This past year has seen a further change in library staffing, with Alexandra Cohen joining us part-time as Library and Information Services Assistant.
The thrust of the Library and Information Service staff's work has been in three main areas. First, there is the electronic side of information services with an increasing move towards electronic journal subscription, an aim to have our book collection catalogue on-line, and with our continuing to contribute to the College website.
In some contrast has been our work concerning antiquarian books. The grant that I reported last year has been very successfully used in restoring to excellent condition a number of priceless texts.
The work on the College Archive continues, but of particular note in this area has been the development of a Records Management Policy by Margaret Harcourt-Williams. College activities are already significantly devolved at national level here in the UK and Ireland, but we anticipate further devolution within England, with all Divisions taking on more responsibility. If there is to be a corporate College voice, then this depends upon accurate information-gathering and record-keeping and this new policy will facilitate this.
My individual contribution has not been as much as I had hoped. Although there were some early recruits to the Virtual Library Committee, it was only in spring that we had full Faculty membership together with trainer and trainee representatives and so it is only now that I am seeking advice from my colleagues. As before, however, my intention is that this process will inform our providing a Library and Information Service that is sensitive to our Members’ needs and we would hope to build upon that by advising colleagues as to their own local developments. I would hope to have something more substantial to report in this area next year.
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