Research Information Network: Strategic Plan and Priorities

1. Research Information Network: Strategic Plan and Priorities Presentation to CURL Members’ Meeting, 13 October 2005 Dr Michael Jubb

2. Some Recent Developments in Context: I UK Government • DfES and HEFCE • E-learning strategy • OST • E-Infrastructure Steering Group and roadmap • DTI • Research Communications Forum • Scottish Executive • Final Report of Cultural Commission

3. Some Recent Developments in Context II Research Councils • Continuing consultations and discussions on the RCUK Position Statement on Dissemination of Research Outputs • Future of the E-Science Programme • First meeting of the Research Outputs and Information Group (ROIG)

4. Some Recent Developments in Context III Library and Information Bodies • British Library • New Strategic Plan • Continuing Review of Collections/Content Strategy • JISC • Repositories programme • Capital programme for digitisation, repositories, e-infrastructure • Reports on Disciplinary Differences, Business Models for E-Journals • Development of a roadmap for digital libraries • DCC Digital Curation Manual • CURL • Resource Discovery Strategy Group • CURL/JISC study of Digitised Content

5. Some Recent Developments in Context IV International • UN • World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) • WIPO • OECD • Report on Scientific Publishing • EU • Development of FP7 and ERC? • ESFRI • i2010 Digital Libraries Initiative • Report on Scientific Publishing • US • NSF Report on Long-Lived Data • Australia, Canada, Latin America………

6. Developments at the RIN Establishing Ourselves • Executive Team • Michael Jubb • Stephane Goldstein • Jackie Van Bueren • Funders’ Group • First meeting 7 June; next on 8 December • Advisory Board • 15 members, chaired by Professor Robert Burgess • Meetings on 27 July and 12 October; next on 8 December • Consultative Groups • Nominations for 4 groups from a range of stakeholder bodies

7. Liaison and Consultation • CURL, SCONUL, CILIP • MLA • British Library • JISC • Research Councils • Funding Councils • Learned Societies and Professional Associations

8. RIN Mission • “To lead and co-ordinate new developments in the collaborative provision of research information for the benefit of researchers in the UK” • all subjects and disciplines • all kinds of information sources used by and produced by researchers (digital and non-digital) • the research base both in the HE sector and beyond • Hence the name change

9. Key (and Interrelated) Challenges for the RIN • to deliver – in partnership with key stakeholders – a programme of work that will make a visible difference to the research and the information communities; • to secure a recognized place in those communities as a leader and co­ordinator of strategy and activity; • to gain acceptance as an authoritative voice in speaking to and on behalf of those communities

10. Strategic Plan: Six Aims • To develop, with the active involvement of key stakeholders, a strategic framework for enhancing the UK research information infrastructure • To ensure that the research community contributes to and collaborates in a programme of action tailored to its needs • To act as an advocate for research information provision at the highest levels of policy-making in the UK, and to represent the interests of UK researchers in relevant international forums • To co-ordinate action to improve the arrangements for researchers to find information sources relevant to their work, and how they may gain access to them • To lead the development of a programme to sustain and enhance management and development of the aggregate UK collection of published hard copy research resources • To co-ordinate action to ensure that the outputs researchers produce and need are retained and made available for use in the most effective way

11. Research Resources and Outputs • Empirical study of research funders’ requirements and expectations • Potential for further work on protocols and guidelines • Digitisation priorities? • IPR issues • WIPO • RSA Charter on Creativity, Innovation, and Intellectual Property

12. Management Development and Access to the Aggregate UK Hard Copy Collection • Continuation of Research Extra • Evaluation of Access Funds • Collaborative Storage? • Building on CoFoR

13. Resource Discovery and Access • Workshop with reps from BL, CURL, JISC and other key stakeholders on current provision, planned developments, and priorities for further development • Initial focus on published materials, but obvious need to extend to other kinds of material • Links with work for the E-Infrastructure Group • Study of researchers’ perceptions and needs • Priorities for building on what has been achieved so far in retroconversion

14. Advocacy, Consultation, Partnership and Strategy Engagement, liaison and partnership with the research community/ies a challenge (even more than with the library and information community) Research, advice, consultancy and service development – in partnership - have to go together as a package in establishing the RIN as a body that can help in making a difference for the benefit of both the research and the library/information communities Partnershipthe key

15. Key (and Interrelated) Challenges for the RIN • to deliver – in partnership with key stakeholders – a programme of work that will make a visible difference to the research and the information communities; • to secure a recognized place in those communities as a leader and co-ordinator of strategy and activity; • to gain acceptance as an authoritative voice in speaking to and on behalf of those communities

16. Finally It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information Oscar Wilde but Come to the launch on 8 December, 6pm in Senate House, University of London