Past events
Making it Better ? : THE HIGHER EDUCATION / NHS LIBRARY INTERFACE
Tuesday 17th June: 10.15-16.00
Fountains Learning Centre, York St. John
About the event
Historically, NHS and HE Libraries have often worked closely in supporting those who work in the NHS yet are also HE students. The way the work has often been affected by constant changes within the structure and management of the NHS, something that continues to this day.
This event looked at a number of these aspects:
• General aspects of NHS management in relation to Library services (NHS Library review)
• Library service needs as viewed by the Dean of a School of Health Sciences
• Evidence-based Healthcare- what does it really mean?
• Service level agreements?- Has their time come round again?
A report (PDF) about this event is available.
Programme
1) “From knowledge to health”: Knowledge services across Yorkshire and the Humber. Kim Montacute.
2) NHS and HE, The University Managers view. Sue Bernhauser.
3) “Partnerships across the NHS” – supporting learning and development. Sue Hubbard
4) “From Education to Practice”: Integrating Information Literacy into HE Academic Programmes in Health. Hannah Rossall
5) Searching where there is light ?: a rough guide to evidence based practice. Andrew Booth
Shall we dance? Universities working in partnership with their wider communities.
6 February 2008
Venue: The Source – Meadowhall, Sheffield
There were 25 attendees at this event from all over the UK with one person coming from as far away as Dublin. The event was intended to explore partnerships between libraries and other institutions to see how they add value to the community in which they are based. The subjects covered during the day included
1. INSPIRE and improving access to libraries through the INSPIRE and WELCOME! Schemes (Andrew Walsh- University of Huddersfield)
The presentation (PPT) is available.
2. Project SCULE (Providing a positive learning experience for pre-entry students from Schools and Colleges through presenting the library as a welcoming accessible learning space) Lynn Barrett & Celia Poole- (University of Huddersfield)
The presentation (PPT) is available.
3. A case study in collaborating in a joint cultural facility at the University of Lincoln. (Michelle Anderson-University of Lincoln)
4. Licensing for additional users via JISC licensing agreements (Catherine John- JISC Licensing)
5. Supporting Higher Education Summer Schools at Sheffield Hallam (Rupert Kahn- Sheffield Hallam)
Interestingly for such a diverse programme some common themes emerged which ran through the presentations. For example,
• breaking down barriers
• funding of joint projects
• strong leadership to ensure that projects are carried out successfully
From the many questions that were asked and the discussions over lunch, it became clear that libraries are working hard to provide real added value within their communities often in difficult circumstances with limited funding.
What the participants said about the day:
“very interesting and though provoking”
“the discussion stimulated with colleagues was very useful”
A more comprehensive report (PDF) about this event is available.
UCR Visit to the Information Commons at the University of Sheffield
November 2007
In November, several members og the Yorkshire and Humberside members of the UCR visited the much-talked about “Information Commons” at the University of Sheffield. Clearly the staff have got the visits off to finely hone sequence, since as with most new projects they have been inundated with requests for visits from other library staff
Overall, It is a very impressive building. From the outside, the building is distinctive and well proportioned with the contrasting blue-green of the copper and the grey of the terracotta providing and interesting combination.
The entrance areas is spacious and uncluttered and a number of people have commented that it bears a resemblance to a departure lounge. There are four main levels with a smaller extension of two further levels. Each level has its own themed colour which is indicated by the colour of the soft furnishings, video display panels and space dividers. Each level contains a variety of different spaces with different uses. These include areas for individual study , group study, soft seating and study rooms. There are 1,300-plus study spaces with over 500 PCs. We were particularly impressed when we looked down from the balcony onto the silent study area with its array of desks and individual lamps. It was scholarly and yet relaxed
There are unusual architectural features with internal voids and creative use of materials. The windows look out over the city landscape and the walls boast a number of paintings which are used to good effect
Information about opening times and services are provided on plasma display panels throughout the building and seem to be a good way of imparting information to “poster-weary” students.. There is an enquiry desk on the ground floor while members of staff traverse the building and can be contacted by telephones which are located on each floor.
There are a number of areas which are used for “flexible learning” although whether this actually happens or whether these areas are simply annexed by students as extra study space is debatable. That notwithstanding, it is a building which is well used and well appreciated by its client group and certainly shows how one University has tried to do things a bit differently
Rather than go through all the facts and figures regarding the above here is a link to their website http://www.shef.ac.uk/infocommons/
Updated: 10 July 2008