Oxford Brookes University
Examination of the University’s arrangements for holding and promoting access to collections connected to the University’s Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History.
Background
The Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History (OCMCH) is a product of the relationship between the University and Westminster College, Oxford Trust (the Trust). The Trust’s former teaching activities were merged into the University in 2000 and as part of those arrangements the University committed to continuing valued former activities of the Trust, including providing agreed levels of funding. These activities are integrated into OCMCH. Details of OCMCH can be found here:
http://www.history.brookes.ac.uk/Research/Centre-for-Methodism-and-Church-History/
An important part of the activities of OCMCH is the stewardship of specific collections including art collections. The collections have been held in accommodation made available at the Harcourt Hill Campus, which was the site of Westminster College, Oxford prior to the merger with the University. OCMCH has managed the collections including accession policies so that since the merger in 2000 the collections have grown. An outline of the collections is given at
http://www.history.brookes.ac.uk/Research/Centre-for-Methodism-and-Church-History/Special-collections/
The OCMCH collections are distinct from all other collections in the University which are manged by the Director of Learning Resources and held securely in an appropriately controlled environment.
As the University and the Trust renew and redefine their relationship, we wish to take stock of the current approach to the OCMCH collections to ensure that we are making best use of resources and are affording them appropriate levels of support and protection. We have therefore agreed to commission a review of our current arrangements from a suitably qualified and experienced person.
Areas for examination
1. To assess the completeness and accuracy of the University’s records of the collections
2. To assess the physical environment in which the collections are held (e.g. temperature, humidity, light, pest control, in relation to PD5454, 2012)
3. To assess whether appropriate agreements are in place with donors and depositors
4. To assess the arrangements for ensuring that the collections are appropriately insured
5. To assess the proportion of the collections that can be made available and the extent to which finding aids have been developed, (e.g. catalogue records, finding lists, web site information)
6. To assess the arrangements for recording the access granted to the collections and the uses made of the collections
7. To assess the extent to which the collections are accessible to users, including suitability of reading rooms, opening hours etc.
8. To provide a high level assessment of the collections’ suitability for digitisation.
The expected outcomes will be a presentation of findings and conclusions on the eight points above to Dr Helen Workman, Director of Learning Resources, and Professor William Gibson, Director of OCMCH, followed by a written report that can be shared with WCOT.
Arrangements
Proposals are invited to be submitted to Dr Helen Workman at [log in to unmask] by Friday 10 March 2017. The proposal should clearly identify:
1. Proposed costs or charging basis;
2. Experience and qualifications of the staff involved;
3. Outline timescales.
Selection Criteria
The University is not committed to accepting any proposal. The criteria that the University will use in considering proposals are:
1. Best economic benefit;
2. Experience in undertaking similar projects;
3. Timeliness of outcome
Questions and clarification
Please address any questions to Dr Helen Workman at [log in to unmask] or 01865 483301
Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask]
For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=archives-nra
|