**Apologies for cross posting**
List members might like to know that reports based on research funded
by the Library and Information Commission are still emerging. Report
details will continue to be added to the LIC website until the
Resource website goes live. It is therefore worth checking the LIC
site periodically for new items.
Listed below are a number of recent reports which I do not think have
been announced before. Unless noted otherwise the reports are
available for £12.00 from the British Thesis Service, The British
Library Document Supply Centre, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire
LS23 7BQ tel: +44 (0) 1937 546229 fax: +44 (0)1937 546286 email:
[log in to unmask] I have also included in the second
message a list of "new" forthcoming titles.
Simon Matty
Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries
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The value and impact of homework clubs in public libraries
by Briony Train.[et al.]
LIC research report 32
ISBN 190239416X
This report contains the findings and conclusions of an investigation
within the public library service into the value and impact of
library-based homework clubs. The authors make recommendations to
improve the homework club service which are addressed to the Library
Association, public library authorities, library managers and homework
club staff. Detailed recommendations for further research are also
included.
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The SAILS Project: a working guide to cross sectoral co-operation,
supporting lifelong learning and staff development
by Lorraine Hall and Sally Curry
LIC research report 36
ISBN 1902394194
The SAILS Project is based upon the experience gained in the city of
Sunderland in the founding and development of the Libraries Access
Sunderland Scheme (LASh) which established cross sectoral co-operation
between the City's three major providers of library services in order
to provide enhanced support for lifelong learning. The research
focuses on three interlinked areas all of which currently have a very
high profile in the UK library world: lifelong learning; cross
sectoral co-operation and staff training and development.
The report lists principal barriers to use of libraries by lifelong
learners and suggests ways in which library staff can overcome them;
highlights the benefits which cross sectoral co-operation can offer
both for learners and for the library staff, and lists ten key factors
in creating a successful cross sectoral partnership. The Report also
demonstrates the value of cross sectoral co-operative staff training
and development and provides a guide to key skills needed by staff both
for improving the support which libraries can provide for all learners
and managing successful cross sectoral cooperation.
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SEAMLESS: an organisational and technical model for seamless access to
distributed citizens' information
by Mary Rowlatt...[et al.]
LIC research report 37
Project pages available on the Internet at: http://www.seamless.org.uk
The SEAMLESS project developed, tested and evaluated a new model for
citizens' information provision. The model is distributed, and based
on partnerships and common standards developed by the SEAMLESS Project
team and 29 representative organisations including national government
departments, County Council departments, District Councils, Health
authorities, business organisations, educational establishments, CABS,
voluntary and charitable groups.
The report describes how SEAMLESS has:
established a working partnership with a variety of organisations
built and tested a technical demonstrator
proved that the technology works and that the distributed data sets
are accessible
developed and successfully implemented common standards - the SEAMLESS
profile, the thesaurus and the place name control
begun to develop a management framework to drive the transition of
SEAMLESS from a research project to a fully functioning live system.
identified the need for further development work to provide metadata
tools and an automated thesaurus and place list
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Trend analysis of monograph acquisitions in public and university
libraries in the UK
by Ann Chapman and David Spiller
LIC research report 47
ISBN 1901786293
Available from: Publications Section, LISU, Loughborough University
Loughborough LE11 3TU. tel: 01509 223071; fax: 01509 223072; email:
[log in to unmask] PRICE £17.50
This study has identified a number of trends relating to acquisitions
and stock management practices. Possible causes have been suggested
but more focused work will be needed to come to definite conclusions.
In the meantime, the study raises a number of questions for libraries,
suppliers, booksellers and publishers. Are public libraries doing too
little stock revision? Does supplier selection favour 'newer' titles
and those in certain subject areas, such as biographies? Is the
increase in paperback purchase by public libraries a result of format
availability or is practice simply at variance with stated preference?
Are public and academic libraries avoiding purchase of expensive
titles, intending to rely on interlending to fulfil demand? Are
academic libraries buying too much stock in the social sciences and
too little in science, mathematics and technology, in relation to the
proportion of students studying these subjects? Is financial pressure
delaying the purchase of borderline material the reason for HE
libraries acquiring increasing numbers of older titles? It may be
useful for libraries to review their acquisitions policy and practices
in the light of these findings.
