The Role of the Virtual Library Committee (VLC)

The role of the Virtual Library Committee (VLC)

Background The Virtual Library Committee was established circa 2002, by the Honorary Librarian, Dr David Tait, and the Library Manager, Morwenna Davis. The committee was formed in response to requests from small hospital psychiatric libraries about what they should stock. It was decided to create core lists for each faculty to guide stock management decisions. As of August 2011, the VLC had the status of Standing Committee of the College, but little else defined in the Terms of Reference.

The Library, Archives and Information Services Committee (LAISC) would like to reengage with the VLC, as soon as its new membership has been agreed on. The aims and objectives are outlined below.

Membership The VLC should include a representative from each Faculty who is prepared to advise the Library on purchasing and withdrawal of stock items for their specialty.

Purpose This will help to keep the Library keep up to date, and to ensure that stock is relevant to membership. It will also feed into the development of an acquisitions policy, and help towards defining some of the criteria for withdrawal of items. A Core Collection List for each Faculty would be a product of this process.

Operational Plan The Library Manager will liaise with Committee Managers to identify individuals from Faculties who would like to be representatives for the VLC.

VLC members will receive a list of existing stock in each area and will be invited advise on removal of titles, or to recommend additions to stock.

Titles recommended for removal from stock will be offered for sale via the Bookshop website and funds will be used to purchase new titles.

The Librarian will be able to use the information supplied by the Faculty representatives to inform the development of an Acquisitions Policy. The Policy will be mapped to the key specialties to incorporate core texts, history and development of each specialty.

Additional core resources will be MRPsych Exam textbooks, as well as copies of all College Publications.

The main Library collection would be linked to the resources in the Antiquarian Collection which is managed by the Archivist.

College Archives The College Archive holds minutes and papers arising from the development of the College from 1841 to the present day, and a complete set of Council Reports, some parliamentary acts and papers, nursing examination textbooks and hospital histories.

The Antiquarian collection, which forms part of the College Archive, is available for consultation by researchers, and is complementary to the Library bookstock. Together they provide a more comprehensive guide to the evolution of psychiatric practice in the UK, Europe, and the rest of the World.

Beverley Berry Library Manager August 2014