<Apologies for Cross Posting>


FUTURES TOGETHER
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Announcing a one-day Conference on Monday 7th February 2000
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“...to launch the findings and recommendations coming out of a two-year
investigation into the scope, value and accessibility of specialist
resources and collections held by academic, public and special libraries in
the West Midlands...project funded by LIC and WMRLS...”

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

* Cllr Colin Beardwood is Chair of the West Midlands Regional Chamber and
will give a keynote speech on the new regional agenda

* Margaret Haines is Chief Executive of Library and Information Commission
and will provide a national library domain perspective

* Derek Law is Librarian & Director of Information Strategy at U of
Strathclyde and will bring a Higher Education view of collections and
networking

* Kathy Gee is Director of the West Midlands Regional Museums Council and
will talk about the value of collection audits across the new “MLAC”
grouping

* Chris Dodd is Futures Together Project Officer and will present the
project’s findings, covering more than 1,000 collections surveyed and the
scoping/audit methodology employed

* Geoff Warren is Futures Together Project Head and will introduce an access
strategy for the region, recommending improved resource discovery and
“access level kitemarking”

* Breakout Groups will discuss the project report (to be published on the
day) as well as considering practical ways forward


ABOUT THE PROJECT

* comprising a uniquely comprehensive region-wide audit  of printed,
archival & multi-media collections across all types of libraries
* leading to a recommended strategy for improved access to resources for all
in support of lifelong learning
* providing an applicable model for other regions and contributing to wider
content creation work and national approaches


ABOUT THE CONFERENCE VENUE

Austin Court  (Midlands Engineering Centre, 80 Cambridge Street, Birmingham
B1 2NP).


BOOKING A CONFERENCE PLACE

The cost is £55 per delegate (or £50 for staff in WMRLS member
organisations). This includes a free copy of the report, coffee/tea and
buffet lunch.

Bookings welcome either by...
Phone/fax 0121 303 2613 or email  [log in to unmask]

or by post...
WMRLS, 3rd Floor, Central Library, Birmingham B3 3HQ


Please provide the following details:
Name, Position, Organisation, Contact details for each delegate...

Please state if you require an invoice and who this should be addressed to.
Alternatively, cheques (crossed) can be made payable to WMRLS.


THE PROJECT REPORT

Futures Together (accessing special collections in West Midlands libraries
and related sectors)
by Geoff Warren & Chris Dodd
LIC Research & Innovation Report G/402
ISBN 1901800040THE REPORT

The report is the result of arguably the most comprehensive audit of
specialist resources and collections in all types of libraries and
information services undertaken in recent years on a regional scale. The
final report will include many transferable values of interest to other
regions including methodology and new physical and electronic access
strategies to collections across library sectors and domains.

Copies of the LIC/WMRLS Report can be reserved by either contacting WMRLS by

Phone/fax 0121 303 2613 or email  [log in to unmask]

or by post...
WMRLS, 3rd Floor, Central Library, Birmingham B3 3HQ


Please provide the following details:
Name, Organisation, address, phone, fax, email...

Each copy costs £25 (or £20 for orders placed by WMRLS member
organisations). Cost includes postage and packing. Goods will be supplied in
early February 2000. We prefer NOT to receive payment with orders.





































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