A petition urging the Scottish Government to ensure continued provision of local libraries and the vital social and educational role they serve within communities was presented at the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee meeting on Tue 16 Dec. The petition (PE 1148) was lodged by Sam Coulter of Erskine Community Council following the closure of four small service points in Renfrewshire Council last year. The Committee also received supporting submissions from the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and the Scottish Government, as well as East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Glasgow City and Shetland Isles Council. Committee Convener, Frank McAveety MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, commented that libraries were a matter for local authorities but that there were some issues concerning how libraries should be embedded in Single Outcome Agreements. In closing the petition, Bill Butler MSP for Glasgow Anniesland, called on the Committee to write to the Scottish Government and ask that they continue to work with SLIC and COSLA to ensure the future of public library services in Scotland in the current financial climate. Added: 18 Dec
The shortlist for the Angus Book Award 2009 was announced at a presentation hosted by author Keith Gray and attended by around 500 secondary schools pupils on Thu 11 Dec. Since its inception in 1996, the award has aimed to give readers at all levels the chance to enjoy new fiction. The four shortlisted titles are: Anne Cassidy, Forget Me Not (Scholastic Children’s Books); Jan Henderson, Crash (Oxford University Press); James Jauncey, The Witness, (Young Picador); and Meg Rosoff, What I Was (Penguin). During the coming months, pupils will read their way through the shortlist forming their own opinions about which books they like and dislike through discussion, listening to the views of other pupils and participating in a variety of activities designed to increase their enjoyment of the experience. The 2009 winner will be announced at the award ceremony at Forfar Academy on 19 May 2009 after pupils have voted for their favourite in a secret ballot. Added: 18 Dec
Key national library organisations are to collaborate on a major consultation to shape the future of the academic library. JISC, SCONUL, RLUK, the British Library and the Research Information Network (RIN) are to work together on a major strategic initiative which will explore the substantial challenges facing academic libraries. The initiative will run over a period of two years and regular briefings and outputs will enable wider engagement. In addition, a full communications strategy will be developed by the steering group which will include the use of Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis and blogs to ensure wider consultation. Derek Law, former Head of the Information Resources Directorate and Librarian of Strathclyde University, has been appointed programme consultant to oversee and lead the initiative. Added: 9 Dec
A new initiative aimed at widening access to online genealogy information through Scottish libraries launched on Fri 28 Nov by Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture, Linda Fabiani, at Edinburgh’s recently refurbished Stockbridge Library. ScotlandsPeople is the official Government web source of family history information in Scotland, usually accessed on a pay per view basis requiring a debit or credit card transaction. The programme in public libraries is designed to overcome social and technological barriers to accessing information. Under this national scheme, vouchers will be available from public libraries giving library users throughout Scotland the opportunity to access the website at a significantly reduced cost. ScotlandsPeople offers extensive family history information, including digital images of Scottish records of births and marriages dating back to 1553, deaths from 1855, the open census records from 1841 to 1901, wills and testaments from 1513 to 1901 and Coats of Arms from 1672 to 1907. Image taken from the Scottish Government's flickr Photostream. Added: 1 Dec
All library members in the Borders are to be re-registered as part of a the national entitlement card programme. This means that bus passes and Young Scot cards can now be adapted to allow the holder to access a range of Council services and borrow books, music CDs and DVDs from the libraries too. The re-registration programme starts in Jedburgh Library this week. ‘Smart-ening’ the library membership card is part of the Council’s Customer First initiative and part of the Scottish Executive’s plans to provide a ‘one card for everything’ approach to service delivery. Added: 1 Dec
A collaborative project between five Scottish colleges has received major European funding for a programme which will help the long-term unemployed back into work. The Sustainable Training & Employability Partnership (STEP) was awarded almost £1.2 million for the task from European Structural Funds. Just five months into the 12-month programme, it has already succeeded in attracting 1,100 people of a target of 1,200. The project is targeted at those who come from backgrounds of unemployment, such as children of long-term benefit claimants, as well as the homeless, ex-offenders and people with drug and alcohol problems. Ayr College, Paisley's Reid Kerr College, Central College in Glasgow, Anniesland College in Glasgow, and South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride all offer education and training in various sectors for STEP participants. Added: 1 Dec
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.
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.
SLIC has published the summary reports from nine local authority library service’s supported self evaluation programme, which were carried out through 2007/8. By Using the Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix, library services have been able to demonstrate that they are fulfilling their legal requirement to deliver an adequate service. Added: 18 Dec
The forthcoming (December) edition of CILIPS' publication Information Scotland will be delayed due to the ill health of the Editor, Debby Raven. CILIPS would like to apologize to members for the delay and to extend our best wishes to Debby. Added: 9 Dec
The Department of Information Management at the Robert Gordon University is undertaking an online survey on the proposed development of new courses for information professionals and librarians. The survey is designed to assess demand and involve stakeholders. Added: 9 Dec
JISC has published a new briefing paper on Shared Services in UK Further and Higher Education, surveying the current landscape and discussing the benefits and barriers for the sector. An Infokit clarifying the issues concerning shared services also went online in mid-November. It gives examples of the current drivers, benefits, inhibitors and enablers of using or developing shared service infrastructures, and is the ideal first step for managers or institutions considering moving in this direction. Added: 9 Dec
The deadline for Scottish colleges to participate in the HE tender for print book supply is Friday 19th December. During the course of 2008, APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges) Ltd has been consulting with librarians in Scotland’s Colleges over the potential for greater collaboration in book procurement. The Group’s overall conclusion was that there are no significant differences between HE and FE requirements. Contact Barbara Munro at APUC e: bmunro@apuc-scot.ac.uk or Jill Evans of SCURL e: j.evans@nls.uk for more information. Added: 9 Dec
SLIC and CILIPS have published responses to the Accounts Commission/Audit Scotland Consultation for 2009/2010 on Improving the Performance of Scottish Councils Statutory Performance Indicators (SPI). Both organisations welcome proposals to rationalise SPIs but raise concerns over integration with other tools. Added: 3 Dec
The Scottish Government consultation launched earlier this year to explore the next generation of National Qualifications for Scotland has attracted a high level of engagement, according to Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. More than 1,800 responses were received and Ipsos MORI has been commissioned to analyse the results. Added: 3 Dec
The new Duloch Schools and Community Campus in Fife was opened on Mon 24 Nov by Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Lifelong Learning and Enterprise. The campus combines, Duloch Primary and Nursery School, Calaiswood School (ASN), the leisure centre, and the community library. The library already has 3,000 members thanks partly to its opening hours which are in conjunction with the leisure centre, including evening and Sunday openings. Added: 1 Dec
Arbroath Library's learning centre now offers a new SQA course to help surfers stay safe online. The course aims to help users avoid risks such as unwanted email, online fraud, identity theft, child grooming and viruses. Added: 1 Dec
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
