The Independent Talis User Group


Latest news: iTUG National Committee is disbanding

In 2004 the Independent Talis User Group was created together with an iTUG National Committee. The purpose of the Committee was to: encourage the development of regional user groups; lead on national activities such as user group days and be a main channel of communication between the regional user groups and Talis. Development of regional groups has been successful and most are now well established and able to act as independent groups so it is for this reason, together with a lack of volunteers willing to be nominated as members of the Committee that the National Committee decided to review its future role via a customer survey

Full results from the Future of the National Committee is now available.


Response to the survey was low (53 respondents) with only 14 in favour of the National Committee continuing as it is. For this reason the following new iTUG framework will be put into place:

  • The National Committee will be disbanded as of January 1st 2010. Chairs of the Regional Groups will meet virtually as and when necessary on a very informal basis to discuss items of high priority. Talis have agreed to facilitate teleconferencing for these meetings
  • The regional Chairs will be supported by a liaison person who will act as a central point between the regional Chairs and Talis. This person will facilitate communication with Talis e.g. update of web pages, provision of information for Talis News etc and will also act as a liaison between the regional Chairs. An email will be sent soon to customers requesting expressions of interest for this post
  • Minutes and feedback from each of the regional group meetings will be posted to all Chairs for information and dissemination
  • If large events ie Insight are held Talis have agreed to facilitate a time at the event for regional Chairs and iTUG members to meet if required
  • Talis will continue to support iTUG within it's new framework
  • As the iTUG Constitution is no longer applicable it will be negated. If regional groups wish to set up their own constitutions they are free to do so.
  • Usage of the LIS-TUG discussion list is low, therefore the list will be promoted but if usage does not increase it will be closed at the end of 2010.

Members of the, now disbanded, iTUG National Committee would like to thank Talis customers who have supported iTUG over the years and hope that the new framework will continue to provide a venue at which customers can communicate, share experiences and present thoughts and ideas. National Committee members would also like to thank Talis staff, in particular Karen Reece, for their continued collaboration, support and encouragement.

Regional Groups

Regional groups currently exist in the North, the Midlands and the South complimenting the longer standing Scottish User Group and HUGS (Higher Education User Group in the South). In addition customers from Wales / Ireland 'meet' together via teleconferencing.

All meetings are open to anyone irrespective of the geographical location of their organisation. For further information about joining a group or attending a meeting please contact the group.

Regional Group Chair/Contact Email address
Ireland Samantha Drennan samantha.drennan@ucd.ie
Midlands John Dowd John.Dowd@wlv.ac.uk
Northern Glyn Sinar Glyn.Sinar@lcl.lancscc.gov.uk
Scottish Scott Simpson scott.simpson@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
Southern Jerome Farrell j.farrell@surrey.ac.uk
Wales TBC  

 

Discussion Lists: in addition to the Talis Forums there are two jiscmail discussion lists that Talis customers can join:

LIS-TALIS – a general open discussion list used mainly by system managers and other staff as well as Talis to discuss technical issues. To join contact Dawn Petherick d.petherick@bham.ac.uk

LIS-TUG – a closed discussion list for Talis User Group members only to discuss general Talis related issues. To join contact Carol Thompson carol.thompson@northumbria.ac.uk or Leigh Richardson leigh.richardson@sunderland.ac.uk

Talis Information Ltd are very supportive of iTUG and endorsed this by formally announcing its formation at Insight 2005. In addition Talis have agreed that:

  • Talis Account Managers will attend regional meetings if invited to do so.
  • Talis Information provide access to web space, for use by the iTUG, from their web site.
  • Talis will facilitate teleconferencing for meetings if required
  • Talis will schedule a time at Insight conferences for regional Chairs and iTUG members to meet if required