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December

Newspaper Library Catalogue goes online
The British Library Newspaper Library's catalogue of over 50,000 newspaper and periodical title holdings goes online on 15 December. It will unlock public access to the Newspaper Library's rich holdings, especially the periodicals which up to now have been difficult to access due to the lack of a subject catalogue. A simple Web system has been created which enables straightforward keyword searching. Readers and potential readers all over the world will now be able to search the Newspaper Library's holdings themselves - by title, place of publication or date - before deciding whether to make the journey to Colindale. The catalogue includes all UK national newspapers from 1801 to the present; most UK and Irish provincial newspapers, some from the early 18th century onwards; selected newspapers from around the world in western and Slavonic languages, including extensive holdings from Commonwealth countries; and a huge range of UK popular periodicals covering all subjects from fashion, pop music and cinema to sports, hobbies and trades.
Source: British Library Press Release, 19 December 2000.
Other information: www.bl.uk

A new guide on community interpreting and translation in public services - an essential resource for the public sector: 'As Good as Your Word' by Marsha Sanders
Language barriers are one of the major factors in restricting access to services for those whose first language is not English. 'As Good as Your Word' provides everything needed to find and work with community interpreters and translators, as well as giving guidance on developing a policy on language and communication. It also covers the setting up of a structured and supportive interpreting service for a public service organisation.
Source: The Maternity Alliance Press Release, 7 December 2000.
Other information: 'As Good as Your Word' costs £25.00 plus £1.50 post and packing and is available to individuals and voluntary organisations at £15.00 plus £1.50 post and packing. To order send a cheque to: The Maternity Alliance, 45 Beech Street, London, EC2P 2LX or order by e-mail: info@maternityalliance.org.uk

The Knowsley Compact brings Maths and Technology to life for primary school pupils
Local businesses and primary schools in the Merseyside Borough of Knowsley have been working together in a programme - co-ordinated by Education Business Partnership, The Knowsley Compact - that gives pupils first hand experience of how maths and technology are used in business. Set in an area of high unemployment, the programme aims to raise the job and career expectations of local people by exposing them to the world of work from a young age. The first year of the project, funded by The Government Office North West, has been so successful that further funding has been secured from Single Regeneration Budgets that will enable The Knowsley Compact to extend the initiative for two years, involving a total of 26 primary schools. Among the schools involved in the first year of the project is Eastcroft Park Community Primary School, which linked with the largest employers in the area, cable TV shopping channel, QVC.
Source: The Knowsley Compact Press Release, 7 December 2000.

November

Well Worth Reading (WWR) - new directions in reader development
WWR has announced details of its plans for 2001, taking its support for reader development in exciting new directions:

• The introduction of an extensive range of new reader development training
• The integration of a new wave of reader research into the development of two adult reading promotions, combined with an increased emphasis on targeting and selling libraries' unique selling points (USPs).
• The development of library / bookshop ICT based reader dialogue
• Support for library led 'selling' of the generic benefits of reading
• National partnerships with knock-on local benefits: BfS (Books for Students), Waterstone's and the National Youth Agency (NYA).

WWR has also launched major targeted promotions as follows:

'Too Busy'
New research shows that a busy lifestyle is one of the biggest barriers to recreational reading. Too Busy is a powerful promotion targeted at 25 - 50 year olds, offering pragmatic approaches to re-introducing reading into their lives. Too Busy uses research to identify and sell the generic benefits of reading and the library.

'Firsts - Go for it!'
This promotion targets library and bookshop users with ideas or new reading experiences. It encompasses first novels from writers published in 1999/2000; first novels by well established writers; readers' first reading experiences "the frist book that..." etc. It supports libraries in developing and promoting new writing, and is underpinned by training and a national Waterstones' partnership which can be usefully translated into local partnerships.

Boox & Graphix: teenage reading resources
An eagerly awaited annual resource, this year BOOX for 13-16 year olds goes wider encompassing a Web site and an enhanced range of print (magazines, postcards, stickers, posters).

Training
WWR has developed a range of new training covering: teenage reading, graphic novels, commercial sector partnerships and reader development, world literature, Firsts: encouraging adults to try new reading experiences, Reader development and the media, Reader development partnerships: youth workers and librarians. Trainers are available to run "on site" courses, and in partnership with Books for Studnets (BfS), three courses will be offered at the library bookseller's Warwickshire showrooms.

Source: Well Worth Reading, November 2000.
Other information: For further information on training packages, consultancy, 'onsite' training courses or any of WWR activities, please contact Becca Wyatt, E-mail: 106077.3102@compuserve.com, Tel: 020 7603 1776. WWR is a charitable company whose mission is to widen people's reading horizons. Underpinned by a public library ethos, WWR produces reader development resources for libraries and other agencies.

National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) delivers new approach to provision of healthcare information
A pilot version of the National electronic Library for Health, a major new route to healthcare knowledge and know-how, will go live this month (27 November), the NHS Information Authority has announced. The launch of a pilot version of the on-line library will offer librarians a further support tool in the provision of healthcare information. Dr Muir Gray, NeLH Programme Director, said: "Our aim is to provide easy access to best current knowledge to improve health and healthcare, patient choice and clinical practice."

