RSLP Circular 1999/5

29 November 1999

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To:Librarians/Directors of Information Services at HEFCE/SHEFC/HEFCW/DENI -funded institutions

 

Dear Librarian/Director of Information Services,

RSLP Study on the Capacity of Access Control Systems

The libraries of the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow have been asked by the Research Support Libraries Programme (RSLP), on behalf of the HE funding bodies, to look into the capacity of Access Control systems to deliver auditable management information that might be used to support an access compensation funding stream. As you are aware, the access strand of the RSLP will allocate grants to institutions based on the results of the survey conducted by Research Surveys of Great Britain. However, the HE funding bodies would like to investigate the feasibility of undertaking any future distribution on the basis of demonstrated usage rather than the survey method. With this in mind, we are undertaking a small-scale study to attempt to establish a workable means of obtaining data that are straightforward to record, easy to interpret and auditable.

One means of collecting auditable data might be through the use of the access control systems that are being installed increasingly in our libraries. As a precursor to our study, we should be most grateful for your assistance in answering the following questions that are designed to establish the extent to which these systems have penetrated academic libraries so far. We are also interested in any comments or observations that you might have on ways of recording auditable data on the following aspects of external uses of our libraries by researchers: personal visits and enquiries; telephone calls; faxes; letters; email.

Yours faithfully




Ronald Milne
Programme Director

Please note that any queries should be addressed in the first instance to:

Download this letter and attached questionnaire:

Content: Gill Davenport
Last updated 29 November 1999