10 January 2020
Andrew Barker, Lancaster University
Last year, your UKSG e-News editors, Helle and Leo, asked me, in my position as UKSG Chair, to write an editorial reflecting on the previous year and looking forward to 2019. That editorial, 'UKSG: backward reflections, forward glances', outlined some of our endeavours in 2018, but also looked to 2019, promising change in the governance structures of UKSG. In their wisdom, they have asked me to repeat that New Year message. Once again, I will use this opportunity to tell you a little more about the work we have done this year, and what to expect from UKSG in 2020. There’s been a lot happening in the UKSG world during 2019, one notable event being Bev Acreman becoming our permanent Executive Director following her stint as Interim Executive Director. I outline more detail on our UKSG year below.
UKSG Insights
2019 marked the second year of our continuous publication approach to releasing our UKSG Insights articles. Continuous publication allows us to publish articles at times of greatest relevance and ensures individual articles the greatest visibility. However, it does not mean that we no longer think beyond individual articles. The Insights Editorial Board meets regularly and thinks strategically. That strategic approach to publishing was possibly exemplified best in 2019 through the special collection, 'From Finch to Plan S: and you may ask yourself, well how did I get here?'. We continue to bundle issues together with our editors providing editorials to round-up the articles we have published in the previous months. UKSG Insights is co-edited by Lorraine Estelle and Steve Sharp who welcome suggestion for articles and authors. Submission for Insights may be made online, details of how to do so are in our Author Guidelines.
UKSG events and webinars
Refreshing the content plus changes to timing and advertising of events has seen an increase in attendance during 2019. We have also been trying new event spaces, both within London, and further afield, and will continue to do so in 2020. Your feedback will help us determine what type of spaces work best for our events. Our seminars and workshops programme for 2020 is live and you can find out what we have planned and register your interest.
In 2019, we also welcomed Sarah Pittaway as our Webinar Co-ordinator. You can register to view our recent webinars as well as past webinars going back to 2013. If you have any suggestions for webinars you would like to see – or present! – please email bev@uksg.org in the first instance.
UKSG Conference 2020 and sponsorship opportunities
The biggest event in the UKSG calendar is the UKSG Annual Conference and Exhibition. Last year, we visited Telford for the first time, and in 2020 we visit the south coast, with the Brighton Centre being our destination. The conference runs from 30 March to 1 April 2020. The programme is available now and you can book for this, the 43rd annual conference, here.
UKSG also offers sponsored places for the UKSG Conference; these six sponsored places are for students and early career professionals and offer the opportunity to attend the 2020 Annual Conference and Exhibition. The awards cover the cost of attendance, including all meals, entertainment and accommodation. The places are generously sponsored by Elsevier, Royal Society of Chemistry and Wiley – and more information is available here. Please do think about applying or forward the information to any colleagues who meet the criteria. Further sponsored places for other groups will be announced in the New Year.
UKSG, in partnership with NASIG, our North American sibling organisation, also offers the John Merriman Joint NASIG/UKSG Award. This competition offers the UKSG winner the opportunity to attend the NASIG Conference, held this year in Spokane, Washington from 8 to 12 June 2020. The award is intended to cover conference registration, travel and accommodation costs. The UK award winner will again be supported by the generous sponsorship of Taylor & Francis Group for the US trip and will, in addition, receive full financial support from UKSG to attend the UKSG conference in Brighton - more information is available here. The 2019 Merriman winner, Katherine Stephan, wrote about her impressions and experiences of the NASIG conference in a UKSG eNews editorial, 'Building bridges, building experience'.
UKSG Research & Innovation Committee
In 2019, UKSG introduced the UKSG Innovation Awards. Working with the Society of Young Publishers and the New Librarians Professional Network, the UKSG innovation awards offer financial support to professionals to develop new ideas and proposals for the wider benefit of our sector. More information, and details of the 2019 awards and winners are here. The introduction of the award is testament to UKSG’s ongoing commitment to new professionals, innovation and to diversity, 43 years after John Merriman founded the organisation.
We also held a competition to sponsor a librarian to attend an international event of their choice, and our winner, Amy Stubbing, wrote 'A key moment in my career!' about her trip to the American Library Association’s Annual Meeting.
UKSG governance
In my editorial last year, I referred to plans to refresh the governance structures of UKSG. I specifically highlighted the role of the Main Committee of Trustees, and our Honorary Officers. During 2019, we have worked to develop these plans, and we now have a new draft Articles of Association. The new Articles, developed with the assistance of Charity Lawyers, if approved by the membership, will change the committee structure. The new structure will be led by a Board of Trustees. This will be a smaller board than the Main Committee, with changes to term lengths and responsibilities. Its focus will be on strategy and governance and it will be complemented by a new Conference Planning Committee.
To implement the proposed structure, an Extraordinary General Meeting will be held online on 20 January 2020 to vote on the resolution to change the Articles of Association from the current Articles to the proposed Articles. Official notice of the EGM, including the updated Articles of Association and the wording of the resolution will be provided in early January via the UKSG website and other communication channels. So look out for that and please do engage with us in our proposals for the future of UKSG.
Forty-three years after UKSG began, it remains unique, working across the sector, bringing together librarians, publishers, intermediaries and others in our community. Our charitable status reflects our wider charitable activities, and we are committed to continuing to play a central part in connecting the knowledge community.
I am grateful for the support of all UKSG staff and volunteers, I know how hard you all work for UKSG, and it is very much appreciated. I also thank all who have engaged with UKSG during 2019. Each of you ensure we fulfil our mission and ensure that UKSG continues to be at the forefront of our community. I look forward to seeing you in Brighton in March 2020.