And he stressed that the NeLH would be complementary to existing NHS libraries. The National electronic Library for Health will offer NHS staff access to:

• High quality information resources, including a database of clinical guidelines, the Cochrane Library, Clinical Evidence and the latest news hitting the press headlines
• Virtual Branch Libraries, which are online communities, creating and sharing content about specific topics, e.g. cancer, diabetes, mental health and learning difficulties. Virtual Branch Libraries are open to health professionals and the public.

The National electronic Library for Health will support NHS librarians by:

• Offering 24hr NHS wide access to key accredited information
• Achieving a national framework for licences and subscriptions to electronic resources for NHS staff
• Extending the opportunities for training and career development for librarians wanting to pursue work in digital and hybrid libraries.

Although the NeLH is aimed at primarily health professionals it will also provide quality assured information for the public via NHS Direct Online.
Source: NHS Information Authority Press Release, 14 November 2000.
Other information: http://www.nhsia.nhs.uk

October

British Library seeks closer partnership with the Public Library sector
In a major policy speech to the Public Library Authorities' Conference in York on 19 October, Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of The British Library, signalled a move to closer ties and partnership between the national library and the UK public library sector in pursuit of their shared strategic agendas. As an immediate stimulus to progress, Brindley announced that the British Library is to make £325,000 available through its Co-operation and Partnership Programme challenge fund. The fund will finance practical projects with public libraries and others in order to widen access to the Library's collections in support of lifelong learning and to build on and extend developments in higher education into other sectors.

Brindley suggested that the following themes represented the shared agenda for discussion between the British Library and the public libraries:

• Widening access
• Empowering the learning community
• Contributing to economic success
• Contributing to the regional agenda

Ongoing initiatives and practical pointers for future progress include:

• The possible provision of a virtual British Library "window" in public libraries, probably through a Web gateway. Streamlined access to the St. Pancras reading rooms could be achieved by developing a Web-based reader application service with an online referral process.
• The potential for making items of high local historical or cultural significance in the BL collection available to the regions in digital form - bringing the contents of the national library closer to the citizen.
• Extending collaborative Web-based resource discovery, mapping and gateway projects, currently under development within the higher education libraries sector, into other sectors.

Source: British Library Press Release, 26 October 2000.
Other information: The full text of Lynne Brindley's conference speech is available on the Web at www.bl.uk/concord or by e-mail from val.mcburney@bl.uk. Details of the Co-operation and Partnership Programme Fund and the method of applying for grants are available on the Web at www.bl.uk/concord or by e-mail at CPP_CALL@bl.uk

LINC debates its future
The Library Association (LA) is to provide administrative and operational support for the Library and Information Co-operation Council (LINC) during the financial year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002. This allows LINC time to consider whether the LIS domain still needs a cross-sectoral body to represent organisations involved in co-operation, sharing and collaboration.
Source: LINC News Release, 19 October 2000.

Online availability of MCB articles through Infotrieve
MCB University Press has announced an agreement with Infotrieve, a market leader in article research and delivery. The agreement extends Infotrieve's services to offer online access to an extensive resource of 130 business, library science and engineering journals published by MCB. MCB's service known as Emerald - the Electronic Management Research Library Database - makes the resources of a full management library available to their users, and delivers full text multi-user access to over 130 respected journals.
Source: MCB Press Release, 19 October 2000.

Lindisfarne gospels in the North East
The world famous Anglo-Saxon illuminated manuscript - the Lindisfarne Gospels - is returning to its north eastern roots as the centrepiece of a special exhibition at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne from Saturday 7 October. The Millennium Festival Heritage Lottery Board awarded £75,000 in February 1999 to the Association of North East Councils for the Temporary return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the north east. The Turning Pages project has been co-ordinated by Northumberland County Council and developed by the British Library with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund.
Source: The British Library Press Release, 13 October 2000.

Jukebox innovation for Black History Month at the British Library
Two Wurlitzer jukeboxes (scaled down versions of the celebrated jukeboxes of the 1940s and 1950s) will showcase a variety of sound recordings from the British Library National Sound Archive which cover all aspects of the Black Community and its achievements in a range of fields. Visitors to the Library at St Pancras will be able to listen to the selection as part of the Library's contribution to Black History Month (which runs for the whole of October).
Source: The British Library Press Release, 6 October 2000. E-mail: bart.smith@bl.uk
Other information: www.blackhistory.com ; http://www.bl.uk/collections/sound-archive/

Oil and gas lives recorded
The lives and work of the people who were involved in the UK's North Sea oil and gas industry will be documented in the world's biggest ever oral history project devoted to the industry. The project is a unique partnership between the British Library and the University of Aberdeen. Over the duration of the project, hundreds of interviews will be conducted, each one several hours long. The resulting sound archive 'Lives in the Oil Industry' will contain the personal experiences and memories of people from all sectors of the industry. When completed and documented, the tapes will be archived in the British Library's National Sound Archive at the Library's new home at St Pancras in London. The archive will form part of the National Life Story Collection.
Source: University of Aberdeen Press Release, 5 October 2000.
Other information: Dr Rob Perks, Director, National Life Story Collection. E-mail: rob.perks@mail.bl.uk

