WHELF have recently issued a news update and this includes content that will be of interest to colleagues not working in HE Libraries. Their email distribution list WHELF on www.jiscmail.ac.uk has recently been opened for all to join.
WHELF:
Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum
March 2013: an update
WHELF actively promotes the work of higher education libraries in Wales and provides a focus for the development of new ideas and services.
At our recent meeting in February, these were some of the topics under discussion:
March 2013: an update
WHELF actively promotes the work of higher education libraries in Wales and provides a focus for the development of new ideas and services.
At our recent meeting in February, these were some of the topics under discussion:
1. WHELF Strategy and Vision
A working group led by Sue Hodges is developing a new strategy and vision for WHELF. The purpose of this new strategy is to outline a clear vision for WHELF over the next two years and to set a new direction and culture following recent changes within Wales and within the HE sector generally. We are all working within an environment where there is a constant need to deliver innovative services within financial constraints.
This
new strategy is an opportunity to reposition WHELF within Wales as a collaborative
partnership: one which will help us meet the current political agenda and
demands from our own institutions and one which will help us realise cost
benefits via potential shared services and collaborative e-resource deals.
2. Welsh Higher Education Libraries Shared LMS Services
The final report of the Library Systems Shared Services Feasibility Study
(Wales) has been presented to WHELF. It explores the potential for a shared
Library Management System across all higher education institutions and the NHS
libraries in Wales.
It
has recommended that setting up an All-Wales Consortium with formal governance
is the best option for provision of a shared service. A cloud solution hosted
by a vendor (or open source vendor) is the preferred option, because this will
provide the most cost-effective resilient solution. The report was
accepted in its entirety and WHELF have agreed that they want to pursue the
option of developing a shared LMS in line with the report's recommendations.
A
summary of the report is available on the WHELF website.
3. Walk-in Access Wales
WHELF’s project to enable walk-in access to electronic resources in Welsh HE libraries is almost complete. A toolkit will be published shortly and a walk-in access solution has been implemented at the pilot site at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, as well as at Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
On
1st February over 30 librarians from public, further education, national and
academic libraries and staff from JANET UK and CyMAL came together to discuss
walk-in access to electronic resources. Following the excellent presentations
there was a lively debate, followed by workshop sessions on advocacy and
marketing together with technical solutions and access management.
Presentations and detailed notes from the discussions and workshops can be
viewed here.
4. Welsh Higher Education Electronic Library (WHEEL)
A new steering group has convened to look at further development of collaborative purchase of e-resources in Wales. Find out more.5. The Welsh experience of World War One 1914-1918
The WHELF WW1 digitisation project, led by the National Library, is going well and is on schedule for completion in July. Most printed and paper archival material has been scanned. There are some very interesting stories and photos on the blog, including how the materials are being used for teaching students. The digital collection will be available online and People’s Collection Wales, a project partner, is currently inviting the public to become a part of the project by bringing their materials along to one of a series of events where staff will be on hand to scan letters, photographs, certificates, postcards, diaries and any other documents or memorabilia.Find out more here
6. WHELF News
Members of WHELF past and present met at the National Library of Wales on 7th February. The occasion was to celebrate and mark Andrew Green’s forthcoming retirement from the National Library and his huge contribution to WHELF over the many years he has chaired the group. His energy, expertise and commitment to WHELF will be very sadly missed. Photo.
In
the interim it has been agreed that Janet Peters will take on the role of
Chair, so WHELF is still in safe hands!
Thanks
were also expressed to Rebecca Davies who has been looking after WHELF finances
very ably for the past few years as Treasurer. We are grateful to Julie Hart
who has now taken on the role of Treasurer.
Finally
... this is my last bulletin for WHELF as I am leaving in April to spend more
time on our B&B and holiday cottage in Pembrokeshire. I have very much
enjoyed working for WHELF, especially as it has given me a wonderful
opportunity to meet so many of you over the last few years. I will always be
grateful for your friendship and support. If you would like to find out what
I'm doing, please have a look at our
Facebook page (all "likes" welcome!) or our website.
Sue Mace
Development Officer
WHELF: Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum
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