The 'Access to Research' national launch is tonight.
http://www.pls.org.uk/Pages/AccessToResearch.aspx?PageView=Shared
As I mentioned below the ability for public libraries to provide *free*
access to ejournals combined with the rise of *free* online learning from
major UK and international universities ("MOOCs) seems to be a huge
opportunity for public libraries to re-emphasise their strategic positioning
in terms of the learning agenda. What an opportunity to give new impetus to
the old idea of the public library as 'The People's University'!
Ken
Ken Chad Consulting Ltd
Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
[log in to unmask] <http://www.kenchadconsulting.com/>
www.kenchadconsulting.com
Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kenchad
Local Government Library Technology wiki: http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/
My presentations on slideshare: <http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad>
http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad
From: Ken Chad [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 20 November 2013 18:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Public libraries to provide free access to more ejournals than
universities-huge learning agenda opportunity?
At the UKSG conference last Thursday on 'Open Access',
(http://www.uksg.org/event/NOVCONF2013) Michael Jubb from RIN gave an update
what is happening after the Finch report on Open Access. While much of his
presentation (http://www.uksg.org/sites/uksg.org/files/PresentationJubb.pdf)
was about scholarly communication and academic libraries he did mention the
initiative to provide free access to electronic journals from public
libraries. (http://www.publishers.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content
<http://www.publishers.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2
596:uk-public-libraries-initiative-launches-technical-pilot&catid=80:general
-news&Itemid=1617>
&view=article&id=2596:uk-public-libraries-initiative-launches-technical-pilo
t&catid=80:general-news&Itemid=1617 ).
Indeed he commented that from 2014 when the scheme gets going: "public
libraries will be able to offer more ejournals than many university
libraries or even the British Library."
There was an interesting discussion following the presentation and it seems
this initiative is not widely known or understood and it is unclear how
public libraries are going to promote it. Taking this in conjunction with
rise of online learning and particularly MOOCs (providing free access to
courses from many universities around the world-- see
http://helibtech.com/MOOCs+and+Libraries ) there appears to be huge
potential here for *public* libraries to up their game in terms of the
learning/lifelong learning agenda.
I'd like to write something for Local Government Library Technology
(LGLibTech) and would be really interested to hear views from public
librarians and especially interested to learn what plans authorities have to
promote and roll out this initiative.
Are public libraries providing any kind of guided access to MOOCs? Are
libraries developing or planning more learning spaces?
Ken
Ken Chad Consulting Ltd,
Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845. Email: [log in to unmask]
www.kenchadconsulting.com <http://www.kenchadconsulting.com/>
Skype: kenchadconsulting Twitter: @KenChad LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/kenchad
Local Government Library Technology wiki: http://lglibtech.wikispaces.com/
My presentations on slideshare: <http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad>
http://www.slideshare.net/kenchad