Internet gets bigger and starts talking
A new Internet service for people with visual impairments at Southampton's Central Library will make on-screen text much bigger - and will create Web pages that talk. The Library's new "Zoomtext" software magnifies text on a computer screen to sufficient size to make it readable to users with a range of visual impairments. This enables them to use both Internet and word processing functions. The system also features a "Jaws" package which reads out text in an electronic voice. The new software packages take their place alongside other free services making Southampton's libraries more accessible to visually impaired people, including transcribing text into Braille, large print or recording it onto audio tape.
Source: Southampton City Council Press Release, 2 October 2000.
Other information: Web: http://www.southampton.gov.uk

September

Top UK firm information now on the Web
Dun & Bradstreet, the world's leading provider of business information, has launched the Internet version of its popular Key British Enterprises (KBE) database. Businesses wanting to access comprehensive information about the top 200,000 firms in the UK will be able to do so almost instantly through the D&B Web site at www.dnb.com . There are two ways to buy KBE via the Internet: KBE50 allows you to view the data for £250 and KBE200 allows you open access to the data, to view, print and export for £3,415. Special rates and packages are available to public and academic libraries.
Source: Dun & Bradstreet Press Release, 25 September 2000.

August

Resource to review National Training Organisations
Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries has appointed a consortium, led by Information Management Associates, to undertake a review of the two national training organisations (NTO's) which represent the museum, archive and library sectors. The Cultural Heritage National Training Organisation (CHNTO) and the Information Services National Training Organisation (ISNTO) will play an important role in helping Resource to identify training needs and develop new skills programmes for the sector. The main purpose of this review is to identify how CHNTO and ISNTO might develop a closer working relationship and contribute to a new national cross sectoral skills initiative.
Source: Resource Press Release, 31 August 2000.
Other information: Emma Wright, Tel: 020 7233 4200, Web: http://www.resource.gov.uk

July

MARC harmonisation: consultation on the future of the UKMARC format
The British Library is undertaking a major consultation exercise to determine the future maintenance and development of the UKMARC (Machine Readable Catalogue) format. The UKMARC format is managed and maintained by the British Library, and is the standard national format for the distribution and exchange of bibliographic data by the Library to all users of its automated services. The UK library and information community together with appropriate professional bodies, system suppliers and overseas stakeholders, is invited by the British Library to consider and advise on their requirements for extensive harmonisation between the UKMARC format and MARC21, and seeks responses from the UKMARC user community.
Source: The British Library Press Release, 4 July 2000.
Other information: MARC Harmonisation: a report to the British Library from the BIC. Printed copies from James Elliot, E-mail: james.elliot@bl.uk Users are encouraged to debate MARC harmonisation on the UKMARC discussion list at lis-ukmarc@mailbase.ac.uk

New headquarters - and move into Midlands - for Sue Hill
In a twin move, Sue Hill Recruitment & Services, the agency which specialises in information professionals, has moved into a new headquarters in central London and extended its activities to the Midlands. The headquarters are now based in Borough High Street close to London Bridge train and underground stations. The Midlands office will be run by Information Unlimited, the regional information consultancy established by Margaret Brittin and Chris Crabtree in 1989. They said: “With our extensive range of contacts throughout the Midlands we are looking forward to working with Sue Hill to provide top quality recruitment solutions for both employers and candidates for both permanent and temporary jobs in the region.” And added Ms Hill: “ We are delighted to be able to extend our service to the Midlands which is Britain’s largest market for library and information posts outside the South East. This office will complement the work done by Lawraine Wood, our representative in Manchester and the North West”.
Source: Sue Hill Recruitment & Services Press Release, July 2000.
Other information: Sue Hill Recruitment & Services can be contacted at Borough House, 80 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LL, Tel: 020 7378 7068, Fax: 020 7378 6838, or at Clifton House, 31 Solihull Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 3HB, Tel: 0121 745 9375, Fax: 0121 744 4318, E-mail: jobs@suehill.com 

June

250,000 public service managers set to benefit from free internet access
Source Publishing and WorldCom announced the launch of the first Internet service designed to meet the needs of public service managers across the UK - SourceUK.net. SourceUK.net will also serve as a portal for the public service industry, combining the best in public sector electronic news and information services with interpretation and analysis from a senior team of current, and recently retired, civil servants. Included in the benefits are free access to The Source Public Management Journal - an online magazine for public managers in the UK.
Source: WorldCom, 12 June 2000
Other information: http://www.thesourcepublishing.co.uk  ; http://www.sourceuk.net

Launch of The Libraries Partnership - West Midlands
The launch of The Libraries Partnership - West Midlands (TLP-WM) took place on 31 March 2000 at Birmingham Central Library. During the course of 1999-2000, libraries, museums and archives in the West Midlands made two significant strides towards effective working together. In December, a think-tank explored shared agendas, formulated a statement of common aims and proposed some possible cross-cutting projects. In February members of the boards and their agency directors joined up to meet Matthew Evans, Chair of Resource (the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries).
Source: TLP Review, June 2000
Other information: www.wm-libraries.org.uk

Research costs slashed by funding bonus
Free access for UK higher and further education users to an Electronic Table of Contents (ETOC) database, listing the titles of nearly 15 million journal articles and conference papers, could save individual universities over £1,000 a year the British Library announced today. From September students and academics around the UK will be able to search the Library's table of contents database, and from today they can use the associated inside alerting service, without paying the normal subscription fees.

