *ist:9 To <teering Brou. meetings
(a-e been (eld: 6!/!01 and 1/!6!019
)&) Project /eam meetin+s: T(e $ro%ect Team, com.rised of legal information s.ecialists 8or
eCui-alent: from eac( .artner institution, meets bi"mont(ly to discuss o.erational details and
t(e im.act of c(anges on t(e sc(edule9 81..endi5 69#: Terms of Reference and &embers(i.
*ist:9 To $ro%ect Team meetings (a-e been (eld: #!/!01 and 0!#3!019
)&0 1or"plan: 1 .ro%ect or7.lan 81..endi5 69/: as agreed in =anuary and remains
dynamic to reflect t(e nature of t(e .ro%ect9
)&2 Letter o3 4n%erstan%in+: 1 $ro%ect *etter of ,nderstanding as sent out to all
consortium *ibrary Directors to sign9 81..endi5 690:9
)&6 5isits to project partners: 1n early .riority as to meet t(e main .artici.ants in t(e
.ro%ect " suc( as $ro%ect Team members, <+ETADs 8<(effield +nformation Arganisation: *egal
+nformation Brou. members, and bot( >ritis( *ibrary Document <u..ly Centre 8>*D<C:
and >utterort(sD re.resentati-es9 T(is as ac(ie-ed in t(e first # mont(s of t(e .ro%ect and
communication and feedbac7 is ongoing9 T(e $ro%ect Team remains t(e main connector
beteen t(e .ro%ect and t(e academic researc(ers in eac( institution9
)&6 1e pa+es: T(e .ro%ect eb .ages are a-ailable at (tt.:!!9leeds9ac9u7!case9 T(e eb
site .ro-ides furt(er information on t(e .ro%ect aims and ob%ecti-es, .ro%ect documentation,
contact details, feedbac79 T(e eb site ill also be t(e site for .rototy.e e-aluation of
ser-ices and databases before t(e official gateay is set u. at t(e beginning of #00#9 +t ill be
Page 2, Case Project report, 11/07/14
an additional means of dissemination and a ay of organising .ro%ect documentation for t(e
distributed team9
)&7 8$estionnaire/3oc$s +ro$ps: 1 Cuestionnaire 81..endi5 692: as de-elo.ed for t(e
regionDs academic legal researc(ers to identify t(eir e5isting met(ods of locating researc(
materials and to establis( t(eir .resent and future researc( needs 8to be com.leted and sent
bac7 by mid =uly:9 Feedbac7 from legal academic researc(ers ill be gat(ered first and
formal information gat(ering ill t(en be e5tended to cross"sectoral bodies 8librarians 8or
eCui-alent: it(in FE, .ublic libraries, la firms, go-ernment libraries, la society, etc: by
t(e end of 1ugust9
)&9 (ta33in+: T(e .osition of Tec(nical Afficer as s.ecified in t(e .ro%ect .ro.osal as
su..ort to t(e .ro%ect manager, on a .art"time one"year basis9 +t is noted t(at tec(nical
e5.ertise is needed .rinci.ally in t(e creation and maintenance of t(e legal eb gateay
ser-er, in t(e creation of a union catalogue of la re.orts and serials, in t(e formation of t(e
collection ma..ing databases and in t(e tec(nical side of t(e +nside e-aluation9 ;it( furt(er
consideration of staffing and tec(nical issues, t(e difficulty of (iring an a..ro.riate .erson
it( t(e necessary broad range of s7ills and for t(e lengt( of time t(at t(is e5.ertise ould be
needed, led to t(e decision to outsource a number of t(e .ro%ectDs more tec(nical %obs (ere
feasible and cost"effecti-e and in lieu of a tec(nical .ost, (ire a .art"time, one"year
+nformation Afficer9 T(e $ro%ect ould t(ereby buy in tec(nical e5.ertise (ile (a-ing an
additional .art"time .osition in su..ort9 T(e $ro%ect ill s(are a full"time one"year .osition
it( one of t(e Faculty Teams in t(e library at t(e ,ni-ersity of *eeds: a 00F la librarian
it( t(e remaining 60F of t(is .osition as a .art"time Case $ro%ect +nformation Afficer9 T(e
.osition as ad-ertised nationally on =une 12, #001 and inter-ies ill be (eld by =uly 1/,
#0019 T(e .ost"(older could be in .osition by t(e middle of 1ugust9 81..endices 696 G 693:9
)&10 ,issemination/p$licity:
1 .ro%ect logo, .ro%ect stationery and .ublicity flyer ere .roduced9
T(e $ro%ect &anager re.resented t(e Case $ro%ect at ,)C*EDs 8,) Centre for *egal
Education: E"*egal +nformation or7s(o. on 1#!#!01: it as an o..ortunity to meet and
discuss t(e .ro%ect it( a range of legal information .ro-iders 8organisations and
.ublis(ers:9 1bdul $aliala, Director CG+T, ,)C*E, ad-ised t(at ,)C*E and >+*ET1
8>ritis( and +ris( *egal Education Tec(nology 1ssociation: ould assist it( .ublicity on
t(e .ro%ect9
Helen Da-ies, Faculty Team *ibrarian for *a at ,ni-ersity of *eeds and $ro%ect Team
member, attended t(e >+1** Conference in Cor7 on =une 4"11, #001, re.resenting t(e
Case $ro%ect and disseminating .ublicity material9
T(e $ro%ect &anager re.resented t(e Case $ro%ect at t(e 1<H+E ;or7s(o. on *ibrary
Co"o.eration and Collaboration 8(tt.:!!9as-in9ac9u7!as-ine-ents9(tm: on #2!0!01, a
useful o..ortunity to (ear from ot(er similar .ro%ects or7ing on a sub%ect or regional
collaborati-e basis9 <imilar .ro%ects (a-e found a collaborati-e collection management
.olicy to not be feasible and (a-e instead aimed to encourage institutions to rite and
ma7e a-ailable formal collection .olicy documents9
T(e $ro%ect &anager met it( t(e 1RCHay .ro%ect in ?or7 on #0!!0!01 to discuss
similar issues of feasibility for academic library collaboration in t(e arc(aeological field9
Page 3, Case Project report, 11/07/14
0& 9ca%emic collaoration
0&1 ,eli-erales
T(e deli-erables!ob%ecti-es in t(is area for t(is 6"mont( .eriod ere:
E-aluate regional legal collections &ay 01

