Michael Stead – Transformation Officer
Libraries, Heritage and Arts
Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust
Redgate
Road, South Lancs Industrial Estate
Bryn, Wigan WN4
8DT
01942 486996 (internal ext. 86996)
http://wlct.org
If
you want to see this in practice look at www.whichbook.net , Opening the Book’s
reader development database. Once you have chosen your book a click on
“borrow” will bring up some simple screens directing you to your local library
catalogue. The system even puts your search into the catalogue so you can
have the location of your chosen book in 5 clicks.
From:
lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of John Dolan
Sent: 04 January 2011 21:27
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Kindle
links
We have
to keep moving forward.
David
Potts is absolutely right. In spite of his own strenuous efforts in this area,
all the national leadership to date has failed to knock up the obvious parallel
innovation to the People’s Network, namely a single catalogue and
request system for UK/England public libraries.
This
would have been a critical gain for access and proving that public libraries in
the UK mean modern business.
With the
demise of national leads as MLA goes and DCMS still takes no actively creative
role in library development [that could of course change, Minister!] it’s
left to others to make it happen.
The 10
Future Libraries Programme studies involve more than 10 authorities; it will
propose shared services as an economy, while claiming it’s also better. OK it’s
some months before the predictable results emerge, but hey. If the studies
are meant to give direction then why not coordinate a “shared” recommendation
that is more than back office change, but combines efficiency and
effectiveness.
§
Perhaps
SCL colleagues would foster an interest albeit in the midst of library managers
handling awful cuts and closures
§
CILIP
could offer advocacy support and garner expertise as it has supported
RFID
§
Surely
the Arts Council will see the benefit of a coup in its first year of
responsibility for libraries
§
Authors
would surely be supportive
§
Would
the LGA be interested in a positive distraction from the
cuts?
§
Would
UNISON see an opportunity to raise the profile and status of
libraries?
§
Would
school, college and university libraries see the massive advantage of local
access to resources for everyone in learning and study?
§
SOCITM,
looking for a chance for innovation, could support and
enable
§
Private
sector providers must surely see an opportunity – what price philanthropy,
sponsorship, partnership and sustainability?
Even
Government [DCMS and others] might see an opportunity for a positive strategy
for reading and information access – very big society, very do it
yourself…..
While
we’re at it, why restrict this to public libraries. It can all be done.
See Wales http://library.wales.org/catcymru/
or Scotland and World Cat http://www.slainte.org.uk/slaintedl.htm
Thanks
David. Great ideas – even the largely cost-free interims you suggest. Now,
everyone else, let’s see some action!
John
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