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) of the UK Higher Education Funding Councils is providing funding of over £50,000 for the project. The funding will allow the University of Manchester, working on the Library's behalf, to make the ETOC database available to universities across the UK until at least August 2003. This initiative forms an essential part of the JISC's plans to establish The Distributed National Electronic Resource (DNER) - a managed environment for accessing quality assured information resources on the Internet.
Source: British Library Press Release, 16 June 2000
Other information: Stephen Andrews, The British Library, Boston Spa, Wetherby, LS23 7BQ, e-mail: stephen.andrews@bl.uk

Resource launches interim Web site
Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries has launched a Web site at www.resource.gov.uk. This is an interim measure to provide general information about the organisation which was launched in April 2000. Resource is a new strategic agency working with museums, libraries and archives across the UK. The site has been designed, developed and managed by Resource's Web site Manager, Nick Poole, and compiled in accordance with the 'Modernising Government' paper on Web sites.
Source: Resource Press Release, 1 June 2000
Other information: Nick Poole, e-mail: nick.poole@resource.gov.uk

May

Government unveils first ever national standards for public libraries
Culture Secretary Chris Smith has unveiled plans to introduce new tough standards for England's public library service. In a wide-ranging consultation paper, the Government proposes that all public libraries should have to meet core standards covering opening hours, the proximity of libraries to users, and the number of new books bought every year. Chris Smith said: "This is a genuine consultation. These are the standards which we think the library service of the future should meet. But we want to hear the views of all concerned if the standards are to drive up quality they must be challenging but also realistic". Local government, library professionals and library users have until 3 July 2000 to comment on the proposals, which will be the first ever instituted on a nationwide basis.
Source: Department of Culture, Media and Sport Press Release, May 2000
Other information: Comprehensive and Efficient - Standards for Modern Public Libraries: A Consultation Paper. Department for Culture, Media and Sport, May 2000, in HTML and in Adobe PDF (90K), Cover (50K), Accompanying Table (18K). Views on the draft standards should be sent to Peter Beauchamp, Chief Library Adviser, DCMS, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH, by Monday 3 July 2000.

Career Development Group publishes 'A Chartership Reader'

The Career Development Group have published 'A Chartership Reader' which has been compiled by Kate Wood, Head of Professional Qualifications at The Library Association. This book is a compilation of articles that have appeared in the professional press on all aspects of the chartering process. It will be a useful tool for anybody preparing applications for chartered status. Formally launched at the Career Development Group National Conference in Bristol, it is now out in paperback at a price of £12 and can be ordered from Remploy Library Services. Source: Press Release, 19 May 2000

Blackwell's launch UK higher education reading lists on-line
Blackwell's has launched a new internet-based service designed to take the hassle out of compiling Higher Education course reading lists. www.readinglists.co.uk is a new concept from Blackwell's, which offers academic and faculty staff at universities throughout the UK the opportunity to register their course reading lists on-line. The new web site allows university staff to "post" details of their reading lists on a special secure site. This information is then available to students, library staff and Blackwell's allowing them both to accurately plan their stock levels for specific texts. Each member of staff will have a secure log-in to the site and can update and amend the lists directly. "As they only have to supply the information once it saves time and resources for staff and departments. Equally, as it is stored in electronic form it can be easily updated each year, rather than starting from scratch as we do now. In addition, individual staff can personalise their lists with course messages and specific recommended texts" said Philip Blackwell. www.readinglists.co.uk will be the UK's first interactive web site for academic texts and forms part of a new student information strategy planned by Blackwell's. The web site goes live in May 2000 and the first reading lists will be registered in time for the new academic year in September.
Source: Primary Public Relations Press Release, 18 May 2000

Anne Goulding is new Editor of Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
Anne Goulding has been appointed as the new Editor of JOLIS, the Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, taking over from David Stoker, who is standing down as editor after 10 years. Anne Goulding is Reader in Information Services Management at Loughborough University and also Chair of the East Midlands Division of the Career Development Group. After graduating in History from Leeds University in 1988, she worked for a year at Glasgow University Library before studying for an MA in Librarianship at the University of Sheffield. Immediately following this, she began a PhD, which she completed in 1993. Her thesis examined the management of public library staff in times of rapid organisational change. In 1993 she joined the University of Leicester as a Research Assistant where she remained for 18 months before her appointement to the position of lecturer at Loughborough University. She has a wide range of research interests and teaching responsibilities with the Department of Information Science, mainly focused in the area of management of information services and staff. She has published widely in the field of human resource management in information services.
Source: Bowker Saur Press Release, 16 May 2000
Other information: Linda Hajdukiewicz, Business Development, e-mail: linda.haj@Bowker-Saur.co.uk or Kate Ellison, Marketing Manager, e-mail: kate.ellison@Bowker-Saur.co.uk

Film Council announces £22 million production funds for UK film industry
A package of film production initiatives backed by a total of £22 million is launched today by the Film Council, the new strategic organisation set up by the Government to create a coherent structure for the UK film industry and to develop film culture in the UK.
Source: Press Release, 2 May 2000
Other information: http://www.filmcouncil.org.uk

The Combined Regions and Talis form new partnership to develop UNITY web
The Combined Regions, formerly Unity Co-operative Council, and Talis Information Limited have launched an exciting new partnership to develop the Unity database as UNITY web, a new web-based service. UNITY web will be a national resource discovery and sharing tool for the UK and Ireland. Rob Froud, County Librarian, Somerset and Chair of The Combined Regions, notes: "Getting Unity on to the Internet has been our ambition for some time...We expect the new service to be ready by early 2001 and look forward to signing up many new users".
Source: UNITY Press Release, 2 May 2000
Other information: http://www.thecombinedregions.com/

April

Community Access to Lifelong Learning (CALL): The People's Network
The New Opportunities Fund CALL programme is allocating £200 million across the UK by 2002 to encourage more adults into learning, with particular emphasis on improving access to learning opportunities through the use of information and communication technology (ICT). The programme aims to:

• improve access to lifelong learning for adults through the use of ICT, with a particular focus on socially excluded adults and those in disadvantaged communities.
• develop further the creation of community-based content to encourage people to use ICT and take advantage of lifelong learning opportunities.

