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!