Hullo

First of all, many many thanks for (as is usual on this list) your warmth
and  interest, and of course the usefulness of your responses.

I didn't get a single irritable comment, and, incidentally, most people
were very selfless in recommending libraries where they did NOT work.
Hmmmm, on reflection there may be some sort of hidden message there but
luckily I'm not qualified to comment on that one either!

Thames Valley University had the distinction of being recommended twice -
once from Leeds and once from BECTA.

The British Library got several honourable mentions - I forgot to tell you
in my original email that my Finnish colleague had added the rider "I know
about the British Library"!

So, here goes with the summary - many thanks again, especially to Peter J,
Peter S, Elaine, Kate, Adrian, Jane, Meg, and Janet. I have shamelessly
chopped and edited your messages - forgive me if I have given any false
impressions but I have tried not to alter the sense of your original
thoughts.  Any comments in brackets are mine alone and are to be taken with
a large pinch of salt.  

Walt

Walter Scales
University of Sunderland Information Services
Chester Road Library

1.  Thames Valley University - especially their Ealing site, also Ealing
Tertiary College with its flexible and open learning,  and also Uxbride and
also Waltham Forest colleges in the FE sector.

2.  The new Library at Abertay University is worth a visit from both a
technological and architectural perspective.

3.  "I think that the Manchester Metropolitan University Aytoun site
library is one of the most 'interesting' I have ever visited; both
architecturally & technologically. The buiilding itself is a strange glass
& steel construction, decorated almost entirely from IKEA, and the projects
in place include *LAMDA and an interactive library guide." (note from
Walter: on a personal level, this appeals to me very much as I've just
purchased a couple of those snazzy uplighter jobs from IKEA's lighting
department in Gateshead)

London & Manchester Document Access project - electronic document access
via scanning & Ariel software transmission. In fact, the Lamda project that
was has now become a commercial venture.

4.  Harrow IRS Centre: this centre combines library, 
computing and AV services under one roof with a fairly high degree of 
work integration within the staffing set up. (note from Walter: this sounds
an especially fun place as the manager's name is Des O'Connor).

5.  In terms of technological innovation, the library at South Bank
University  - previously South Bank Polytechnic -  would be an interesting
place to visit. They have a brand new 3 storey building dedicated to IT,
with suites of computers for use by students and others for teaching
purposes. It aims to be complementary to the book library which is in a
separate building nearby. 

6.  The University of Teesside LRC has proved to be a popular spot to 
visit, though not necessarily claiming to be an outright leader in
technological developments.

7.   Glasgow Caladonian has just opened a new extension - have not see it
but heard lots - may be worth a visit.  Central Lancs - again new building;
 Sunderland's self-issue and other technical innovations?  In London,
King's College seem to be very forward thinking, but have never visited to
see for myself. 

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end of summary






Walter Scales
Verity Project Officer (UK)
University of Sunderland Information Services
Chester Road Library SUNDERLAND SR1 3SD
United Kingdom
+44 191 515 3354 (Fax 2904)
www.library.sunderland.ac.uk/homepage/verity.htm


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