Historic Environment Information Resources Network
HEIRNET
Report on working group meeting, held on 19 July 2000 in York
Present: Prof A Harding (Chair), Dr M Heyworth (Secretary & BIAB & CBA), Mr N Clubb (English Heritage), Mrs H Malaws (RCAHMW) & Mrs D Murray (RCAHMS)
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the implementation of the recommendations included in the consultants' report commissioned by HEIRNET from David Baker, Gill Chitty, Julian Richards & Damian Robinson.
It was agreed during the course of the discussion that:
1) A reminder letter should be circulated to all organisations asking for their formal response to the report (to date only National Museums & Galleries of Wales had responded, although an English Heritage response was expected). The letter would ask for in principle acceptance of the report, and for confirmation that each organisation was prepared to continue to be involved in taking the recommendations forward, but stressing that there were no financial commitments at this stage (AH to draft, MH to circulate)
2) A further meeting of HEIRNET to be held in late September/early October (MH to arrange). Main agenda items would be a paper suggesting various options for moving forward with the recommendations in the consultants' report (MH to draft) and planning of day conference(s) - see point 3.
3) A day conference should be held in November to promote the work of HEIRNET and publicise the conclusions of the consultants' report. If possible meeting it should be timed to link in with the launch of the archaeology Z39.50 service to promote interoperability. If so, it could be held either in London or possibly simultaneously in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Senior politicians would be invited to open the meeting(s).
4) A session should be proposed for the 2001 IFA conference (to be held 10-12 April in Newcastle) to help publicise HEIRNET, the consultants' report and steps being taken to implement the consultants' recommendations. (MH to submit proposal to IFA)
5) The ADS should be asked to submit a costed proposal to prepare a prototype metadata index, based on the data in the appendix to the consultants' report, ideally to be completed before the meeting of HEIRNET in Sept/Oct. EH/RCAHMW/RCAHMS to consider funding. (MH to arrange)
Document last revised: 8 August 2000 by Mike Heyworth