In keeping with its mission to fly the flag for practitioner research and its value in underpinning practice, the University of Northampton Department of Library and Learning Services announces its second biennial Research Summer School.

Designed to provide practitioners with the motivation, knowledge and tools to conduct effective research projects, the two day event is aimed at staff in  libraries and learning services who are new to research or would like to brush up on their research skills. Through a mix of talks, practical activities and networking opportunities, the event is a great opportunity to kick start your own research project or share your challenges with others in a similar position. 

The programme includes:
• What is practitioner research and how can I get started?
• Tools and techniques for data collection (including focus groups, semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys)
• Tools and techniques for data analysis (including analysis of qualitative and quantitative data and the software that can help)
• Writing up your research

Further information, including the full programme with details of speakers,  is available here: http://tinyurl.com/UN-RSS2013

The cost for one day is £50, or attend both days for £80.  This includes refreshments as shown on the programme but not overnight accommodation.

Please contact Rachel Maxwell (rachel.maxwell@northampton.ac.uk) to book your place. 

Applications are invited for the next two Clore Leadership Short Courses and we are particularly keen to encourage applications from libraries professionals.

 The majority of places on the Clore Leadership Short Course are supported (i.e. subsidised) by Arts Council England, through a 3 year commissioned grant to develop resilient leadership. 

To be eligible for a subsidised place, applicants must be working in England and be committed to developing their career as a cultural leader in England.

Full details about the courses including, fees and information on how to apply can be found on our website at www.cloreleadership.org.

Closing date for applications is Monday 10th June.

If you have any queries about the course please do not hesitate to contact Alisha on alisha.whittington@cloreleadership.org.

For more information, see 

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/our-investment/funding-programmes/developing-resilient-leadership-commissioned-grant/

Have you done something innovative, something which has really had results for you and your organisation? Or perhaps you have a colleague who has headed an exciting new project? If so, please read on, because the National Acquisitions Group is now inviting entries for its Excellence Award.

This annual award, currently held by the University of Huddersfield, is designed to promote excellence, original thinking and innovation by a library or individual within the field of Acquisitions. Nominated projects should demonstrate innovative or good practice, and support for the use of standards and for the objectives of the National Acquisitions Group.

Entries are now open and nominations of up to 250 words can be sent by e-mail to the NAG Office at nag1@btconnect.com . The nomination should provide the name(s) of those involved, the organisation they work for, explain the changes introduced and the benefits these gave to the library / users. Please note that the nominee(s) need to be members of NAG, or belong to a body which is.

The closing date is 14th June 2013, and the winner will be chosen by the NAG Executive Committee and will be presented at the 2013 NAG Conference. The winning submission will also feature in an article in Taking Stock.

To read more, and to enter, please visit http://www.nag.org.uk/about/nag-award/

Full Circle project nears completion

For the past 3 years, with funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Media Archive for Central England has been working with community organisations right across the Midlands, from Mablethorpe to Leominster, unearthing film of local significance, copying it and returning it to the community in a usable format. The original material has largely been deposited with MACE for safekeeping.

The project has been a huge success. 662 hours of material in a wide range of film and video formats has been acquired from over 200 depositors in 69 communities across the Midlands.

The project staff have worked in 17 schools and have conducted 130 public screening events and hundreds of presentations across the 12 counties of the region. 
 
Technical staff will continue to work on finishing the copying of this material  for at least another 3 months.
  
Although the project itself is complete, MACE will continue to work with the 662 hours of found footage in many ways - both now and in the future - preserving this material for the benefit of its depositors, their communities and heritage, cultural and educational organisations across the Midlands.

Website: www.macearchive.org

A short film about the work of MACE can be found here:

http://vimeo.com/60009546?utm_source=Copy+of+Copy+of+Feb28&utm_campaign=EASTER&utm_medium=email

Media Archive for Central England | MHT Building | University of Lincoln | Brayford Pool |Lincoln |LN6 7TS
General Enquiries & DVD Sales: 01522 837750 Email:info@macearchive.org

The Forum for Interlending and Information Delivery (FIL) are delighted to confirm that the only UK annual conference specifically for and about the world of inter-library loans, Interlend 2013, will take place on the 27th – 28th June at the The Maldron Hotel, Cardiff.  Once again this will be an essential opportunity for inter-lending staff to meet, exchange news and best practice experiences with their colleagues across the public, academic and special library sectors. 

Speakers and Theme

The core conference theme for 2013 is "Interlend 101: Back to Basics”, and as always the focus will be on providing practical guidance and advice from enthusiastic and knowledgeable speakers from throughout the profession.  There will also be a tour of Cardiff Public Library.

We are delighted this year to have two keynotes to start both days, Prof Charles Oppenhiem and Graham P Cornish, who are both well versed in all things copyright, but will be taking two different approaches.  We are currently putting the finishing touches on the programme but we can confirm that there are sessions on music interlending, international lending, ejournals/ebooks for document supply and much more!

Booking and Fees

FIL is delighted to be able to hold the cost of Interlend 2013 for FIL members, for another year, with an early bird special of just £199 for the whole conference!

