Dear Emma-Jane
Your message re wider access for external users to your Library systems
sparks a comment, which I hope you and all will take only as
well-meaning!!
First off this is not just a local issue which I think you are
justifiably aware of, but has wider implications more so because both
students and faculty are increasingly alert (and using!) to the rapidly
developing electronic aids & facilities. In fact library systems in the
UK and in North America, and orgs such as AHDS, are all offering courses
in ways & means to exploit and develop via digitisation of information
on the Web, all point to the future and reflect concerns such as at
Ravensbourne.
The way several State systems have gone seems to be the formation of
Library consortiums sharing everyone's resources via an overal web link.
I know that in Canada and Britain this network is already beginning to
develop but it is not very widespread as yet. The Yanks are much more
ahead than us as usual!
The basic issues (above private interest groups!) could be resolved by
say, if all HEis in Kent plus Public Libraries were to form such a
consortium and make available under password-access the total resources
contained within the whole county. This takes money, a lot of it, and
from what I have seen the sources have been both local & state grants
coupled with foundation monies. I believe that orgs such as the
National Lottery(sic) and eLIB etc are involved in these types of
ventures, am I correct?
One of the best examples of this is that of OHIOLink in America who
having set up a consortium are now providing texts & images, even music,
to a subscriber base of almost 70 universities & community colleges.
The address is:
<<http://www.ohiolink.edu/>>
Enough said, go and have a look?
Cheerio,
Alec
--
HARTILL ART ASSOCIATES Tel: 1.519.229.8752
Prospect Place, R.R. #6 Fax: 1.519.229.8596
ST.MARYS, Ontario E-mail <[log in to unmask]>
Canada N4X 1C8 WWW <http://www3.sympatico.ca/hartills.art
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