The past few months have seen a number of developments in EDINA's Digimap. Already available to students and researchers, Digimap is now being customised for use in schools.
Digimap for Schools provides mapping and printing facilities for a full range of Ordnance Survey products, including the most detailed, but does not allow the data to be downloaded. It is designed for use by pupils as well as teachers, from primary through to secondary levels. The online mapping service offers search functions to locate places of interest by postcode, grid reference and place name.
Dihimap will, naturally, provide benefits when teaching geography; it is also particularly relevant to the People, place and environment section of Social Studies within Curriculum for Excellence.
For futher information, please see:
Added: 30 JunCreative Scotland will come into existence on 1 July 2010 and will adopt the National Lottery distribution powers of the predecessor bodies.
On 11 June 2010 the Minister announced the appointment of Sir Sandy Crombie as the new chair of Creative Scotland and of Steve Grimmond, Barclay Price, Gwilym Gibbons, Robin Macpherson, Professor Gayle McPherson, Ruth Wishart, Dr Gary West and Peter Cabrelli as Board members.
The news release is available on the Scottish Executive website.
Andrew Dixon, the new Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, has announced his senior team - more details can be found on the Creative Scotland websiteAdded: 25 Jun
The World Final of the Kids'Lit Quiz 2010 will take place at the Performing Arts Centre, Stewart's Melville College, 3 Queensferry Road Edinburgh on Saturday 14th August from 2.00 - 5.00 pm. Seven teams from the UK, South Africa and New Zealand will be participating in this exciting event. Several authors,including Alan Gibbons, Keith Gray and Nicola Morgan will be taking part and Scotia Books will be running a bookshop. All are very welcome at this event which is free. More details at www.kidslitquiz.com.Added: 22 Jun
Glasgow School of Art is Outstanding Library Team Award Winner at the Times Higher Education Leadership & Management Awards 2010
The Glasgow School of Art were delighted to win this prestigious award at the ceremony held in London on 17th June. Joanna Newman, head of higher education at the British Library and one of the award judges, said: 'All the entries were of a very high standard, but the panel were unanimous in awarding Glasgow School of Art the accolade. We were impressed by the winning entry's innovative use of technology, tailoring information research literacy into personalised learning to help students realise their potential and broaden their research horizons.'Added: 22 Jun
South Ayrshire Council’s Library Service has launched a new free e-reads service, which can be accessed from home. All you need is a PC, an internet connection, a valid South Ayrshire Library card and PIN. E-reads are downloadable books and audio books, which you can read or listen to, on your PC and / or on a mobile device such as an e-book reader, ipod, iphone, or MP3 Player. An ideal way to take the latest best seller on holiday or to keep children entertained on a long journey!
A range of books is available, from best sellers such as Karin Slaughter’s Blind Sighted and Stephanie Meyer’s Eclipse to Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox. Some e-reads are available as an e-book (EPUB) and some as an audio book (WMA).
You can browse the e-reads website or search it for specific books. Up to 4 titles can be borrowed at any one time. Choose how long you want to download each one for – 7 days, 14 days or 21 days. If a book is checked out, you can put it in your “wish list” and you will be e-mailed when it comes available.
This service is available from today and can be accessed now.Added: 15 Jun
The excellence of The Highland Council's Library service in implementing new technology has won national recognition.
Highland Libraries has become the first Library Service in Scotland to receive accreditation by the E4libraries project. An independent review panel recognised the Service's proven success in using information technology to streamline the ordering process, source catalogue records, and introduce self-service facilities.
The accreditation scheme enables libraries to demonstrate their expertise in the area of systems and library technology and their successes in implementing beneficial technologies which have improved services while reducing costs.
Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of the Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee said:
"Congratulations to our staff in the Library Service who provide us with all the excellent modern technology at our fingertips not only at home on our own computers but throughout the entire library network. Our thanks go especially to those who work behind the scenes who provide all excellent support that has attracted this national accreditation."
Joyce Watson, Library and Information Services Co-ordinator says:
"It's no surprise to me that Highland Libraries is one of the libraries across the UK who have gained this recognition. On many occasions over the years our library service has used innovative technologies to streamline practices and improve delivery of services right across the Highlands."
E4libraries is managed by Book Industry Communications, an independent organisation set up and sponsored by the Publishers Association, Booksellers Association, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and the British Library to promote supply chain efficiency in all sectors of the book world through e-commerce and the application of standard processes and procedures.
Further information on the e4libraries project is available online. Added: 15 Jun
Herriot Watt University have produced WattJournals, which is based on Journal TOCS. WattJournals is the first example of a new low cost alternative to expensive A and I database search services.
It is customisable with a local interface, searches only journals to which a library subscribes (plus OA journals), full text availability is guaranteed for members of the university concerned, it has a simple easy-to-use interface, etc. WattJournals essentially provides access to the content of those Heriot-Watt University subscribed journals which have TOC RSS feeds. WattJournals also enables searches to be saved for later use, and the export of citations to EndNote.
As libraries are faced with financial cutbacks, many may be forced to cancel subscriptions to expensive database search services. What will replace them? Google? How about a low-cost alternative similar to WattJournals?
Roddy Macleod provides further information on his blog.Added: 15 Jun
In 2008-10 Highland Libraries undertook an Audience Devlopment project, part-funded by the Scottish Arts Council (please see the report).