Feedbac7 from la de.ts on collection reCuirements!user needs &ay 01"&ar 0#

E5amine access .olicy to regional collections 1.r 01

,nderta7e detailed collection analysis of regional legal collections =une " Act 01

*egal collection e-aluation and access information (a-e bot( been documented9 Feedbac7
from la de.artments (as been ongoing t(roug( t(e legal information s.ecialists since t(e
start of t(e .ro%ect and recently more formally t(roug( t(e distribution of t(e sur-ey on legal
information gat(ering be(a-iour and user needs 8due bac7 =uly #0, #001:9 $rogress (as been
made on collection analysis and t(e .ro%ect is on target for a com.letion date of Actober for
t(is database9
2& Cross-sectoral collaoration
2&1 ,eli-erales
T(e deli-erables!ob%ecti-es in t(is area for t(is 6"mont( .eriod ere:
<et u. cross"sectoral .ilot study in <(effield area it( <+ETA =une 01 " Act 0#

E5.lore!detail ser-ices already .ro-ided by cross"sectoral libraries =une " Act 01

E5amine issues of ma7ing resources a-ailable to c"s libraries =une 01 " Feb 0#

E5amine scalability of de-elo.ed model of c"s collaboration =une 01" Act 0#

T(roug( attending # <+ETA *egal +nformation Brou. meetings 810!#!01 and #0!6!01:,
-aluable contact it( legal information s.ecialists from a -ariety of organisations (as been
made and feedbac7 gained on (at t(ey feel ould be feasible and useful for t(e .ro%ect to
or7 on9 T(e <+ETA meetings (a-e (ig(lig(ted t(e s.ecific areas of mutual benefit in-ol-ed
in cross"sectoral collaboration t(at s(ould im.act t(e .ro%ect and continue to be an in-aluable
o..ortunity to collect t(e -ies of t(e users and .ro-iders of t(ese ser-ices9 Communication
is ongoing9
6& Collaoration with s$ppliers an% p$lishers
6&1 ,eli-erales
T(e deli-erables!ob%ecti-es in t(is area for t(is 6"mont( .eriod ere:
;or7 it( >*D<C on +nside trial to 3 HE institutions =une 01 " Eo- 0#