With the Community Access to Lifelong Learning programme £100 million has been reserved for developing the infrastructure of the People's Network. The People's Network aims to link every public library in the UK to the Internet and the National Grid for Learning by 2002. Funding will contribute to the development of People's Network ICT learning centres in every public library in the UK. The People's Network will provide access to digital content and e-services, government and community information and services related to reading and learning opportunities.
Source: New Opportunities Fund (NOF) Press Release, 25 April 2000
Other information: http://www.nof.org.uk

New e-list for Information Society Technologies Programme
Working for the museums, archives or libraries sector? Want to know more about the EU's Information Society Technologies Programme? cultivate-list is a new email discussion list for anyone in the cultural heritage sector interested in the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme. If you need details of calls for proposals, if you are looking for partners, if you just want to find out about IST projects - this list is for you.
To join cultivate-list, just send an email to: majordomo@ukoln.ac.uk with this text in the body of the message:
subscribe cultivate-list [your email address] cultivate-list is a service of the European Commission's CULTIVATE-EU accompanying measure. It is establishing a European Cultural Heritage Network with partners in 12 European countries. It is continuing the successful and fruitful work done by the National Focal Points under the Telematics for Libraries Programme, and is expanding this to include all memory institutions, namely museums, archives and libraries. A full description of the CULTIVATE accompanying measure can be found at: http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue4/cultivate/
Source: Press Release, 25 April 2000.
Further information: Rosalind Johnson, European Consultant, Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, 19-29 Woburn Place, London WC1H 0LU. Tel: + 44 (0)20 7272 8716: fax: + 44 (0)20 7273 8701; E-mail: rjohnson@willshere.freeserve.co.uk

Framework for learning partnerships demanded - NFIP links collaboration to funding
Recommendations to Government on ways to promote 'libraries for learning' have received strong backing from the National Forum for Information Planning (NFIP). Welcoming the publication by the Library and Information Commission (LIC) of its Education and Libraries Task Group report Empowering the learning community, NFIP says that its own experience of developing library co-operation points to two requirements: a strategic national framework to enable local partnerships to succeed; future funding should be dependent on local collaboration. In its response to Empowering the learning community, NFIP notes that the current emphasis on lifelong learning has brought attention back to the public library and its relationship with the education sector. It agrees with the Task Group that there should be better co-ordination between public and academic libraries, and adds that although most educational bodies are committed to meeting the needs of the local community, this does not always translate into top-level support for library co-operation.
Source: NFIP Press Release, 21 April 2000

Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries
The new name and corporate identity of the organisation formerly known as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC) is Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. Matthew Evans, Chairman of Resource commented: "We look forward to championing museums, archives and libraries with enthusiasm and vigour. The consultation document published earlier this year, generated an overwhelmingly positive reaction and we are now looking at more than 300 responses as we develop our plans for the future. Inevitably the next few months will be a transitional period whilst we adopt a new structure and await the remaining appointments to our board. Our next step will be to produce a manifesto setting out the details of our role. We anticipate this will be published in June."
Source: Press Release, Resource News, 20 April 2000
Other information: http://www.resource.gov.uk

Antony Brewerton wins Martin Award
Antony Brewerton was announced as the Career Development Group Martin Award Winner on 11 April 2000 by President of the Group, Liz Jolly. The Martin Award is awarded annually for the best article to appear in Impact: journal of the Career Development Group during the previous year. Antony's article, 'Wear lipstick, have a tattoo, belly-dance, then get naked: The making of a virtual librarian', appeared in the November/December 1999 issue of Impact and looked at, amongst other things, 'image busting' sites put together by librarians in cyberspace!
Source: Press Release, 11 April 2000

The Knowsley Compact helps school leavers realise employment opportunities
'Mythbreakers' is the title of a booklet produced by The Knowsley Compact - an Education Business Partnership (EBP) - that encourages school leavers to broaden their horizons when entering the employment market and become independent and fulfilled individuals. The booklet, supported by European Social Funding, achieves this by challenging the views, or 'myths' of non-opportunity held by many young people on Merseyside. The first edition has been so well received by both teachers and careers advisors that The Knowsley Compact is looking for sponsorship from the business community for a second edition.
Source: The Knowsley Compact Press Release, 3 April 2000
Further information: http://www.merseyworld.com/knowsley-compact ; e-mail: davemorgan@knowsley-compact.demon.co.uk

