Apologies for cross posting
The Science, Technology and Business professional training programme run by
the British Library will cease on 11 December 2001 – with the last course
on ‘Searching the Web’ – the BL announced today.
To provide a future service for regular customers the Library has agreed
that the Library Association will offer a similar range of courses on
finding and using information sources. From 2002, using a mix of British
Library and external presenters, the Library Association will run new
courses on patents, business, the environment, health and the internet
aimed at librarians and information professionals.
The British Library’s decision results from wider plans to refocus
priorities. Jill Finney, Director of Strategic Communications and
Marketing comments: ‘We are totally committed to delivering services that
are of real value, but in some specialist areas of the information arena
other organisations may be able to serve users better. In the case of
training, our awareness of a changing marketplace and the existence of
other excellent training providers in the field led to our decision to
close the programme.’
Jill continues: ‘The LA is an experienced training provider with very good
onsite facilities at their Ridgmount Street HQ in Central London. As the
UK’s leading professional body for library and information professionals it
is firmly committed to developing information literacy across the range of
sectors. The LA’s imminent merger on 1 April 2002 with the Institute of
Information Scientists will strengthen its position as a training provider
still further’.
To ensure that its resources and expertise reach the widest audience, the
British Library will continue to support other organisations’ training
initiatives by providing speakers and professional advice. In supporting
the efforts of other course providers – including those serving end users
rather than information professionals – the Library aims to reach an even
larger audience.
‘The BL has offered the strongest possible endorsement of our training
capabilities in taking this decision,’ added Janet Liebster, Managing
Director of Library Association Enterprises, which includes both
professional development and conferences. ‘We are looking forward to
building on the success of the BL’s professional training programme.’
Note:
1. The British Library will continue to run selected training courses and
conferences on specific topics both at London and Boston Spa. Information
on these and other BL events can be found on the Library’s website at
www.bl.uk
2. To be added to The Library Association’s mailing list to be kept
informed of the new programme for 2002 contact LA Professional Development
on tel 020 7255 0560, fax 020 7255 0561 or email [log in to unmask]
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