**** Apologies for Cross-Posting *****
PRESS RELEASE
LASER Foundation rises from the Ashes
LASER is dead; long live the LASER Foundation!
LASER, as an operational company, ceases to operate at the end of
September 2001. However the LASER name and ethos will continue as the
LASER Foundation, a charitable grant awarding Foundation that will
provide funding to public libraries under the same charitable aims as
LASER.
The Foundation comes into operation from October 1st 2001. Contact
details are below. The Trustees are:-
> Sue Brown, Director of Member Services, The Library Association
> Barry George, Head of Libraries, Bedfordshire County Council
> Michael Holroyd, CBE
> Adrian Olsen, Arts, Libraries and Museums Manager, London Borough of
Southwark
> Emma Robinson, University Librarian, University of London Library
> Dina Thorpe, Head of Libraries, Information and Arts, East Sussex
County Council
The Interim Chair and Hon Secretary are respectively :-
> Professor F W Bullock, current chair of LASER
> Hon Sec Frances Hendrix, ex-Director of LASER.
The Patrons so far appointed are :-
> Ann Limb, Chief Executive, Ufi
> Dr Jim Parker, Registrar, Public Lending Right
The Fund will call for bids for funds at least once a year, and
Professor Bullock said :-
'I would sincerely hope, and will encourage the Board of Trustees, to
invite and support innovative, imaginative and speculative bids, and
bids for large sums of money. We also hope we can work in partnership
with other funding bodies in order to fund schemes which make a
significant difference to public libraries and their users'
Frances Hendrix said :-
'Although it is sad to see such a vital and successful organisation as
LASER cease to operate services after something like 80 years of
significant cooperative activity, the time for change is absolutely
right. It is also a testament to LASER’s success that there is a
substantial fund that can be used to further the aims and objectives of
LASER. Professor Bullock and I are delighted that people of such
experience and knowledge of the sector as those above have agreed to
join the Board of Trustees of the Foundation'
The first meeting of the Trustees will be in October, and it is hoped
the first call for proposals will be in early 2002. Details of the
biding process will be very widely communicated and it is the intention
of Professor Bullock to ask the new Board to conduct a consultation
exercise of the current LASER membership on the key areas of interest to
public libraries for funding.
Further information and details can be obtained after October 1st 2001
from :-
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
Frances Hendrix
Martin House Farm
Hilltop Lane
Whittle-le-Woods
Near Chorley
Lancashire PR6 7QR
The Registered address of the Foundation is:-
Laser Foundation(effective from 1/10/01) is:- The Laser Foundation, c/o
Merchant and Co., Fourth Floor, 84 Uxbridge Road, West Ealing, London
W13 8RA; [log in to unmask]
***********************************************************************
From 27th September, e-mails to Frances personally should go to
[log in to unmask]
Please note that LASER will be transforming into the Laser Foundation at
the end of September 2001. LASER will no longer occupy the offices at
Gun Court. With effect from 1st October all current LASER e-mail
addresses (which end [log in to unmask]) will cease to operate. The
registered address for the Laser Foundation(effective from 1/10/01) is:-
The Laser Foundation, c/o Merchant and Co., Fourth Floor, 84 Uxbridge
Road, West Ealing, London W13 8RA; [log in to unmask]
For any queries please contact:- Frances Hendrix, Martin House Farm,
Hilltop Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Near Chorley, Lancashire PR6 7QR; Tel :
01257 274 833; Fax : 01257 266 488; E-mail :
[log in to unmask] (please note that this e-mail is not
available until 1st October - until then use : [log in to unmask] )
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