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

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&view=article&id=2596:uk-public-libraries-initiative-launches-technical-pilot&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,

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