British Library manuscripts catalogues go online
A three-year project to automate the printed catalogues of manuscripts and to make them available remotely via the Internet has been successfully completed the British Library announced today. 62 volumes, hitherto only available in the Manuscripts Reading Room at the British Library or in a few specialist research libraries, have been converted from print to database. For the first time users can encompass most of the mainstream catalogues in a single search, rather than having to refer to a series of consecutive volumes. They can also retrieve keywords in context or combinations of index terms which could not be targeted in the printed text.
Source: Press Release, 1 April 2000
Other information: More information available from Kenneth Shirreffs, The British Library Press Office. E-mail: press-and-pr@bl.uk

Government online services by 2005
The Cabinet Office announced that the target for providing all Government services online has been brought forward from 2008 to 2005. The press release also states that the Government's Cabinet IT strategy, "E-Government", will be launched by Ian McCartney on Monday 3 April. Ian McCartney said: "But we must speed up the pace of change in Government so that we can offer our businesses and citizens more efficient and effective services. That is why the Cabinet decided to bring forward the target. The Cabinet also agreed our detailed strategy for achieving this, "E-Government", which we shall be publishing on Monday. An important part of this drive will be the new personalised gateway to Government online services - UK Online - which we plan to launch in July."
Source: Helen Baigent, The People's Network Team, 1 April 2000
Other information: More information available from http://www.coi.gov.uk/

March

Jack The Ripper bibliography on special offer
Jack The Ripper: a bibliography and review of the literature, published by the Career Development Group, is on special offer at £5 and at a reduced price of £4 for members of the Group. This expanded and updated version of the Jack The Ripper bibliography includes for the first time a filmography. It also contains the original introduction and theories of the murderer's identity by Colin Wilson, well-known writer on the subject. The book is an indispensable guide for anyone, including readers of detective fiction, criminologists or librarians interested in the Ripper murders.
Source: Press Release, 27 March 2000.
More information: See the Group's Publishing Web site for an order form.

Blissett Bookbinders release www.blissetts.com
Blissett Bookbinders have a new Web Site up and running that will be of interest to all Acquisitions, Collections Management and Serials Librarians, Students, Private Magazine Collectors, Holders of Antiquarian Book Collections and Trade Library Suppliers, Printers and Publishers. Features of the Site include on-line request forms, electronic discussion forums, feedback page, detailed product and service catalogue, location map, glossary of terminology, links, archive copies of customer newsletters and guide to good book care. Next day collections of binding can also now be arranged through the Internet Site: http://www.blissetts.com
Source: Press Release, 23 March 2000.
More information: For more information about the development of the most comprehensive UK library binding Web Site please contact Charles Dunn, Sales & Marketing Team Leader at Blissetts. E-mail: charles.dunn@blissetts.com ; Tel./Fax: 01422 246848 ; Mobile: 0771 2107298 ; Address: Roslin Road, Acton, London W3 8DH

Library Place: Library Space
A forum on the continuing role of the public library at the outset of the 21st Century will take place on Monday 27 March 2000 from 4.00pm -7.00pm at the Building Centre. The forum will address such issues as the impact of new media and the information technology revolution on traditional library services; the role that the public library can play in the urban renaissance called fro by Lord Rodgers' Urban Task Force and a new image for the public library. The event is organised in partnership with the Building Centre Trust as part of the 150 Years of Public Libraries celebrations, led by The Library Association. Presentations will be made by Bob McKee, Chief Executive of The Library Association; Christophe Egret, Director of Alsop Stormer (architects, the Peckham Library); Adie Scott, Head of Libraries for Croydon; Eric Bohl, Corporate Director of Leisure Services for Tower Hamlets and Roger Adams of Bisset Adams (architects, the Ideas Stores concept, Tower Hamlets).
Source: Press Release, 22 March 2000.
More information: Contact Debra King, The Building Centre Trust for free booking, trust@buildingcentre.co.uk; Tel: 020 7692 6209.

Anbar Management Resources 2000 Launched
Anbar Management Resources 2000 provides rapid access to the abstracts of over 100,000 articles from more than 400 of the world's best management journals. Centre stage in Anbar Management Resources 2000 is the integration of British Library services - users can now seamlessly search the British Library's International Directory of Periodicals Contents in Management. This provides access to an additional 200,000 articles from 1,200 management journals at no additional cost. Also new is high quality access to management courseware.
Source: Press Release, 21 March 2000.
More information: Contact Clive Hoey, MCB University Press, choey@mcb.co.uk

New National Information Policy document launched
Britain is closer to becoming an information society, but still lacks the overall policy and co-ordination that will add value to the various initiatives that are taking place, says the Library and Information Commission's new policy document 'Keystone or the Information Age: a National Information Policy for the UK'. For the press release go to: http://www.lic.gov.uk/publications/pressreleases/000316b.html For the full text of the document itself go to: http://www.lic.gov.uk/publications/policyreports/keystone.html
Source: Library and Information Commission, 17 March 2000.

Online access to 11.8 million book worms
Libraries wanting to target people with an interest in reading can now target them directly using direct mail and telemarketing from only 15p a record. http://www.mailing-labels.com , the UK’s biggest online source of direct marketing data, now offers a database of 23m UK households, including 11.8m with a stated interest in reading. You choose from a wide range of selection criteria to build a targeted mailing list of a size to suit you. Selection criteria include geographic area (county, town, postcode), demographics (gender, age, marital status), income and wealth indicators and a wide choice of interests and leisure activities that includes reading. Access to the site is free, with payment only required for the data downloaded. Payment is by credit card or against a credit account and data can be downloaded either as a data file or printed as address labels directly out of the browser using a “wizard”. http://www.mailing-labels.com  enables you for the first time, to find out how many people living in your catchment area have an interest in reading. You can then target them directly. The web-site allows you to carry out unlimited free searches. 
Source: Kathleen.Fisher@wise-loveys.com, March 2000.

