In the midst of recent media doom and gloom concerning libraries, there has been some more positive coverage here in Scotland.
Following its public launch by Neil Oliver, Ask Scotland has found its way onto the national news agenda, and the number of questions received has soared.
On Wed 25 Aug, an article on Ask Scotland appeared in the Express and the Stornoway Gazette, as well as the Evening Times and the Paisley Daily Express (print). The service was also mentioned in a number of library blogs.
This week saw yet another national push for the service when Gillian Hanlon of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) appeared on Monday’s BBC Radio Scotland show, MacAulay & Co, which is hosted by comedian Fred MacAulay.
During the show, MacAulay put the live chat service to the test, asking first about the population of Scotland and then about the oldest tree in the country. These questions were successfully picked up and the answers were announced on air.
On Tuesday morning Rhona Arthur, Assistant Director of SLIC and CILIP in Scotland, appeared on Kaye Adams’ phone-in show, Call Kaye, to contribute to a debate on the future of libraries.
Rhona stressed that libraries are regularly used by 60% of the Scottish people, with visits reaching 28.5 million in the last year – that’s almost 7 times the number attending all Scottish league football games last season!
Callers to the programme voiced an over-whelming support for libraries and discussed the ways in which libraries are important in their lives.
Both shows will appear on the BBC iPlayer for a period of one week after going on air.
For more information about Ask Scotland or to find out about taking part, please contact Gillian Hanlon e: g.hanlon@slainte.org.uk or t: 01698 458888.
Added: 1 Sep
This year Govan High School celebrates its centenary. As part of the celebrations, the Learning Resource Centre and Archive Team have been working, with the assistance of pupils, to organise the school archives.
Iain White, Headteacher, commented:
"The Centenary is an exciting time for Govan High and it is terrific that Ian has been able to engage pupils in activities that will be of benefit to the school and to each individual. The School gets its archives in order; the pupils consolidate and develop skills that will be of use to them now and in the future."
Frazer Chisholm, the longest serving LRC helper, has a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome and dyslexia. His experience working there has helped him become more confident dealing with his dyslexia and his organisational skills have improved sufficiently to allow him to work independently.
Frazer’s experience in the LRC will help him in the transition from school to further education or work. His link teacher, Frank Hughes, thanked the staff at the LRC for their work with Frazer:
"On behalf of the Autism Unit, I would like to express our gratitude for taking Frazer under your wing and providing an enjoyable and worthwhile work experience placement. As a result Frazer has greatly improved his social and organisational skills and has expressed an interest in library work as a possible future career."
Photo: Staff: (back row, left to right) Ian McCracken (LRC Manager), Iain White (Headteacher), Philip Graham (Depute Headteacher), and Eddie Gray (Pupil Support Assistant). Pupils: (front row, left to right) JoBeth Boyle, Connor Hughes, Jennifer Baird, Kristopher Shaw, Shelbi Sweeney and Frazer Chisholm.
Added: 24 Aug
Scottish historian, author and broadcaster Neil Oliver took time out from filming today to launch Ask Scotland, a brand new online reference service which allows users to pose any question to a Scottish librarian and receive a fully researched answer within 48 hours.
Ask Scotland invites users to ask a question via an online enquiry form at www.askscotland.org.uk. Questions are then sent on to qualified librarians who research the answer using the wide range of information and resources held within Scotland’s libraries. Within 48 hours an accurate, thoroughly researched response is supplied.
With over 100 million websites on the internet, search engines can present a challenge for researchers as they return millions of results, many of which are not on target and can be inaccurate. Ask Scotland draws on the experience of librarians who are experts at sorting through information and finding, organising and evaluating what people need from a mass of credible sources.
The new system provides a comprehensive resource for students, academics and anyone with a research need as it opens up access to the rich collections held within Scotland’s libraries, allowing users to access resources hidden from search engines, including journals and books.
Ask Scotland also has a live chat function which allows people to connect directly to a librarian and ask a question in real time.
The new service has been developed by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), in collaboration with Scotland's public library services and has been funded by the Scottish Government through the Public Library Quality Improvement Fund (PLQIF).
Commenting on the new Ask Scotland service Neil Oliver said: “Ask Scotland is a fantastic new resource which allows people to access a wide range of information that may not be accessible by simply searching the web.
“In my line of work accurate research is extremely important, but it can take time to find the information you are looking for. The main benefit of Ask Scotland is that it links you to an expert who has access to a wealth of information and resources held in Scotland’s libraries, ensuring that you receive a fast, fully researched and accurate response to any question. I will certainly be taking advantage of the service!”
Elaine Fulton, Director of the Scottish Library and Information Council said: “Ask Scotland is unique in that it allows users to access Scotland’s library collections without leaving their computer.
“So whether you need information for a school project, research paper or you are looking at investigating your family tree, Ask Scotland can help. Try it today at www.askscotland.org.uk.”
Added: 24 Aug
Scotland's national poet, Edwin Morgan, passed away today at his care home in Glasgow, aged 90. His contribution to literature in Scotland was immense and he was a long standing supporter of libraries. Appointed as Glasgow's first poet laureate in 1999, he wrote a Welcome poem for the International Federation of Library and Information Associations and organisations(IFLA) for the 2002 Conference in the City's SECC.
'There will be many tributes to Edwin Morgan but, quite simply, his creative genius brought many to poetry, libraries and Glasgow' said SLIC/CILIPS Director Elaine Fulton.
