Mike is so right, but as he suggests time is running out. Why on earth have
we waited until now?. We must learn as a profession and service to lead from
the front, to set our own agenda, which may mean discarding some things, and
concentrating on where we are good and can succeed.

As Mike says START NOW!
f
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Maguire" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2003 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library


> Funding issues aside, why are we arguing about one or the other ... or at
> least very much sounding as though we are? The rest of the provider world
is
> busy developing strategic alliances and the strength in depth that that
> brings.  We really must work up the new content & skill mixes now made
> possible to deliver via the Peoples Network.
>
>
> We have to move our services into contact with peoples lives, & that means
> also to their homes/PC/mobile whatever so they have a choice of how to use
> us. And we have to provide access to popularly "valued" approaches ... ok
> ... "Yahoogle"  ... AND genuine differentiated value-added sustainable
> services. The latter are also increasingly requiring strategic
> partnerships/alliances to reach a high enough standard on a sustainable
> basis. At the more local level we should be largely concentrating on what
is
> local and "down to us" to bring onboard as part of the wider portfolio of
> services offered virtually and literally.
>
> De minimis electronic content across England (UK) as a "citizens right"
...
> it's not as though the HE sector hasn't given this a thought or two over
the
> past decade or so
>
> Electronic self-help guide/gateway to excellent resources across diverse
> subjects ... (Yes, I too personally think Earl had something going there)
> that will clearly take you to places/sources/content that "Yahoogle"
doesn't
> reach
>
> Syndicated/partnered/networked live/real-time virtual and walk-in
> Information & Reference Services. Ask-a-Librarian like & added value
> bought-in specialist services (e.g. Birmingham business info)
>
> Highly developed local content, both "heritage & current in partnership
with
> e-gov developments web-mounted and supported by skilled & knowledgeable
> staff.
>
> We all know so much has already in part been developed, or is being
> developed. Come on, let's get our act together. I really do think we need
to
> inject some "Earl-type" vision & energy into our goings on ... or has
> Charlie Leadbetter actually got it right and we are in denial and we do
need
> taking by the scruff of our collective necks?
>
> Times up ...!
>
> Mike
> er ... clearly, entirely a personal viewpoint!
>
> Mike Maguire
> Group Librarian S & E Devon
> Devon Library & Information Services
> tel 01392 384223
> fax 01392 384228
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
> http://www.devon.gov.uk/library/
> Unless otherwise stated the views expressed are
> personal and not necessarily those of Devon County Council
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Andrew Lewis [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: 09 July 2003 12:15
> > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:      Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
> >
> > I agree about the librarian's job and think that this should be done.
> > What
> > I was trying to say was I don't think this is what this money should be
> > spent on
> >
> > Andrew Lewis
> > e-Services Officer
> > Library and Information Services
> > Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
> > 01628   796 592
> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----
> > From:   leech, helen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent:   09 July 2003 12:03
> > To:     [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:        Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
> >
> > I beg to disagree with Andrew.  The librarian's job (or one of them) is
to
> > organise quality information so that people can find it easily and at
the
> > right time.  Never more important than now, with so much richness on the
> > Web.  And we can easily compete with organisations like Yahoo - just try
> > to
> > find language dictionaries there!
> > Regards
> > Helen
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Andrew Lewis [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: 09 July 2003 11:41
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
> >
> >
> > Dear List
> >
> > I wasn't thinking that the idea from Resource was to in effect do a new
> > librarian based directory.  There are so many out there DMOZ, Google,
> > Yahoo,
> > that it would be pointless as we could never compete.  The local
versions
> > are enough.
> >
> > I thought the idea was that the grant would be used to establish a
common
> > electronic resource to include things like online newspapers, and
> > hopefully
> > commission some new content not available due to small size of local
> > budgets
> >
> > We have XreferPlus, Oxford Online available from home and hope to add
our
> > Infotrac newspapers, but something like a national database of
non-english
> > daily newspapers might be something to be paid for at a national level
due
> > to economy of scale
> >
> > I'm sure others have ideas for other content available to make available
> > electronically, but find it isn't actually there to buy.
> >
> >
> >
> > Andrew Lewis
> > e-Services Officer
> > Library and Information Services
> > Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
> > 01628   796 592
> > mailto:[log in to unmask]
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----
> > From:   Day Robert [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent:   09 July 2003 09:38
> > To:     [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:        Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
> >
> > Just as an aside on this topic (gateways to the internet) I recently set
> > up
> > some logging on our PN machines. We have 8 top level headings for
content
> > including our own Internet Gateway - see the page here
> > (http://netwn1.camcnty.gov.uk/pnpublic/index.htm - you will get
javascript
> > errors but ignore them - bear in mind it is graphics heavy for 2 reasons
> > 1)
> > broadband to each library 2) consistency with our shell replacement
> > program)Every click through from this page (which is the default page
> > after
> > agreeing to our terms and conditions of use) is logged to see what
options
> > are popular. Google search is so far ahead (something like 20* the hit
> > rate
> > of its closest rival) of the other options that it could be argued that
> > our
> > internet users do not want to be guided by librarians ideas of a quality
> > site - they know what they are looking for and go to Google to get it.
> > Note
> > I am not making that claim but someone else looking at the figures might
> > well do so. The logging does not pick up addresses entered directly into
> > the
> > address bar so there may well be even more people going off on their own
> > way.
> >
> > Robert Day
> > ICT Manager
> > Cambridgeshire Libraries
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Goddard, Chris (LIFELONG LEARNING)
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: 09 July 2003 09:14
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: The People's Network and the virtual library
> >
> >
> > Mark wrote:
> >
> > > Something along the lines of the excellent American website
www.lii.org
> > ?
> >
> > Which is paid for by the Institute of Museum and Library Services - "a
> > federal grant-making agency that promotes leadership, innovation, and a
> > lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's museums and libraries."
> >
> > Sounds familiar...
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > --
> > Chris Goddard
> > Resources & Information Manager
> > Plymouth Library Services
> > Tel/fax: (01752) 305900
> >
> > Visit us on the Web:
> > www.plymouthlibraries.info
> >
> > The views expressed in this message are personal and must not be
> > considered
> > to be the official views of Plymouth City Council
> >
>