Brand new Peckham Library opens to the public
Peckham's brand new flagship library will open to the public today, 8 March 2000 at 10.00am. The £7 million library, commissioned by Southwark Council and designed by Alsop and Stormer, will offer lending facilities, a children's library, an African Caribbean Literature Centre, the Learning Centre and a One Stop Shop which will provide information and advice to local people.
Source: Press Release, Southwark Council,  8 March 2000.

MPs brought to book celebrate 150 years of public libraries
On 8 March at 4.00pm, 80 MPs from all political parties will each donate a book of their choice to their local public library, at an event at the House of Commons' Terrace Marquee. Hosted by The Library Association and Linda Perham MP (a Chartered Librarian), this is one of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the 1850 Public Libraries Act.
Source: Press Release, The Library Association, 8 March 2000.

New software service for libraries takes off
Rugely-based UK company, FM Select Library Services, was born from the realisation that what was needed was an intermediary who was able to not only present a range of software to libraries, but who could also advise authorities on every aspect of setting up services which would sell or lend titles to consumers. FM Select is perhaps the only UK company solely dedicated to the supply of software for sale to libraries in the British Isles, with strong expertise both in supplying libraries and in the software market as a whole. Integral to its plans is Focus Multimedia, whose range of prime CD ROM budget titles forms the basis of FM's new services. With the undoubted expertise of both companies, the new schemes offered by FM Select are certain to make a lasting mark and bring much-needed revenue back to the Library Service.
Source: Press Release, Lighthouse Media on behalf of FM Select, March 2000.
Other information: Jayne Neal, at Lighthouse Media: e-mail: jayne@lighthouse-media.com

Never mind "ssshh" - visit the library while you're shopping: Minister to help launch £20 million 'Idea Store' programme
Bold plans to revolutionise libraries and life-long learning in London's East End will be unveiled by Tower Hamlets Council and Tower Hamlets College on 22 April - when councillors annouce proposals to invest around £20 million in seven Idea Stores over the next five years. The Idea Stores, located at local shopping centres, are designed to be easily accessible for local people - combining the best of traditional library services with adult and further education facilities, arts and cultural activities.
Source: Press Release, Tower Hamlets Town Hall,  March 2000.

Investigation of partnership models between libraries and cable-based telecommunications providers
The Library and Information Commission (LIC) and Cable Communications Association (CCA) jointly commissioned this study initially to explore factors in successful partnerships between cable communications providers and libraries. Vision Research Consortium (VRC) was appointed to conduct the work.
Source: Briefing Document, LIC, March 2000.
Other information: http://www.librariesandcable.co.uk

February

"Working Together" proceedings on the Web
The proceedings of the seminar "Working Together: covering the Nation's Resources", organised by the British Library Co-operation and Partnership Programme (BLCPP), LASER and LINC, are now available on the BL web site at http://www.bl.uk under the 'What's New' section on the BL homepage. "Working Together" explored current collaboration in the UK on collection development, discovery, access to and retention of resources, and the potential for improvement through effective cooperation at national and regional levels.
Source: Press Release, LINC, 28 February 2000.

LibraryHQ.com debuts as a Portal for Librarians
http://www.libraryHQ.com was announced as a new portal for librarians as reported at http://d.moreover.com/click/here.pl?e5638894 (Information Today: http://www.infotoday.com)
Source: Lis-link discussion list from http://www.mailbase.ac.uk , 16 February 2000.

British Library Appoints New Chief Executive
Lynne Brindley has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the British Library. Lynne Brindley is currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor and University Librarian at the University of Leeds where she has been since 1997. Brindley will take over from Brian Lang at the British Library on 1 July 2000. Commenting on the appointment, the Chairman of the British Library, John Ashworth, said: "I am pleased to be welcoming Lynne to the British Library. Lynne fought off stiff competition from a superb field of candidates from both inside and outside the library community. I am delighted that for the first time in its history the Library has a Chief Executive who is also a professional librarian.
Source: Press Release, The British Library, 8 February 2000.
Other information: The British Library at http://www.bl.uk/information/pr2000/brindley.html and headline in The Guardian http://www.newsunlimited.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,134697,00.html

LISNews.com launched
Created and maintained by librarians, LISNews.com is a web site devoted to current topics and news in the world of Library and Information Science, including Digital Libraries. We welcome you to participate in the creation of this exciting new Web Site. The newly redesigned site includes the ability to post comments on each story, along with a poll, and improved design. Lisnews.com works hard to bring you summaries of selected news articles of interest to librarians everywhere. Inclusion of articles on our site does not
imply endorsement by any other sites.
Source: Press Release, lisnews@lisnews.com, 9 February 2000.
Other information: http://www.lisnews.com

