Strategic inter-network collaboration (SINC) group

This page details the strategic inter-network collaboration (SINC) group, its functions, and members.

The SINC has various responisibilities within library services. Detailed below are some of these epected tasks, including:

  • ensuring inter-lending document supply (ILDS) processes and infrastructure are as streamlined as they can be for both knowledge and library services (KLS) staff and end users
  • monitoring, reviewing and evaluating ILDS systems and processes, and making recommendations for improvement and standardisation
  • setting national policy and develop guidance
  • overseeing ILDS developments, and contributing to the design, testing, implementation and evaluation of these developments
  • ensuring effective communication, engagement and collaboration with KLS, end-users and other stakeholders
  • identifying trends and developments
  • ensuring that document supply considerations are included in NHS England’s knowledge for healthcare (KfH) resource discovery work
  • representing the needs of the ILDS network and end-users

Members of SINC are expected to:

  • represent the needs of the network, region, wider KLS staff and end-users
  • keep library staff in their regions informed of group activities, decisions and discussions as appropriate

Governance

The SINC group meetings are held quarterly.

The chair reports to the NHS England KfH leads responsible for resource discovery, and as appropriate, the change advisory board.

See SINC's terms of references and the minutes from previous meetings.

Membership

There are a select number of roles within SINC, each of which has particular responsibilities and requirements.

  • Chair: an NHS England KfH team representative.
  • 1 representative from each of the geographical document supply networks/NHS regions to represent that region.
  • Up to 5 members of NHS KLS staff with an interest in ILDS and its development.
  • 1 representative from the NHS copyright first responders.

Current membership

  • Richard Bridgen (Chair).
  • Beverley Walsh and Rebecca Bradshaw (EDEN).
  • Helene Gorring and Kaye Bagshaw (LENDS).
  • Julie Stoppani and Cecelia Schwartzman (KSS).
  • Peter Waters and Amy Dolby (MIDS).
  • Bethan Morgan (PANDDA).
  • Claire O'Connor and Barb Pierce (SWIMS).
  • Paul Lee (Copyright First Responders).
  • Lotty Summers, Hayley Clark, Jorden McNally, Claire Pogonowski and Samuel Stormont.

Latest updates

INC codes and INCDocs requests

We are planning to commission Third Iron to include INC codes on INCDocs requests, but as INCDocs works at the organisation level, it won’t be possible to include INC codes for individual libraries in multi-site organisations. 

If you need to record which library handles the INCDocs requests you receive, this needs to be recorded separately.  If you are using an LMS to process requests, add it to the request in a field which can be included in an ILL report.

British Library and Reprints Desk

The latest indications are that the British Library will take some time to fix the issues arising from last October’s ransomware attack.

Normally, you should only place requests from Reprints Desk if the article is not available from within the NHS and the requestor needs to share or copy obtained from outside the NHS under ‘library privilege.’

Until the British Library resumes document supply, please use Reprints Desk to obtain articles which cannot be obtained from the NHS and any other source.

National Union List of Print Journals 

A more streamlined process for checking print holdings is needed given the number of ILL requests still being satisfied from print journal holdings. The aim is to have one place to search for electronic holdings (INCDocs) and another place for print holdings (National Union List of Print Journals).

A task and finish group is currently evaluating platforms to host the national list of print holdings. A decision on the best option will be made in March / April with a start date for the new site pencilled in for Autumn 2024. 

Affiliates will be able to add their holdings too, but will need to supply to all NHS libraries in England.

Page last reviewed: 19 January 2024
Next review due: 2 January 2025