Press release from the Welsh Assembly Government:
£1million Boost for Archives and Libraries in Wales
Archive and library services across Wales are set to benefit from £1million
Welsh Assembly Government funding, Culture Minister Alun Pugh announced
today (9 September).
Administered by CyMAL, the Assembly's new Museums Archives and Libraries
Division, the grants will support over one hundred projects undertaken by 38
archive and library services throughout the whole of Wales.
The Minister said: "From the range of exciting and innovative projects
benefiting from this grant scheme, it is clear that the archives and
libraries of Wales are determined to bring their wealth of material and
knowledge to as many people as possible.
"These grants will further help unlock the potential of library and archive
services to provide high quality, community-based services, as well as
improving access to lifelong learning and strengthening our cultural
identity."
Attracting new users is central to many of the projects, which include:
* Providing computer hardware and software in archive and library
services to help disabled people to access information
* Making areas of the library more attractive to young people and
working in partnership to develop services for young people
* Expanding ICT training provided in libraries and using laptops to
deliver ICT training in the community
Many archive services have taken advantage of the grants to undertake
conservation work on collections. Some archive services and libraries have
also taken the opportunity to create online catalogues and to digitise
archive material and make it available on the Web.
For example, Gwynedd Archives Service will create an online catalogue to its
unrivalled archive on Tryweryn and Cwmni Theatr Cymru, and Ceredigion
Archive Service will be digitising material relating to the Hafod estate.
Meanwhile, people in Rhondda Cynon Taff will be able to take advantage of a
web-based heritage trail for the Rhondda Valley, created by RCT Library
Service.
Amongst the innovative projects to improve services to the public is Newport
Library Service's plans to install an information point at a local Tesco
store, so that shoppers can find information, search the library catalogue
and order books online. Newport will also be piloting a home delivery
service for books requested by readers - the first service of its type in
Wales.
The Minister also took the opportunity to launch a new online enquiry and
reference service called Ask Cymru, which allows people to submit a question
online and receive an answer direct to their mailbox within two working
days.
The service has been developed by public and academic libraries, along with
the National Library of Wales, and is operated by a team of 50 trained
librarians working on a rota system. Just click on
<http://www.ask-a-librarian.org.uk/ask_cymru/>
John Woods, County Librarian for Bridgend said: "This project brings
together staff and the resources of public, university and college libraries
as well as the National Library of Wales. This is delivering a quality
reference library service direct to people in their homes via the Internet."
Notes
CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales is a newly-formed division of
the Welsh Assembly Government. It came into being on 1 April 2004 and has
been set up to help ensure that local museum, archive and library services
in Wales develop to meet the needs of people in the 21st century.
Eluned Jones
Cynghorydd Datblygu Archifau / Archives Development Adviser
CyMAL: Amgueddfeydd Archifau a Llyfrgelloedd Cymru / CyMAL: Museums Archives
and Libraries Wales
Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru / Welsh Assembly Government
Uned 10 Parc Gwyddoniaeth / Unit 10 Science Park
ABERYSTWYTH
SY23 3AH
Ffôn / Tel: 01970 610237
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