In praise of regional groups

Professor Peter Reid

....with a little help from

Paddington

Scotland’s Regional Groups

“Paddington is a very polite young bear who looks into a strange new world, from some innocent and childlike eyes.....”

Grampian Information (GI)

Tayside and Fife Library & Information Network (TAFLIN)

Libraries in Central Scotland (LICS)

Edinburgh Library & Information Services Agency (ELISA)

Ayrshire Library Forum (ALF) now SWISS

Grampian Information was the first of the regional groupings formed in the early 1990s.• Training• Resource sharing• Conference• Networking

“Please look after this bear....”

Inter-library lending scheme

Special Interest Groups

Guide to Local Studies

In the beginning....

Sharing Experiences

Learning lessons from other sectors“Paddington always tries very hard to do his best and learn new things...”• To enhance and broaden access to library and information services

• To work together to improve staff development and training opportunities• To co-ordinate the development of services and resources• To promote best practice• To provide a forum for networking• To act as agents of advocacy for libraries

Training and developmentThe ability of deliver training and staff development on a local level

Members sharing their own training events

Bringing high quality speakers to the area - e.g. Charles Oppenheim

“I like to help but I’m not always very good at it...”

Networking Event

Members’ Fair

Showcasing services Annual AwardsCelebrating Contributions for Service Development and Individual Achievement

“Paddington loves having his elevenses...”

Social eventsHollywood Librarian

Advocacy and marketing: learning from each other

We don’t bite!

“Paddington was very annoyed and gave him one of his hardest stares...”

Library & Information Regional

Co-operative Groups in Scotland

“Paddington loves getting together with the Browns for breakfast

Occasional meetings of representatives of all regional groups under the chair of Jill Evans, Development Manager , SCURL.

NLS represented on all groups by Janice MacFarlane

Regular participation of CILIPS/SLIC

“Sometimes the future can seem very scary....”

Financial Staffing Resources Digital Content Services Delivery Less with more....

Doing things differently

Learning from different sectors about new ways of working and trying new ways to solving old problems

“Paddington thought how much he’d like to slide down the banister.”

podcasts, blogs, wikis, facebook , Web2.0, social networking.......

Thank you