This year we are pleased to offer delegates the opportunity to book their place online.  Simply click on the big red ‘book online’ button on the FIL website: www.forumforinterlending.org.uk Or you can download the attached booking form and email it to fil.committee@gmail.com

News and announcements

For more news on the conference keep your eyes on the FIL website, Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Website: http://www.forumforinterlending.org.uk/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/fil_ill
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/forumforinterlending

AGM and Committee Membership

The second day will see the FIL Annual General Meeting (AGM).  The Committee especially welcomes approaches from personal and institutional members wishing to stand for election.  For more details on what being a Committee member entails and the opportunities for professional development please contact the Chair or any other current Committee members for more details.  Note standing for election does not require attendance at the AGM.
http://www.forumforinterlending.org.uk/who-we-are/list-of-committee-members

For further information on this conference, bookings or general queries contact the Committee at fil.committee@gmail.com

The Ulverscroft / IFLA Best Practice Award 2013 offers an opportunity for one or more individuals involved in library service delivery for visually impaired people to work for a short period with another library between May and December 2013.

A grant up to £10,000 will be offered to cover travel, accommodation and expenses.

More details about this award, an application form and reports from previous visits can be found on the Ulverscroft website.

The closing date is 31st March, 2013.

More details: http://foundation.ulverscroft.com/news13.htm

Loughborough library in Leicestershire re-opened in November 2012 following a seven week closure as part of a £1.3m revamp. 

The library is the biggest in Leicestershire, and the newly extended building will now provide its local studies collection on the ground floor, as well as offering adult learning and activities for people with disabilities on site.

Chaddesden library, Derby
The new £1.4m Chaddesden Library in Derby has officially opened, replacing a 59 year old building and featuring community rooms, more computers and fully-accessible toilets.

It was designed as a low-carbon building and has solar panels, uses natural daylight and ventilation and has a sedum roof, with the plant-covered surface acting as a natural drainage system.

A ceremony to formally name the new library in memory of the journalist, broadcaster and former MP for Derby North Phillip Whitehead is being planned for later in the year.

See: http://www.derby.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/libraries/derby-libraries/chaddesden-library/

West Bridgford Library in Nottinghamshire has re-opened after a major £5.3m re-development.
The new, larger and enhanced library also houses a new young people's centre and a register office, while the ceremony room in the existing register office site in Central Avenue remains in operation.

An exhibition "West Bridgford Library - Our Story" runs from Sat16th March - Sun 5th May. Drawing from the local studies collection at West Bridgford Library this fascinating exhibition depicts moments in the library's history. Including cuttings and photographs, Our Story captures the essence of a library’s place at the heart of the community

See: http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/learning/libraries/find-a-library/west-bridgford-library/

The announcement of the East Midlands Book Award shortlist took place recently at States of Independence – an independent press day at De Montfort University, run by Five Leaves Press.

The winner will be announced at the start of the Oakham Festival, at Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham on 20 June 2013, and will receive a cheque for £1000.

The shortlist comprises:
Will Buckingham - The Descent of the Lyre, Roman  (LEICESTERSHIRE)
John Gallas - Fresh Air, and The Story of Molecule, Carcanet (LEICESTERSHIRE)
Graham Joyce - Some Kind of Fairy Tale, Orion (LEICESTERSHIRE)
Jon McGregor – This Isn't the Sort Of Thing That Happens To Someone Like you, Bloomsbury (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE)
Alison Moore - The Lighthouse, Salt (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE)
Neil Roberts -  A Lucid Dreamer, The Life of Peter Redgrove, Random House (DERBYSHIRE)
Jonathan Taylor - Entertaining Strangers, Salt (LEICESTERSHIRE) 

The judges who arrived at the shortlist are Mel Read, member of Leicester Writers Club and former MEP, and Robert Gent, recently retired Assistant Director of Cultural & Community Services at Derbyshire County Council and Hon Treasurer for Libraries and Information East Midlands.
 
The chair of the judges, who will join them to decide the winner, is celebrated crime writer John Harvey.

For a full list of nominations go to www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/awards.

This year’s East Midlands Book Award is sponsored and supported by Barnsdale Lodge and Hambleton Hall, both in Oakham, and Gardners Books Ltd.

Submissions for the East Midlands Book Award 2014, for the best book of 2013 will open on April 1st.

International Case Studies

International Inter Library Loans can be a cost effective way to increase request rates, and the Conarls Working Group are looking for institutions willing to share their experiences with others who might not already participate in international ILL. 

 Case studies have been supplied by Tracey Jackson from Hertfordshire public libraries and Mark Kluzek from Kings College London and can be seen on the Conarls site here: http://combinedregions.com/Inter-Library_Loans/International_Requesting

If you're interested in sharing best practice or providing a case study which might help others, please contact Gillian Wilson (Conarls Chair) by email: NWLIP@Lancashire.gov.uk

Northampton College has produced an evaluation report on their activities in promoting reading, including taking part in the Reading Agency's 'Six Book Challenge'

Northampton College 'Promoting Reading' report