The CyMAL grant paperwork is now available and the schemes are open for applications from libraries (and museums and archives) in Wales for 2012-13 projects.
Libraries in Wales can apply for grants in a range of priority areas within the Innovation and Development scheme. The closing date for applications is 23rd January 2012.
More information from: http://libalyson.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/2012-13-cymal-grant-schemes-open/
http://library.wales.org/informationliteracy/blog/
Introducing new Welsh Information Literacy Development Officers, Louise Harrington and Sarah Puzey.
Sarah and Louise have replaced Joy Head who is now the Project Manager of the JISC funded Digidol project.
They are both based in Cardiff University. Louise also works in Senghennydd Library which serves the Cardiff University Centre for Lifelong Learning, and previously worked on the JISC-funded I-WIRE project. These roles have given Louise experience of project work and delivery, advocacy and working with learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Sarah’s other part-time role is Social Sciences Subject Librarian at Cardiff University. She was previously a Trainee Liaison Librarian for the Institute of Education, University of Reading. Sarah has also worked at the Bodleian Library, Oxford University as a Graduate Trainee and spent time working in Cardiff Public Libraries. Through these roles, Sarah has had the opportunity to work with the education and school library sectors as well as Higher Education.
Louise will be working Monday and Tuesday (9-5) and Wednesday (9-12.30) and Sarah Monday and Friday (9-5). Please contact them at the Arts and Social Studies Library, Cardiff University on 029 2087 0252. Their new project email address will shortly be announced on the website ‘contacts’ page.
A UK-wide digital library for British higher education is in reach, says Ann Rossiter (SCONUL), if we can sort the licensing out.
The UK’s status as a world leader in research depends on its institutions having the best possible access to the full range of published work. Although we currently rank alongside the US and outstrip most European and Asian nations, we risk being overtaken in the next decade if we do not grasp the possibilities of new technology.
For the first time, a national digital library has become a realistic possibility, both technologically and economically. Such a shared service, delivering a national core collection of monographs and journals, would allow the UK to maintain its lead in delivering the best content electronically to all students, researchers and academics at higher education institutions. It would also overcome a significant barrier to new entrants to the higher education market: further education colleges would be able to buy into it, rather than having to build up their own individual libraries. The student experience would be improved by resources accessed through a national catalogue.
Libraries Inspire: The strategic development framework for Welsh libraries 2012-16
Libraries Inspire outlines CyMAL’s plans to work in partnership with the library in sector in Wales.
Public, educational, and workplace libraries, are at the heart of their communities. The very reason for their existence is to inspire and assist people to make a positive difference to their lives. Libraries contribute to the social, educational, cultural and economic wellbeing of the people of Wales.
This strategy describes how CyMAL will maintain and develop new innovative services to meet the needs of the people of Wales over the next 5 years.
Llyfrgelloedd yn Ysbrydoli: Fframwaith strategol ar gyfer datblygu llyfrgelloedd Cymru 2012-2016
Download in Welsh
The papers presented at LILAC 2011 are now available on the LILAC website in the archive section for LILAC 2011.
Keep an eye on the Journal of Information Literacy (JIL) over the next year, as some of the presentations are being expanded by the authors into peer reviewed articles. A number of LILAC presentations from previous years are already available as papers in JIL.
Cardiff, 14-16 December 2011
The UK Digital Curation Centre is running a series of inter-linked regional workshops to support institutional research data management as part of the DCC Roadshow. The seventh DCC Roadshow is being organised in conjunction with Information Services at Cardiff University and will take place 14-16 December in the Rowe-Beddoe Studio, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff.
Each day is aimed at a different audience:
* Day 1 is a general introduction and is open to all. Best practice will be shared through case studies to help build a community of data management expertise in Wales.
* Day 2 is a strategic workshop to help senior support staff start to plan research data management services for their institution.