Obituary in the Herald, 19 Aug 2010
Added: 19 Aug
It is with great sadness and regret that CILIP announces that its Chief Executive Bob McKee passed away this weekend. Bob was attending the International Federation of Library Associations Congress in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was attending the meeting as a member of the Governing Board and Executive Committee of IFLA.
Bob McKee had been a prominent member of the UK library and information community for many years. He was previously Chief Executive of The Library Association, and oversaw the launch of CILIP, which was created in 2002 from the unification of the Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists.
CILIP in Scotland (CILIPS) join CILIP colleagues across the UK in sending their deepest condolences to Bob’s family at this traumatic time.
CILIPS Director, Elaine Fulton, said: "Bob has been a wonderful advocate for libraries over the years, a supportive Chief Executive and a valued friend. He was well-known in Scotland for his knowledge of, and interest in, professional development and activities in Scotland; and his support for CILIP in Scotland through many years is recognised by CILIPS Council. I know many of his friends will be stunned by this announcement and my thoughts are with them and his staff, but in particular with his family."
At the time of his death Bob McKee was Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). He was previously Chief Executive of The Library Association, one of CILIP’s predecessor bodies. Bob was a prominent member of the library and information community.
From 1988 to 1999 Bob was a Chief Officer in local government working for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council first as Director of Libraries and Arts and then as Assistant Chief Executive responsible for economic development and policy coordination.
Earlier in his career Bob worked in community libraries, in school and college libraries, and as a lecturer at what used to be the School of Library and Information Studies at Birmingham City University.
Until September 2006 Bob was a member of the Board of MLA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, and Chair of MLA's Finance and Audit Committee. He served on the Public Lending Right Advisory Committee, on the Libraries, Archives and Information Sector Constituency Panel for Lifelong Learning UK, and on the Executive Forum of the “Professionalism in IT” initiative led by the British Computer Society.
Internationally, Bob was a member of the Governing Board and Executive Committee of IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, with an active involvement in IFLA-FAIFE, one of the Core Activities of IFLA covering work on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression.
In January 2006 was Bob was appointed to the honorary position of Visiting Professor in the Department of Information and Learning Services at the University of Worcester.
Photo: Bob McKee (left) at CILIPS Annual Conference in June with CILIPS President Chris Pinder.
Added: 16 Aug
Moray Libraries are holding the Get Moray Reading Festival at Elgin Library 15 -18 Sep. The events are funded by the Moray Council, Scottish Book Trust, Askews Library Services and the Rotary Club of Elgin, as well as a range of local sponsors.
The festival features a range of high profile Scottish authors, including Frank Rodgers, Louise Welsh, Lin Anderson, Karen Campbell, Allan Massie and Lady Claire MacDonald. Local author Gillian Philip will launch her third book at the festival on 15 Sep.
There is a range of events for children and young people. The box office opens on 17 Aug and leaflets are available from libraries across Moray.
Added: 12 Aug
The July edition of Information Scotland Online is now available to CILIPS members and subscribers. Focusing on the CILIPS annual conference, held 7 to 9 June 2010, it features the following articles:
Added: 04 Aug
SLIC and CILIPS have raised professional concerns about the Ofcom draft code of practice to accompany the Digital Economy Act 2010 (DEA2010), Online Copyright Infringement Initial Obligations Code. Welcoming the opportunity to comment on the Code, Director Elaine Fulton said: "Currently the scope of the Code is restricted to fixed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with over 400,000 subscribers but our response is drafted on the assumption that many of our members' organisations may fall under the scope of the Act in future.
"We believe public intermediary organisations, such as libraries, should be classified as communications providers under the definitions of the Communications Act (2003), making them exempt from the majority of the Act's major provisions. Failure to secure clarification and changes will result in considerable problems for our member organisations."
In their joint response, SLIC and CILIPS have pressed Ofcom to carefully consider the response, and have called for a meeting of library agencies with Ofcom to consider action to protect the interests of publicly funded organisations to enable them to deliver on government policy.
Added: 30 Jul
Four Councillors will be elected to serve on the Council of CILIPS for a period of three years commencing 1 Jan 2011. You may only stand for election, propose/second a nomination or vote in an election if you paid your CILIP subscription before 1 May 2010.
Nominations, duly proposed and seconded by members by 30 Sep 2010, should be sent to: Elaine Fulton, Director, First Floor, Building C, Brandon Gate, Leechlee Road, Hamilton, ML3 6AU. If nominations exceed places available, a postal ballot of members will take place. Candidates must be members of CILIPS and meet OSCR regulations relating to trustees.
Nominations should be accompanied by a short summary of the career of the candidate.
Participation in branch activities is an important part of professional development. Nominations for Branch committees should be sent to the Branch by 30 Sep 2010.
Each candidate must be nominated and seconded by members of the Branch for which the candidate is standing. If nominations exceed places available, a postal ballot of branch members will take place.
The Council of CILIP will appoint two Vice Presidents at the next Council meeting. The Senior Vice President will become President of CILIPS in 2012 and the Junior Vice President will become President in 2013.
All nominations for the posts are required to be signed by the nominee and supported by two members of CILIPS. Candidates must be members of CILIPS and meet OSCR regulations relating to trustees. Nominations should be sent to: Elaine Fulton, Director, First Floor, Building C, Brandon Gate, Leechlee Road, Hamilton, ML3 6AU not later than 30 Sep 2010.
Added: 30 Jul
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-Sep-2010