;or7 it( >utterort(s on customisation of legal .roduct &ar " <e.t 01

E5.lore .ossible benefits of academic consortial .urc(ase &ar " Act 01

6&2 :nsi%e trial/;L,(C: Folloing meetings and discussion it( &i7e &cBrat( at >*D<C,
it as agreed t(at >* ould .ro-ide t(e Case $ro%ect it( a free subscri.tion to +nside for t(e
duration of t(e trial and any additional tec(nical su..ort and ad-ice needed 8including ta7ing
on all registration or7 in-ol-ed it( t(e trial:9 T(e $ro%ect aims to start negotiation it(
>*D<C in =uly for an +nside trial to consortium institutions9 <ince t(e start of t(e .ro%ect,
.lans to e5tend IETAC 8%oint =+<C!&+&1< ser-ice: as a full te5t document deli-ery ser-ice
s.ecifically for academics 8co.yrig(t fee ai-ed: are ongoing9 +t is (o.ed t(at IETAC ill be
a-ailable by December #0019 1 IETAC trial ill be incor.orated into t(e .ro%ect (en
feasible9
Page 4, Case Project report, 11/07/14
6&) ;$tterworths: Eegotiations it( *orena <ut(erland at >utterort(s (a-e been ongoing
since t(e start of t(e .ro%ect, including discussions on consortial .urc(ase 8including cross"
sectoral access: and .ossible customisation of an e5isting electronic legal .roduct9 Folloing
a trial of >utterort(s databases t(at finis(ed at t(e end of 1.ril, t(e $ro%ect Team is starting
to establis( a direction to .ursue it( customisation9 T(is direction ill also be formed by
feedbac7 from e5isting users 8academics and students: t(roug( Cuestionnaires and focus
grou.s9 >utterort(s does not offer a ide -ariety of electronic legal %ournal titles so
alternati-e .ro-iders, s.ecifically for consortial .urc(ase and offering cross"sectoral access,
are being e5.lored9 <o far, t(e $ro%ect Team (a-e e5.ressed .ositi-e comments on t(e
increased communication t(at is ongoing it( >utterort(s9 T(e $ro%ect (as afforded t(em
t(e o..ortunity to discuss directly it( *orena issues and concerns o-er electronic
information .ro-ision and ider .ublis(ing issues9 +t is (o.ed t(at t(e .ro%ect ill .ro-ide an
ongoing forum for increased and effecti-e communication it( .ublis(ers9 Eegotiation is
ongoing9
6& 'e+ional le+al we +ateway
6&1 ,eli-erales
T(e deli-erables!ob%ecti-es in t(is area for t(is 6"mont( .eriod ere:
Create union list of regional la re.orts and serials &ar " =uly 01