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Review of current preservation management training in the UK and
abroad
by Stella Thebridge and Graham Matthews
LIC research report 48
ISBN 1902394240
This six month part-time project investigates preservation management
training in libraries, archives and museums. It arose from a growing
awareness among preservation specialists and practitioners that
training is being carried out in a variety of institutions across a
range of sectors, but that there is little co-ordination. It was
perceived that a drawing together of these training strands might:
encourage those who offer training by increasing dissemination of what
they can offer
provide the impetus to those who wish to develop training initiatives
in their own institutions or regions by bringing together information
about the full range of resources and activities available.
The authors conclude that the training in the area of preservation is
still principally about awareness rather than management issues. They
make recommendations to move training forward which involve the
National Preservation Office, the Library Association, the Museums,
Libraries and Archives Council and a second phase of the review to
build on a draft skills list.
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Internet access for older adults in public libraries
by Kay Flatten.[et al.]
LIC research report 50
ISBN 1902394259
The report of a project in Monmouthshire which used the BBC Webwise
campaign, for public awareness of the Internet, to target the older
customers of five public libraries. The work highlighted how
inexperienced older customers were with all aspects of the web. It
also revealed their desire to learn about and use computers.
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Developing a national strategy for preservation surrogates
by April Edwards, Graham Matthews, Clare Nankivell
LIC research report 54
ISBN 1902394267
The report of a project commissioned by the National Preservation
Office and funded by the Library and Information Commission. The
project set out to produce a 'snap-shot' of library, archive and
museum collections suitable for surrogacy; to categorise collections
suitable for preservation surrogacy within a national strategy; to
produce an overview of preservation surrogacy options for particular
types of collection and preservation surrogacy standards; and, to
develop the criteria and methodology for establishing a national
strategy for preservation surrogates.
The report includes a Draft Preservation Surrogacy Selection Criteria
Checklist which has been developed to facilitate proposals to funders
for preservation surrogacy projects and for their selection and
prioritisation. Key criteria here are: collection details, risk
assessment (including condition, environment and use), value, access,
additional benefits of surrogacy, and feasibility of programmes and
methods to be employed. Draft Guidance Notes for applicants and
funders provide further information on completing the checklist. Other
chapters cover preservation surrogacy standards, a discussion of
preservation surrogacy options, and an overview of collections
suitable for surrogacy and related issues.
The report suggests how a national strategy for preservation surrogacy
may be established around the Preservation Surrogacy Selection
Criteria Checklist. Recommendations are made as to how the Checklist
needs to be developed to be applied in libraries and tailored to meet
the different needs of archives and museums. The establishment of
Development Group by the National Preservation Office to move this
forward and to develop the strategy in line with other initiatives and
developments in digitisation is suggested.
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Benchmarks in collection care for UK libraries
by Nancy Bell and Helen Lindsay
LIC research report 55
ISBN 1902394275
This research project has looked at existing schemes that assess
collections care in libraries, archives and museums in the United
States, Canada, Australia, Italy and the United Kingdom, with a view
to identifying and evaluating the key elements in each, and
considering their usefulness in designing a scheme for the UK library
domain. The findings of this critical review indicated that a system
of benchmarks for collections care was the most appropriate scheme.
Ten categories, agreed as being key areas of library activity which
have an impact on the long-term preservation of collections, have been
used as the framework for the benchmark system. They are policy,
buildings, storage, housekeeping, handling, environmental monitoring
and control, exhibition and loans, conservation, surrogate copies and
non-traditional material and disaster preparedness. Levels of
performance have been identified for each of these areas, against
which performance may be judged in the categories basic, good and best
practice. The aim of this benchmarking scheme is 'to help libraries
evaluate how well they are caring for their collections and identify
areas where improvement might be needed'. The resulting document
Benchmarks in collections care for UK libraries consists of a set of
clear and realistic benchmarks to help librarians and preservation
managers identify the strengths and weaknesses of collections care
provision in their libraries.
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