1. news
ASSIGN 25th April 2005
British Library
Attending
Jane Secker, LSE Centre for Learning Technology (Chair), Heather Dawson LSE Library (Secretary), Jennie Grimshaw
British Library (Treasurer), Angela Upton SCIE, Helen Mackin Barnardos, Anne Dagpunar SOAS, Barbara Merchant
SPRU, Rosarie Coughlan (Royal Holloway), Paul Ayres. SOSIG Research Officer, Institute for Learning and Research
Technology, University of Bristol, Sue Manuel University Library IT Support, Officer Loughborough University, Helen
Walters Current Awareness Officer NSPCC Library & Information Service, Paul White Web Co-ordinator NSPCC,
Maria Bell Assistant Librarian LSE Library , Barbara Spina ,SOAS ; Roxanne McLeod SOAS , Angie Donoghue,
Sheffield Hallam, University, Judi Egerton, ISER; Sally Patalong Coventry University; Alain Besson Information Skills
Librarian, Queen Mary, University of London ;Emma Barraclough, Assistant Librarian -National Library for the Blind;
Charlotte McDonaugh, Senate House Library; Elik Borrill, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College ; Jacquie
Carter British Library.
Apologies
Caron Conolly (Department of Health)
ASSIGN Finance
Jennie Grimshaw presented the draft accounts for 2004/5
Review of Activities.
Heather Dawson provided a brief summary of ASSIGN Events during 2004/5
Future of ASSIGN.
The Meeting discussed two papers from the ASSIGN Committee. These included a proposal for independence from
ASLIB and a draft constitution. All present also read an email received from ASLIB chief Executive Roger Bowes which
expressed his desire that ASSIGN should remain part of ASLIB. Concerns were raised about the change in status of
ASLIB from a charitable organisation to a private company and the high rate of membership fees.
Members present at the meeting voted unanimously that the group should become independent of Aslib and that the
present ASSIGN committee should negotiate its departure and oversee the setting up of the new society, the Association
of Librarians and Information Professionals in the Social Sciences (ALISS) Following the vote at the AGM, the ASSIGN
Committee will no longer meet under this name, but under the name of ALISS
The ALISS Committee will negotiate the disaffiliation of the group from Aslib and until a settlement is reached they will
hold the books of ASSIGN on a caretaker basis.
Members voting in favour of independence.
Jane Secker, LSE Centre for Learning Technology (Chair), Heather Dawson LSE Library (Secretary), Jennie Grimshaw
British Library (Treasurer), Angela Upton SCIE, Helen Mackin Barnardos, Anne Dagpunar SOAS, Barbara Merchant
SPRU, Rosarie Coughlan (Royal Holloway), , Helen Walters Current Awareness Officer NSPCC Library & Information
Service, Paul White Web Co-ordinator NSPCC, Maria Bell Assistant Librarian LSE Library , Barbara Spina ,SOAS ;
Roxanne McLeod SOAS , Judi Egerton, ISER; Alain Besson Information Skills Librarian, Queen Mary, University of
London ; Elik Borrill, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College ; Jacquie Carter British Library.
Postal votes in favour.
Niall Burns Faculty of Social Sciences Sub-Librarian, University of Ulster; Ruth Charlton Senior Subject Librarian, Academic
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2. news
Support Team, The Library, University of Plymouth; Robin
Rice , Data Librarian , Edinburgh University Data Library, Sue
Cumberpatch , Electronic Services Librarian , J.B.Morrell Library , University of York; Norma Menabney , Subject Librarian
, (Faculty of Legal, Social and Educational Sciences), Queens University of Belfast.
Messages of support from non-members included representatives from.
Imperial College London, University of Sheffield Library, University of Greenwich, University of Birmingham, Writtle
College Library
Votes against Independence - None.
Abstentions None.
A special committee meeting was held immediately after the AGM. In attendance Jane Secker (Chair) Jennie Grimshaw,
Heather Dawson, Helen Mackin, Barbara Merchant, Anne Dagpunar, Angela Upton, Rosarie Coughlan, In accordance
with the group constitution adopted in 2004, the committee voted formally on the proposal to wind up ASSIGN. It was
decided that this decision would be conveyed to Roger Bowes and ASLIB and arrangements made for the establishment
of the new unincorporated society.
In accordance with the constitution all funds previously held by ASSIGN would be donated to the new group. The
Committee agreed that the group ALISS (Association of Library and Information professionals in the Social Sciences)
would be established with immediate effect. The group would be set up as a not for profit unincorporated professional
society and the following officials were appointed as signatories on the bank account:
Chair: Dr Jane Secker, LSE,
Secretary: Heather Dawson, LSE.
Treasurer: Jennie Grimshaw, British Library,
It was agreed that Jane, Heather and Jennie would make an appointment at Nat West ASAP to set up a bank account for
the group. The Agm was followed by two presentations.
To blog or not to blog that is the question: the Loughborough experience may offer an answer. Sue Manuel University
Library IT Support Officer Loughborough University
SOSIG Blogs: getting the latest news in the Social Sciences. Paul Ayres. SOSIG Research Officer, Institute for Learning
and Research Technology, University of Bristol
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