The purpose of the project was to assess the potential audiences for library services, to evaluate the extent to which the needs of these audiences were being met by Highland Libraries and to plan a strategy for developing provision to both existing and potential audiences. Highland Libraries would like to contribute an article to Information Scotland which would outline the focus and motivation for the project, the procedures and methodology used and the outcome.Added: 15 Jun
HMP Edinburgh Library Partnership (The City of Edinburgh Council) is short-listed for CILIP Libraries Change Lives Award
This is a pioneering partnership with an HMS prison to create a library with a refreshed vision that would enhance prisoners lives, both as inmates and on release. Also shortlisted are a Manchester City Council and Macmillan Cancer Support project and Home from Home in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham which supports home-restricted people.
The Award is now in its 19th year and the announcement will be made on 6th July 2010.Added: 2 Jun
Congratulations to Annette Shewan, Mobile Library Assistant / Driver, on her 'Highly Commended' Award from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in their national Mobile Library Champion 2010 Award. Jointly nominated by the Library and customers, Annette was judged to be making a real difference to the lives of people in the North Mainland and Isles who use the Mobile Library.
North Isles Councillor Laura Baisley said: "this is very well deserved – Annette provides an excellent service, particularly for elderly people and those without transport. I don’t know what we would do without the Mobile Library."
Annette is pictured receiving her award from Helen Budge, Head of Schools in Shetland.Added: 2 Jun
Salary GBP27,350 (includes Islands Allowance)
The college requires a Librarian to provide an effective up-to-date library and information service to students and staff, in partnership with UHI Learning Information Services and academic partners. This post-holder will be responsible for the supervision of the college library. Applications are invited from candidates who meet the following requirements: A degree level qualification, Chartered membership of CILIP, substantial experience of working in a library environment, excellent ICT skills relevant to the library and Information services context, excellent written and oral communication skills.
Application forms are available from Valarie A Ferguson, Senior Administrative Officer, at 01851 770223 e-mail Valarie A Ferguson.
Applications to be returned by 4.00pm on Monday 21 June 2010.
Lews Castle College is an Equal Opportunities Employer.Added: 2 Jun
The Walter Scott Prize, a new literary award for historical fiction is announced.
Worth GBP25,000 to the winner, the Walter Scott Prize is open to historical novels first published in the United Kingdom in 2009. It will be awarded at the 2010 Borders Book Festival, held in Scotland between 17th and 20th June.
The prize is supported by the egenerousity of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and EventScotland. Further details and prize rules may be found at the Borders Book Festival website.Added: 2 Jun
Rachel Ward has won the Angus Book Award with her first published book, Numbers.
Pupils, librarians, teachers and the four shortlisted authors gathered in Kirriemuir town hall on 18 May to present Rachel with her trophy, a replica of the Aberlemno Serpent Stone, and GBP500.
Throughout the year school librarians worked closely with teachers to offer motivating opportunities and challenge pupils through active approaches to learning. Reading groups and debates were held in school libraries, third year pupils gave a presentation on the Angus Book Award experience to second year pupils, next year's participants; while this year's MCs from Webster's High practised their ceremony roles by talking at a school assembly.
Competitions were run for the best film presentation, the best designed alternative book jacket and the best review of the shortlisted novels. These enable pupils to engage creatively with the texts and apply their 21st century skills. The winners were announced on the evening.
The Angus Book Award is now in its sixteenth year and is one of the longest running book awards of its kind in the country. After signing copies of the winning title Rachel said: "I'm delighted to have won the Angus Book Award, which has been, and still is, a trail-blazer within the UK. Numbers is my first published book and when I sent it out into the world I had no idea if anyone would read it, let alone enjoy it or connect with it."Added: 2 Jun
Joe Fisher, formerly of Glasgow City Libraries recently passed away. Joe was a longstanding supporter of SLA, an active LOCSCOT member and a former SLA Council member died on Friday 28th May 2010. His reputation and knowledge of local history and particularly the City of Glasgow is renowned. The funeral is at 1.00pm on Friday, at St Mary's Parish Church, Kirkintilloch (where Joe was an elder). Thereafter to Clydebank Crematorium.Added: 2 Jun
Stirling Council Libraries are launching a poetry competition, 'Off the Stanza' as part of their fifth Off the Page Stirling Book Festival. First prize is a Sony e-reader and a GBP50 book token. with book tokens for 2nd and 3rd prizes too. Stirling Makar Magi Gibson will judge the competition. Entry forms are in libraries and there's more information about Off the Page from the Stirling Council website.Added: 2 Jun
The Scottish Poetry Library (Edinburgh) is seeking a person with excellent communication, IT and organisational skills to be a part of its imaginative, energetic and committed team.
This is an ideal entry position for an individual interested in gaining experience of working in an Information Services environment based in Edinburgh's vibrant literary arts sector.
To find out more about the work of the please visit the Scottish Poetry Library website, (also at www.readingroom.spl.org.uk), our blog, or find us on Twitter @byleaveswelive
To apply, please send a covering letter explaining why you are applying for the post, together with a CV, to Julie Johnstone, Librarian, Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton's Close, Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DT t: 0131 557 2876 f: 0131 557 8393 e: julie.johnstone@spl.org.uk Applications by email welcomed.
Closing date: Thursday 17th June 2010. Interviews are likely to be held on either 29 or 30 June 2010.Added: 2 Jun
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 01-Dec-2011
