8.16 Information services
This category covers those functions within the institution that provide access to information for the student body and both academic and administrative staff. These include libraries, computing services, archive services, and information support services.
Such functions may be managed separately from each other, or in various combinations. These services routinely explain their facilities (and the conditions of their use) to students, staff and the general public and it is information of this nature that is included within this category.
In some instances information will be exempt from disclosure where it contains personal information, or information which, if released, may substantially prejudice the commercial interests of any person, endanger the physical or mental health or the safety of an individual, substantially prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs, or constitute an actionable breach of confidence.
More about the learning and information services of the University of the Highlands and Islands
| Category Name | Category Description | Examples/Comments | Format of information | Fee | Withheld information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Library facilities | Availability and conditions of use of library facilities | Information about who can access systems and services and the facilities that they can access.
Opening hours of libraries. General rules and conditions of use (e.g. on smoking, drinking, eating, use of mobile phones; policies with regard to law such as copyright; use of national/external services.) |
Available on website | Free | |
| Computing facilities | Availability and conditions of use of computing facilities | Information about who can access systems and services and the facilities that they can access.
Opening hours of microlabs. General rules and conditions of use (e.g. on smoking, drinking, eating, use of mobile phones; policies with regard to law such as copyright; mail spamming/ bombing) Computing code of practice. Data protection rules. Use of national/external services. Details of logging, monitoring and procedures followed in case of breach of conditions of use should also be included here. |
Available on website | Free | |
| Other information facilities | Availability and conditions of use of facilities | Available on website | Free | Material contained within databases will be regarded as “otherwise accessible” under S.25 of the Act. | |
| Major strategy documents | High-level aims and strategies of information services units | Aims of each department in context of its place in the organisation, a Description of the service provided and, where appropriate, service level agreements. | Free | ||
| Collections | Scope of major collections held by the institution | Guides and catalogues to collections, including the library public access catalogue.
Access arrangements, including charges |
Free | Material referenced by catalogues will generally be exempted as ‘otherwise accessible’ under s.25 of the Act, since it is available in terms of the ‘Library Facilities’ Category above | |
| Collection strategy | Collection management and preservation strategies | Collection management and preservation strategies, including policy on disposal of stock | Free | ||
| Open archives | Information about records held by the institution’s archive facilities for permanent preservation and designated as open irrespective of the date of creation. | This category includes information about all third party archive material gifted to the institution for permanent preservation and which is available for general access.
Individual schools or departments within the institution may have local archive collections to support administrative or research functions. The date of adoption of the MPS is irrelevant to this category. Guides and catalogues to open archives Access arrangements, including charges |
Free | Material referenced by catalogues will generally be exempted as ‘otherwise accessible’ under s.25 of the Act, since it is available in terms of the ‘Library Facilities’ Category above | |
| Other archive facilities and special collections | Description of the institution's archive facilities and special collections | This category includes information about both archival material relating to the institution’s business and third party archive material gifted to the institution for permanent preservation upon which access restrictions have been placed by the donor.
Archival catalogues (manual or on-line) or other material describing archival collections Access to/use of archives, including charges Individual schools or departments within the institution may have local special collections. Guides and catalogues to other archive facilities and special collections. Access arrangements, including charges |
Manual catalogues normally accessed by inspection on the HEI's premises | Free | Material referenced by catalogues will generally be exempted as ‘otherwise accessible’ under s.25 of the Act, since it is available in terms of the ‘Library Facilities’ Category above |