[Claim] Joint Information Services Review

[Eleanor Kleiber]

Good morning CLAIM-ers,

 

PIFS, SOPAC, SPREP and the SPC recently participated in a joint review of their Library, Archives and Publications functions.  The goal was to identify areas that could be improved both internally, but also in collaboration with other CROP libraries/archives/publications.

 

For reasons of confidentiality, I will not attach the entire report.  Perhaps it will be possible later when it is formally agreed to by the participating agencies (meeting scheduled for February 2010).  However, there were several recommendations relating to CLAIM which I have copied below, along with any relevant discussion.

 

 

With the exception of PIFS, there was an absence of anyone at executive level providing a leadership role for all components.   Consequently there is a risk that strategic thinking may be fragmented and thus only partially successful.  CROP librarians have attempted to fill the gap with their CLAIM group (CROP Library, Archives, and Information Management Working Group), but without high level leadership, situations such as the ones described in this report will continue to occur because of competing priorities.  Information and knowledge management need to become a more appreciated element in the organisational culture.  This could be achieved by inviting the staff mentioned in recommendation 2.0.3 to CLAIM meetings once a year.  This would help highlight the cross-agency activities already advocated by CLAIM.  The purpose of this recommendation is to raise the profile of information services at strategic management level.

 

R2.0.4 Formalise and support the CLAIM group. Hold one meeting per year at which strategic managers are invited to attend. 

 

There are examples of good practice within some of the libraries and they are easy enough for the others to follow, provided (a) that staff resources are available, and (b) that some staff training is done, perhaps with the CLAIM framework, or perhaps by USP staff.  In either case, the training provider should be allowed to charge for its services.

 

R6.2.7 Good practice in CROP libraries be shared amongst staff through the CLAIM framework.  Where necessary, staff training be implemented by CLAIM or USP.

 

The SPC library manager has written a comprehensive set of library policies.  This good practice should be repeated in all CROP libraries.

 

R6.2.11 Develop library policies for all CROP libraries through cooperation within the CLAIM group.

 

The establishment of the CLAIM group was an important step as it provides for a common approach which can provide support and learning opportunities for members.  Registry staff however have been quite isolated and have not established inter-CROP agency networks.

 

R7.0.4 The CLAIM grouping should be extended to include all Registry staff in CROP agencies.

 

R7.0.5 A mentoring programme should be established to allow staff in Information Services (including Registry services) with paraprofessional level experience and/or qualifications to work closely with professionally qualified individuals.  Potential mentors should be identified from within the CLAIM group and further afield, and should not be limited to the two postgraduate qualified librarians currently employed by the CROP agencies participating in this review. 

 

 

Many of these points are not new to us.  In regards to recommendation 6.2.11, I am happy to provide a copy of these policies on request.  It is still in draft form, as it has yet to be formally approved by the SPC, but the basic ideas are clear.

 

Best regards,

 

Eleanor

 

________________

Eleanor Kleiber

Librarian, Archivist │ Bibliothécaire, Archiviste

Secretariat of the Pacific Community │ Secrétariat général de la Communauté du Pacifique

 

B.P. D5 ― Noumea Cedex 98848 ― New Caledonia

phone: +687 26.01.37 ― fax:  +687 26.38.18

 

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