LINC news release    28 February 2000

*With apologies for cross posting*

Cross-sectoral collaboration must improve

"Working Together" proceedings on the Web

The proceedings of the seminar "Working Together: Covering the Nation's
Resources", organised by the British Library Co-operation and Partnership
Programme (BLCPP), LASER and LINC, are now available on the BL website at
<http://www.bl.uk>. They can found under "What's New" on the BL homepage.

"Working Together", held at BL St. Pancras in December 1999, explored
current collaboration in the UK on collection development, discovery, access
to and retention of resources, and the potential for improvement through
more effective co-operation at national and regional levels. It was attended
by over 80 invited participants from all sectors of the library and
information world, from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS),
and from the archives and museums domains. It was chaired by LINC Chair
Chris Koster. 

The clear message of the seminar was that the vertical divisions between the
different sectors in the library and information community are irrelevant to
the growing numbers of multi-sectoral users and must be overcome by
professionals in order to provide a seamless service. The prospect of the
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC) underlines the need for wider
cross-domain collaboration where appropriate.    

Keynote speaker Derek Law, Director of Information Strategy, University of
Strathclyde, set out the challenges and David Bradbury, BL Director General,
Collections and Services, saw cross-sectoral collaboration as vital for the
future of all sectors. The current state of collaboration and prospects for
future development were surveyed by Catherine Blanshard (public libraries);
Bernard Naylor (academic libraries); Peter Smith (the regional dimension);
Beth Houghton (government and/or special libraries); Victor Gray (archives);
and Jean Sykes (cross-sectoral initiatives particularly in London). 

Following feedback from break-out groups and discussion, Derek Law commented
on the day's proceedings and highlighted practical issues to be addressed,
such as collection mapping; "living" collection management policies;
collection description standards; publicising of regional and local best
practice; and a possible National Collection Development Office. 

The seminar proceedings are available in paper copy, as well as on the Web,
from Stella Pilling, BLCPP.  E-mail: [log in to unmask]  Tel: 01937 546
023.

/ends

Notes to Editors

1.  Also available on the British Library (BL) website <http://www.bl.uk>
under "What's New" is the BL Press Release on the "Working Together" seminar
(02 February 2000). 

2. The British Library Co-operation and Partnership Programme (BLCPP) was
set up in April 1999 to reinforce the Library's commitment to co-operation
and partnership in the library and information services world, to define and
develop a programme of co-operation in a number of key areas, and to
administer an annual fund to support co-operation and partnership
activities.
For further information on the seminar and BLCPP, contact Stella Pilling.
Tel: 01937 546 023  E-mail: [log in to unmask]  

3.  LASER is the preferred name for the London and South Eastern Library
Region, the development and networking agency. Building on a history of
regional and inter-regional resource sharing activity since 1926, LASER is
developing new approaches to cultural services development and promoting
access to learning resources, based on a wide range of partnerships. 
For further information on LASER, contact Frances Hendrix, Director, LASER.
Tel:  020 7702 2020   E-mail: [log in to unmask] uk
 
4.  LINC is the leading representative organisation promoting co-operation
and partnership in the UK and Republic of Ireland as a means of improving
the effectiveness of the library and information sector. Its members include
the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, the Irish Library
Council, LISC (NI), Interlending Wales, LA, SCONUL, the Society of Chief
Librarians, six English Library Regions, and a range of organisations with
an interest in co-operation. It has three Panels: LINC NEWSPLAN Panel, NFIP
(National Forum for Information Planning) and LINC Health Panel. 
For further information on LINC, contact: LINC Honorary Secretary Paul
Turner, County Librarian, Hampshire, 81 North Walls, Winchester SO23 8BY. 
Tel: 01962 846 109.  E-mail: [log in to unmask]


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