Research Support Libraries Programme: Steering Group Terms of Reference

1. To provide strategic management for the development and implementation of the Research Support Libraries Programme which was derived from the deliberations of the Follett Review (1994) and the associated Anderson Report (1996), and agreed by the Councils/Boards of the four UK HE funding bodies (HEFCE, SHEFC, HEFCW and DENI). This will involve:

   1. Approving the criteria against which institutions will be invited to submit bids, taking into account the criteria for any other complementary initiatives in order to avoid overlap.

   2. Agreeing recommendations to the funding bodies for individual grant allocations to HEIs within this Programme.

   3. Agreeing the specifications for preparatory studies.

   4. Setting the parameters of the work of a sub-group to the Steering Group - the Management Committee - which will relieve the Steering Group of much of the detailed work it would otherwise have to undertake (for example evaluating bids).

   5. Monitoring the work of the Management Committee, to check that work that it undertakes follows the parameters set by the Steering Group.

   6. Providing the funding bodies with annual evaluation reports on the Programme.

   7. Advising on other relevant matters in connection with the Programme, as appropriate.

2. To provide specialist advice to the funding bodies on library and library-related matters, as requested.

3. To consider its membership to check that it is of sufficiently wide expertise to cover all areas of the Programme, both in terms of subject expertise and links with all other bodies which are complementary providers to, or potential collaborators of, the Programme.

Content: Gill Davenport
Last updated 24 February 1999