Plans for the future of England's local libraries under the spotlight
Culture Secretary Chris Smith today published the findings of a nationwide audit into how England's 149 library authorities plan to serve their users in the future. The Appraisal of Annual Library Plans 1999 published today by the Culture Secretary shows that taken overall, the Library Plans of 54 authorities were assessed as 'good', a further 85 as 'satisfactory', and ten of the 149 authorities produced Plans assessed as 'poor'.
Source: Press Release, Department of Culture, Media and Sport, 3 February 2000.
Other information: http://www.culture.gov.uk

Partnership creates library technology powerhouse
Talis Information and iBase have teamed up to bring a unique collection management solution to libraries across Europe. The new system, called inVisage, allows libraries to take mixed media cultural resources and turn them into digital assets.
Source: Press Release, iBase Image Systems, 2 February 2000.
Other information: http://www.ibase.com

How the Audit Commission will carry out best value inspections in England
Best value is a challenging new performance framework that will require local authorities to publish annual best value performance plans and review all of their services every five years. In their best value reviews (BVRs), authorities must show how they are continuously improving their services.
Source: Briefing Document, The Audit Commission, February 2000.
Other information: The full report, Seeing is Believing: How the Audit Commission will carry out best value inspections in England is available at http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk

New Opportunities Fund (NOF) launches Community Access to Lifelong Learning (CALL)
programme
Today the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has launched a major £200 million programme to bridge the
information age divide by bringing learning through information and communications technologies (ICT) within the grasp of communities across the UK.

Over the next three years, the New Opportunities Fund will allocate National Lottery funds through the CALL programme's three strands. 1. Half the CALL programme funding - £100 million - will go towards supporting the People's Network which will link up every public library to the internet, community websites and the National Grid for Learning. 2. The programme will support the development and running of a nationwide network of ICT learning centres with online computer access to information and community resources. This will include supporting outreach and promotion of the centres to ensure that they are used by the whole community, particularly those who are disadvantaged. This part of the CALL programme complements a new initiative by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) in England, where 700 innovative new ICT Learning Centres are to be created in disadvantaged areas. The DfEE is today announcing £252 million in funding to
establish these new centres which could be set up in locations as diverse as community centres and football clubs. Anyone wanting further information on the DfEE programme and a joint application form
to apply for both capital and revenue funding should contact the DfEE: http://www.dfee.gov.uk/ict-learning-centres/  3. Another strand of the CALL programme will fund Community Grids for Learning - Web sites and services providing community-based content for adult learners relating to their locality or area of interest.
Source: Chris Webster, EARL: The Consortium for Public Library Networking, chris@earl.org.uk , 1 February 2000.

January

Video-on-demand service signs deal with major studios
Europe's first commercial video-on-demand company, Video Networks, has announced licensing deals with three major film studios: Warner Bros, Buena Vista International Television (Disney) and Columbia TriStar International Television, giving access to a selection of each studio's films for the Video Networks' HomeChoice service. The HomeChoice service is currenlty available in North London and will become more widely available in the coming months. The service uses the domestic telephone line upgraded with the ADSL technology being introduced by BT on their network.
Source: Press Release, Video Networks Limited, 31 January 2000.

Pub installs coin-op internet machine for rural 'information poor'
Regulars at a Lincolnshire pub can surf while they sup - thanks to a new coin-operated machine from Scottish company Coynet UK. The Fox and Hounds, in Willingham-by-Stow, now offers internet provision to the public in a Lincs County Council initiative to improve public access to information in rural areas.
Source: Press Release, Stephen Goddard Associates, 24 January 2000.

LISA re-focused to meet the needs of today's information professionals
Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA) has undergone a major review. Fifteen relevant journals that are only available in electronic format will now be included, plus LISA has included selected archives of these titles. Over 40 new titles have been included for selective abstracting. Selected daily newspapers and business magazines will be covered, and appropriate articles added to the database. Finally there will be a number of new subject focuses including: Life long learning, information literacy, knowledge management, information systems management and management issues. In November 1999, LISA was launched as a fortnightly updated Internet service, http://www.LISAnet.co.uk This fully searchable subscription Web site includes the archive since 1969.
Source: Press Release, Bowker Saur,  19 January 2000

Information planning and the regional agenda: NFIP responds to DCMS discussion paper
The National Forum for Information Planning (NFIP) has welcomed "Libraries and the Regions: a discussion paper", issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to stimulate debate on the strategic role of the Regional Library Systems. NFIP says that there is an important role for information planning in the preparation of regional economic strategies by Regional Development Agencies. It agrees that library and information services need a single coherent voice at strategic regional level and that the Regional Library Systems (RLSs) have a key role to play. NFIP is disappointed that the paper makes no specific reference to existing geographical Library and Information Plans (LIPs).
Source: Press Release, NFIP by Pat Wressell Associates, 10 January 2000.
Other information: NFIP is a Panel of LINC, the Library and Information Co-operation Council.

Marketing Manager's Yearbook 2000 published
The Marketing Manager's Yearbook 2000 contains information on 45,000 key decision-makers in over 9,000 companies having more than 100 staff and includes details of their marketing budgets where companies spend over £100,000. Reflecting the growth in e-commerce, the internet section of the book is considerably expanded.  Priced at £109.95 plus £5.00 p+p, the Yearbook is published by AP Information Services, Marlborough House, 298 Regent's Park Road, London N3 2UU. Tel: 020 8349 9988, Web: http://www.ap-info.co.uk
Source: Press Release, Phyllis Oberman Consultants, January 2000.