Create general collection descri.tion!ma..ing database <e.t " Eo- 01

Create collection strengt( indicator database <e.t " Eo- 01

Establis( eb based legal information s7ills tuition 1ug " <e.t 01

6&2 <nline $nion catalo+$e o3 law reports an% jo$rnals: ;or7ing it( *eeds ,ni-ersityDs
+nformation <ystems <er-ices 8+<<:, a searc(able online union database of la re.orts and
serials ill be created " in t(e first instance for t(e 3 .artner institutions but it( t(e .lan to
e5.and t(is to ot(er regional legal collections 8(ere agreed!feasible:9 Data from eac( of t(e
consortium institutions (as been entered into an E5cel file it( (oldings information and is
ready to be con-erted to t(e eb"based union catalogue by t(e end of =une9 T(is database ill
be accessible from t(e .ro%ect eb site for e-aluation .ur.oses until t(e end of #001 and ill
mo-e to t(e .ro%ect gateay at t(e beginning of #00# 8it( t(e ot(er ser-ices to be .ro-ided
on t(e gateay:9 T(is acti-ity ill facilitate t(e document deli-ery .ilot or7".ac7age as ell
as being a structure it(in (ic( cross"sectoral collaboration can be .rogressed9
6&) Collection %escriptions: # collection descri.tion!ma..ing databases are in .rogress:
T(e first, a database of general legal collection descri.tions, indicating collection sub%ect
areas and (ig(lig(ting access and institution information 8e5.anding e5isting R+D+EB
information: for t(e 3 .artner institutions .rimarily9 T(ese collection descri.tions ill be
searc(able t(roug( general sub%ect (eadings and abstract 7ey ords9 Ance a .rototy.e
interface (as been de-elo.ed, cross"sectoral bodies ill be a..roac(ed to discuss
e5tending co-erage to t(eir collections9 T(e target for a-ailability of t(is database for
e-aluation and e5.ansion is =uly #0019
T(e second, a more detailed collection ma..ing database, ill gi-e .recise information
on collection strengt(s and ea7nesses 8based on t(e Cons.ectus collection descri.tion
met(od:9 ,sers ill (a-e t(e ability to searc( by s.ecific sub%ect it(in t(e legal field 8ie:
Jtrade regulationJ: and be gi-en an indication of (ic( institutions (old collections in t(is
area and to (at strengt( 8ie: / " teac(ing@ 0 " researc( or 2 " com.re(ensi-e:9 Cons.ectus
collection analysis is due to be com.leted by Eo-ember to (a-e t(e database a-ailable for
e-aluation by t(e end of t(e year9 Currently underay is an initial assessment of t(e la
collections at *eeds and *&, to establis( a met(odology for t(is database of collection
descri.tions9
Page 5, Case Project report, 11/07/14
6&0 :n3ormation ("ills: T(e ?H,1 e5.ert su..ort and information s7ills meeting in Hull on
#/!0!01 discussed current .ractice for information s7ills .ro-ision in ?GH HE institutions
and o..ortunities for collaboration9 T(is in-estigation ill be ad-anced in t(e ne5t meeting
8/!3!01: by identifying and s(aring best .ractice9 T(e Case $ro%ect ill e5amine t(e e5tent of
collaboration .ossible in s(aring information s7ills .ro-ision and e5.ert su..ort in t(e sub%ect
of la as an initial feasibility study for t(e grou.9 1t t(e ne5t $ro%ect Team meeting e ill
e5.lore .ractical ays in (ic( e can s(are online documentation and s7ills training,
continuing discussions .re-iously (eld9
7& F$t$re %e-elopments within ne=t reportin+ perio%:
.ateway: T(e .ro%ect gateay ill be run from a ser-er based at t(e ,ni-ersity of *eeds9
<er-ices to be offered on t(e gateay include: t(e legal union serials!re.orts catalogue@
legal collection descri.tions databases@ document deli-ery .ilot@ formalised access
.olicies and information on eac( legal information organisation@ collaborati-e online
documentation@ a legal s7ills tutorial@ rele-ant lin7s9 ;it( t(e formation of t(e .ro%ect
focus grou.s and t(roug( t(e .ro%ect team, feedbac7 ill be collected on (at additional
ser-ices users 8academic, students, la librarians and cross"sectoral bodies: ould li7e
offered on t(e gateay 8content and design:9 +t is .lanned to launc( t(e gateay by
Eo-ember #0019
,oc$ment %eli-ery pilot: T(e $ro%ect Team ill co"ordinate it( +** staff in eac(
.ro%ect institution in order to im.lement t(e Document Deli-ery .ilot, as it ill be using
e5isting +** staff, it( cost and time im.lications9 T(is trial is due to start in =anuary
#00# for 6 mont(s, once t(e necessary infrastructure 8ser-er, union catalogue of la
serials and re.orts: is in .lace9
,issemination: 1n a..ro.riate dissemination!.ublicity strategy for t(e ne5t 6 mont(s
ill be .roduced by t(e end of =uly #0019 Ab%ecti-es include: articles in: ,)C*EDs
<e.tember nesletter@ =+*T 8=ournal of +nformation, *a and Tec(nology:@ =ournal of t(e
>ritis( and +ris( 1ssociation of *a *ibrarians@ *ibrary 1ssociation Record@ and a re.ort
at t(e %oint annual conference of t(e Committee of Heads of ,ni-ersity *a <c(ools and
t(e <ociety of $ublic Teac(ers of *a@ as ell as re.resenting t(e .ro%ect at ot(er rele-ant
meetings!conferences9
Foc$s +ro$ps: >ased on feedbac7 from t(e Cuestionnaires, cross"sectoral focus grou.s
ill be formed by t(e end of =uly to (a-e a mec(anism for continual e-aluation9
Cross-sectoral: E5tend contact it( <+ETADs *egal +nformation Brou. re: online serials
catalogue@ legal collection descri.tion databases@ information s7ills!online documentation
collaboration@ access9
E-al$ation: $eter Clinc( is due to attend t(e <e.tember #001 <teering Brou. meeting as
e-aluator9
9& 9ppen%ices
9&1 <teering Brou. Terms of Reference and &embers(i.
9&2 $ro%ect Team Terms of Reference and &embers(i.
9&) $ro%ect ;or7.lan
9&0 *etter of ,nderstanding
9&2 Kuestionnaire
9&6 <taffing re.ort
9&6 Case +nformation Afficer %ob descri.tion
Page 6, Case Project report, 11/07/14