SWIMS Network Governance and Policies, and background to the SWIMS system project
Governance
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SWIMS Network Board Terms of Reference – last updated Oct 2021; review date Oct 2022
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SWIMS Network terms of reference – includes mandatory procedures for all members. Last updated Feb 2021; review date Feb 2022
- SWIMS Network mandatory policies and procedures – a list of mandatory policies and procedures for full and affiliated members.
Policies
Inter-library document supply and seamless borrowing
- Standards for interlibrary document supply (ILDS) – SWIMS Network mandatory policy for all members. To be used as a supplement to the national good practice guidelines. Last updated May 2021; review date May 2022, or sooner if needed.
- Seamless borrowing – SWIMS Network mandatory policy for full members. Last reviewed June 2021; review date June 2023.
Stock management
- Stock withdrawal and retention guidelines – recommended for full members. Review date Jan 2022.
User records and circulation
- Recording, retention and deletion of borrower records – recommended policy and procedure. Last updated July 2021.
It was agreed by the SWIMS Board in Oct 2014 that policies should have a review date of 2 years after each update, unless there is a specific reason for a different review date.
Background to the SWIMS system project
In 2003 the SWIMS shared library management system was implemented for the library services in the footprint of the then South West Workforce Development Confederations. This followed a survey of library services in 2000 which concluded that a shared region-wide system was a better option than locally implemented systems. (NHSE South West Information and Library Services Development Library Resource Management Software Project Survey Results by Valerie Trinder, Assistant Head of Information and Library Services Development, December 2000). An extensive evaluation exercise carried out in 2005 concluded that SWIMS was still fit for purpose (South West Workforce Development Confederations Knowledge Resources Development Unit: South West Information Management System (SWIMS) Project Evaluation by Stuart Benjamin, November 2005). SWIMS was later implemented by Buckinghamshire NHS libraries and then later NHS library services in the current Thames Valley footprint.
Documents relating to the history of the SWIMS implementation project including information about barcoding and setting up loan terms, as well as the 2005 evaluation, can be obtained from Jenny Toller