NEWLIS
Learning to work together in Newport
UC&R (Wales)
11 February 2005
History
• Newport Information Group/Librarians’ Forum (June 1996)– Exchange of information/news– Visits– Shared training
• Formal launch as NEWLIS May 1999– Constitution– Broader membership
Foundations
• Initial activities– Directory– Union list of journals– email list
• Constitution agreed Feb. 1999• Committee officers elected for 2 years
– Chair– Secretary/Treasurer
Members
• Cardiff University (School of Nursing based at St Cadoc’s)
• Coleg Gwent• Gwent NHS Trust Libraries (2)• Office for National Statistics• Newport Community Learning and Libraries• Schools Libraries (3)• Schools Library Service• University of Wales, Newport• Newport Museum and Art Gallery (Associate
member)
Early wins
• Directory of members completed• Journals list completed• Web site created
http://www.newlis.org.uk• Local ILL scheme established• Tertiary College made books available
via public library branches during vacations
Middle years ….
• NewSport, a website of sports resources in the Newport and SE Wales area (funded by British Library)
• NEWLIS as a training provider for the People’s Network (with NOF funding)
• CALL initiative (Community Access to Lifelong Learning)
• Healthy Living Centres
Staff development
• Vilas Edwards, University of Sunderland: LaSH
• Demo of British Standards
• Ebsco demo and free trial
• Gale Group demo and free trial
• Health information in Wales (HOWIS)
More …
• Chartermark
• Regular news about member libraries– Carnegie judging– Reading Clubs– Statbase– Investors in People
Challenges
• Maintaining the momentum• Achieving real improvements in services• Retaining the spirit of equal partnership
with partners of very different sizes• Identifying needs• Maximising publicity, especially within the
Newport area - and with our own staff!
Failures?
• Maintenance of NewSport
• Publicity materials
• Shared purchase of e-resources
• Sponsorship
Successes
• Rotating chairs/secretaries• Continuing enthusiasm• Raised awareness of work in other libraries• Professional support (particularly for IiP)
Looking ahead
• Marketing your Library workshop
• Revision of journals database
• Enrichment of directory to link to websites
• One day event to re-focus
• Expansion of membership
Conclusions
(Keep) Learn(ing) from others
Put the learner first
Review and refresh
Keep going!
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