Europe's digital library, Europeana, was unable to cope with demand from users on its launch day, forcing the site to close. Around five million hits per hour were anticipated but the site received three times as many visits, as thousands of people searched for famous cultural works like the Mona Lisa or books from Kafka, Cervantes or James Joyce at the same time. The server capacity was doubled but this had limited effect and the website has been temporarily taken down. The Europeana management expects the site to be up and running again by mid-December and a demo version is available in the meantime. Added: 26 Nov
Oxford University is has launched two new, free to access websites, through funding from the JISC digitisation programme. These resources will allow educators, scholars and the public to view previously unseen memorabilia and poetry from World War I. The Great War Archive and the First World War Poetry Archive bring together 13,500 digital images of items mainly of rare primary source material, many of which have never been on public display. The website has been made possible through the JISC Digitisation Programme which will see a wide range of heritage and scholarly resources of national importance shared with new audiences. Added: 26 Nov
Glasgow Metropolitan College celebrated the opening of its modern new library facility with a launch party attended by many figures from Scotland’s library community. The new Met Millennium Library – so called as it is situated within the college’s Millennium Building – is the culmination of intensive planning by college staff over the past year to create a modern learning space to meet a wide range of learner needs. The new facility includes vastly improved access to ICT and allows for different learner styles with group study areas, quiet study areas and a comfortable soft seating area where students can study in a less formal environment. Chief Librarian Tony Donnelly said: “The new library will provide a truly blended learning environment fit to meet the needs of the modern student.” Added: 18 Nov
The Healthy Reading Scheme In East Lothian has recently been extended to include children and young people, with the selection of books now available in all libraries in the Authority. The launch of the scheme was held at Prestonpans Library. A wide range of professionals, from GPs to counsellors and community psychiatric nurses, can identify appropriate books from the initiative's Prescriber's Information Pack. Books such as Getting Better Bite-by-Bite could be recommended for eating disorders. Storybooks for young children can help them work through their issues - A Volcano in my Tummy, for example, could help deal with anger, or Teenie Weenie in a Big World could help reduce fear. The initiative has been delivered in partnership by Choose Life, NHS Lothian, the European Alliance Against Depression, East Lothian Library Services and East Lothian Council. The adult book prescription scheme has been running since Sep 2007, offering support and advice to people living with minor mental health issues. Added: 4 Nov
West Lothian Libraries, in partnership with the BBC, is to hold a special event to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War. 90 years of Remembrance will bring local people together to learn about the War's affect on their families and their local area. Members of the local family history society will help visitors uncover their ancestors' wartime service and Great War experts will identify medals, cap badges, uniforms etc. Wartime artefacts and photos will be on show, as well as a display detailing how West Lothian was affected by the War. Richard Knight, a First World War re-enactment soldier will show what ordinary life was like for soldiers in the trenches. People will have the opportunity to upload their own wartime photos and memorabilia to the BBC Wall or Remembrance website. The event is free and will take place at Carmondean Library on Sat 8 Nov, 10am-1pm. Added: 4 Nov
The first phase of the Scotland’s Information initiative has been launched by SLIC. The scotlandsinformation.com website aims to open up the content of Scotland's archive, library and museum collections by providing a user-friendly online service for identifying content. Scotland’s Information is delivered via a map-based interface which allows users to click on geographical locations to obtain details of information collections. Search results also include contact details, a summary of services and opening hours, as well as information on accessibility. The service has been developed by the Centre for Digital Library Research (CDLR) and will be maintained by SLIC. Added: 3 Nov
A new report published by think tank Demos advocates the use of social networking in the workplace. Network Citizens: Power and responsibility at work aims to map the key issues that people and organisations will face in the future world of work. Balancing the potential of networks against negative side-effects, such as improper use or time management concerns, the report concludes that social networks provide important opportunities for collaboration which could benefit both employers and employees. Network Citizens was based on case studies within six organisations. Added: 3 Nov
Google has reached an agreement with the authors and publishers that filed lawsuits for “massive infringement” against the search group’s digitisation project, which offered excerpts of books without copyright holder’s permission. As part of the settlement, Google will pay 125m US dollars and will now be able to sell online access to digitised books. A Books Rights Registry will be established, with 63 per cent of Google’s customer fees going to this new body and the remainder being kept by Google. The search organisation will also be offering subscriptions to US colleges and free access to US public libraries. Added: 3 Nov
Information Scotland is the journal of CILIPS, which is published six times a year. The online version is usually made available around three weeks after the printed publication.
CILIP in Scotland has launched a consultation over the future development of the Information Scotland journal. An online readership survey will be running from Fri 10 Oct until Fri 21 Nov to support this process. The survey will assist CILIPS in reviewing Information Scotland and its role in the organisation’s overall communication strategy.
Aug edition now online.
Read the main features from the last edition of Information Scotland:
Out now: Oct 2008 edition
Information Scotland is published bi-monthly and distributed to over 2300 CILIPS members as well as an international subscription base. Download a copy of our media pack to find out more about advertising opportunities.
This year's winner of North Lanarkshire's Catalyst Book Award was Julie Bertagna for her latest novel Zenith, the sequel to Exodus. Each year, S3 and S4 pupils from North Lanarkshire are invited to vote online for their favourite title. Now in its fifth year, previous winners of the Catalyst Book Award include Anthony McGowan, Bali Rai, Theresa Breslin and Alan Gibbons. Added: 26 Nov
A survey has found that black and ethnic minority households in Scotland’s largest city are more likely to use libraries and other council services. The Glasgow Household Survey asks residents about their use of a range of council services and the results are used in the development of new policies. Added: 3 Nov
A health sector think tank has called on the NHS in England to make more use of modern technology. Two recent reports by the King’s Fund found that lack of resources, incentives and leadership were preventing technological developments. The Scottish Government published its e-Health Strategy for 2008-2011 in August of this year. Added: 3 Nov
A photographic exhibition detailing 800 years of mining will tour East Lothian public libraries this winter and spring. The exhibition was compiled by a volunteer at the Scottish Mining Museum and will include views above and below ground. Added: 3 Nov
Glasgow’s annual book festival has won an award at the Arts and Business prize ceremony. Aye Write! won the Community Award at the event in Aberdeen’s Music Hall. The Scottish Book Trust and the National Library of Scotland also won awards in the cultural branding and small business categories respectively. Added: 3 Nov
The current edition of the Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) journal Connected features an article by Govan High School Learning Resource Centre Manager, Ian McCracken. A week in my shoes details Ian’s important developmental work and outlines the diversity of a school librarian’s role. Added: 3 Nov
Scotland's Information
Research Collections Online
Scottish Library and Information Resources
Scottish Distributed Digital Library
Scottish Collections Network
Co-operative Information Retrieval Network for Scotland
© Send comments, suggestions and queries about SLAINTE to Gillian Hanlon. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 UK: Scotland License 11-May-2011