* Day 3 is the DCC’s practical training course for researchers and research support staff. This provides an introduction to curation and DCC tools through presentations, breakout discussions and exercises.
Each workshop can be booked individually. We encourage you to select those workshops which address your own particular data management requirements and to pass this invitation on to colleagues who might also be interested.
Find out more about the event at: http://www.dcc.ac.uk/events/data-management-roadshows/dcc-roadshow-cardiff
Martyn Harrow, Director of Information Services at Cardiff University, has been appointed as Head of JISC for a fixed term of 9-18 months from 1 February 2012.
Martyn will succeed Dr Malcolm Read who retires as Head of JISC in January 2012 after 18 years in post.
Martyn will see the organisation through its transition into a ‘new look’ JISC, following the recommendations of the Wilson Review (February 2011).
Heather Fry, Director Education and Participation at HEFCE, which funds together with other UK education funding bodies JISC, said: ‘At this critical time in JISC’s transition I am delighted that we have appointed Martyn Harrow who brings a wealth of technology and leadership experience from higher education and the commercial sector. Martyn will be leading JISC as it re-shapes to remain world class in a changing environment.’
Tim O’Shea, Principal of the University of Edinburgh and Chair of JISC, said: ‘JISC is embarking on an exciting period as it rises to the challenges of the Wilson report and renews its focus on supporting education and research across the UK. Martyn is ideally placed to lead JISC through this stage of its development, being able to draw on invaluable experience from across the education, public and private sectors.’
Martyn Harrow said: ‘It is an honour to follow Malcolm Read and be invited to lead JISC through this very important and complex transition. We have the opportunity and the challenge now of building on from his amazing legacy to create a “new JISC for new times”. Our driver will be to ensure that “new JISC” fosters, facilitates and enables modern approaches and sustainable strategic advantage for higher and further education in the coming years.’
Martyn Harrow joined Cardiff University in 2003 with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. His early career centred in local government where he became Senior Principal Management Services Officer at Avon County Council. Subsequently his career majored on global roles as Chief Information Officer for several international operating companies within Unilever. At various times he was responsible for IT across the USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Before joining Cardiff University, Martyn was Vice-President, IT, for a global food and fragrance company within ICI. Martyn is a member of the JISC Board and a Director of JISC Collections and JISC Advance.
Find out more about JISC’s transition at http://www.jisc.ac.uk/aboutus/hefcereview.aspx
Meet JISC’s shadow board who will be working to deliver JISC’s transition at http://www.jisc.ac.uk/aboutus/hefcereview/shadowboardmembershiptors.aspx
RIN has published the results of a study, undertaken between January and July 2011, investigating the place and role of PhD supervisors in the drive to ensure that research students possess the necessary level of information literacy to pursue their careers successfully in academia and beyond.
The work was undertaken on behalf of RIN and the Working Group on Information Handling by a partnership between Curtis+Cartwright Consulting and Cardiff University.
The ability of researchers to handle information is of vital importance. Many individuals have become adept at developing approaches and using innovative technologies to make most of the information environment, but others rather less so. Questions about how researchers develop appropriate skills, the support they receive, the training opportunities provided for them, and the take-up of such opportunities are thus highly pertinent.
Read more at: http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/researcher-development-and-skills/information-handling-training-researchers/research-superv
From Alyson Tyler:
“The long-running libary portal in Wales (librarywales.org) has had a big revamp, redesign, refresh. It’s now a lovely blue colour, has user-friendly wording (e.g. ‘find a book’ rather than Cat Cymru) and also features book reviews for the first time, and lots of other things.”
Read more at: http://libalyson.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/whizzy-revamped-website-for-welsh-libraries/
From 1 November, the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC), will be known as Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Last month the institution rejected a call to form a super-university with the University of Wales, Newport and the University of Glamorgan.
In a statement it said it looked forward to a bright future as a strong, student-centred university.
Eleven thousand students from more than 125 countries attend the university which offers over 100 undergraduate courses.
More at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15534032
