**Apologies for cross posting***

Hello

I have been appointed to lead the project to update the Wessex Classification Scheme and Annotated Subject Index and would like to highlight a few details about the project and the planned work programme.  Further information can also be found in the attached proposal document. 

Due to time and financial constraints the project has been scaled down from its original proposal.  The intention now is to explore ways to use the NLM scheme (US National Library of Medicine) for some sections to cut down on the massive task of maintaining a complete UK scheme.  The project hopes to create a working group of interested individuals who can share their experience and skills to create a durable and relevant but ultimately manageable scheme.  Procedures will also be put in place to ensure that the scheme can be maintained over the long term.

I hope to facilitate the work via an email discussion group (yes, another one I'm afraid!) with work in progress circulated for comment and approval.  Due to various constraints there will be little opportunity for those involved to meet as a group.

My first task will be to compile and circulate a questionnaire to find out in detail how and where the scheme is being used, and to ask for feedback regarding shortcomings, strengths, existing hybrid schemes, etc.  This information will then be used to inform decisions and to formulate future work on the scheme.

I will also be asking for volunteers to join the working group, and hopefully enlisting the help of those working in specialist areas or with particular knowledge or expertise.  It would also be interesting to find out if groups are already working together to maintain local hybrid schemes and to discover how they manage the maintenance process.

If you use the Wessex scheme please, please do fill in the questionnaire when it is circulated and let me know your views/experiences.  The group will only be able to take into account the opinions we hear about. In the meantime I will be very pleased to hear from anyone who has an interest in the project or would like to know more.  I would also be interested to hear from anyone who does not use the Wessex scheme particularly if another scheme was chosen in its place.  The more information we have when we begin to discuss the work programme the better the final scheme will be.

Regards

Lucy Wright
Wessex Classification Scheme Project Lead


Lucy Wright
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