Wednesday 27 February 2013

News from CILIP Cymru Wales - February 2013


The CILIP Cymru Wales Executive Committee met by video conference on Wednesday 20 February. This is a summary of key news and discussions at that meeting.

 

Comings and goings...

Committee welcomed Tracey Stanley (Deputy University Librarian, Cardiff University) and Lori Havard (Head of Academic Services, Swansea University Library) to their first full meeting. We are very grateful for their involvement and help!
Andrew Green retires from his current role, Librarian at the National Library of Wales, in March, and so tendered his resignation from Committee.  Sincere thanks were offered to Andrew for many years of dedicated service to CILIP in Wales, to the Library Association in Wales, and to the profession more widely. We wish Andrew a very fulfilled, happy and long retirement.
Officers are appointed for a two year period, and some of these posts will be completed during 2013. There may be opportunities for YOUR involvement on the CILIP Cymru Wales Executive Committee. Please do start thinking about what skills and abilities you could bring to Committee.

And so to business....

Much discussion naturally focussed on planning for the CILIP Cymru Wales Annual Conference which will be held in the Cardiff Radisson Blu Hotel on 16th and 17th May.

The programme is nearly finalised, greatly aided by a broad range of very interesting responses to the “call for papers”. We are also grateful for the involvement of the CILIP Special Interest Groups at this year’s conference.  ARLG, CDG, HLG and YLG will all be hosting sessions at the conference! Because of these factors I believe that the conference will have a real grassroots / practitioner feel, and so will address training and development needs for our members across a wide range of issues. And we are also improving the  lunchtime menus  and making better use of the exhibition space.
Bookings are now open and the early bird rate is available up until 12 April 2013. So don’t delay ... book today. We will also be shortly announcing a scheme to support and enable attendance at conference by students, new professionals and unwaged members. Watch this space!

And the winner is ....

We're in Awards season, and CILIP Cymru Wales is no different!

We are currently seeking nominations for the inaugural Welsh Librarian of the Year Award. We’re celebrating the difference that professional librarians make in Wales – recognising excellence, innovation or impact of service provision.  The nomination process is straightforward and we encourage your nominations by Thursday 28 March 2013.

We are very grateful to Sirsi Dynix for their generous sponsorship of the Award. The overall winner and “Welsh Librarian of the Year” will receive a £500 prize, and will be announced at the Conference Dinner on Thursday 16th May in Cardiff.

Money, money, money...

Carol Edwards, our Treasurer reported a happy state of financial affairs, with predictions of a modest surplus from Conference in 2012. Preparations are well underway to finalise the 2012 accounts, and because we have money in the bank we are examining ways to spend this for the benefit for our members.  Do you have suggestions or support for activities in any of the following areas:
·         training and development needs for our members across Wales
·         research and analysis that could support future lobbying or advocacy work in Wales
·         podcasts / video-casts from Conference sessions
We also briefly reported on activities with the Kathleen Cooks Fund. Further information is available at this blog entry.

Wider horizons...

Unfortunately our observers from CILIP in London, SCL (the Society of Chief Librarians in Wales), and WHELF (the Welsh Higher Education Libraries Forum) weren’t able to attend our meeting, but we do benefit from regular email contact with them.
In CILIP you may be aware of changes to CILIP in Scotland, to ongoing developments with the Future Skills Project (specifically appointing contractors to undertake course accreditation and a research project on options for CILIP’s CPD provision). Bookings are also being taken for Umbrella, to be held in Manchester, 2-3 July.

Future dates ...

The Committee will next meet in full at the National Library of Wales on 16 July 2013.
The CILIP Cymru Wales Information Day and AGM which will be held in Mid or North Wales on 7th November. This will be a free event and we will welcome your recommendations for venues or speakers. Please do get in touch wales@cilip.org.uk .

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Your chance to attend IFLA in Singapore



Image Credit : Pixabay (reuse licensed under CC0)
Last week I was fortunate in attending the IFLA / CILIP international seminar on eBooks in Libraries
. The day provided a unique window on what is most definitely is a global issue, with relevance to colleagues in all sectors. Previously I have also had an amazing day with representatives from the IFLA Government Libraries section when they held a conference in Cardiff.

 OK, so where am I driving with this?

One might imagine that IFLA is only for those in very senior positions within the profession, and that IFLA events won't be relevant to YOU. This couldn't be further from the truth. So, if you have an interest in gaining international perspectives on the library world, attending the Singapore Congress in August might just be for you. Especially as CILIP are sponsoring a first-time attender!
  
As advertised via the CILIP web site and in the February edition of Update, this is a final reminder to apply for CILIP’s IFLA First-Timer Award to attend the IFLA World Library & Information Congress in  Singapore (17-23 August 2013). CILIP will be funding one lucky person to attend the conference covering all their major expenses – travel, accommodation and registration. Any person interested in applying must be a CILIP member and this must be their first time at an annual IFLA World library and Information Congresses  (although IFLA World Library and Information Congresses that have taken place in the UK are not counted for this purpose). If you are interested please apply by 11 March 2013 using the application form that can be found at:


Like my Kathleen Cooks Funding posting, I'll close by urging you to consider applying. What have you got to lose?




Friday 22 February 2013

International perspectives on e-books in libraries

A gathering of over 80 international delegates met in London to discuss the current barriers, challenges and some of the successes in integrating e-books in library services from around the world. There was much common experience, but also a few surprises along the way. Karen Gibbins, Chair of CILIP Cymru Wales and I were fortunate to attend the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) seminar in London on 21 February 2013 organised in partnership with CILIP. This is potted summary of key points as they struck me, from a very full, information rich and stimulating day.

IFLA Ebooks - some of the speakers.
(L-R: Yasuko Inoue, Michael Dowling, Chloe Vincente de Billion, Klaus-Peter Bottger)

E-Books in Libraries: a global question of survival?

Phil Bradley opened the Seminar by challenging delegates to see e-books as an opportunity. Libraries and librarians have endured across time, and will do so into the future. We have power. The power to find information using technologies  and resources that are available to us (books, online, eBooks).  Other professionals come to us for our expertise, and e-books provide opportunities for us to expand our horizons.

The Challenges?

Adapting to change. Too many libraries have already met their downfall. Will libraries become merely museums of books, or will they embrace challenges in order to become vibrant organisations providing different offers to all of their users? The pace of change is significant.  eBook markets are still very fluid and evolving.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change” Charles Darwin
 Stance of Publishers? Business models and pricing. Will publishers arrive at suitable business models that address the very different needs of the markets for printed books and for eBooks?  Are publishers / aggregators  and the large online players (e.g. Amazon) forcing the return to an online equivalent of the subscription library?
Stance of Publishers? Piracy and Intellectual Property Law. “Many publishers view library provision of eBooks as a direct threat to their and their authors’ economic interests, and they therefore withhold library sales of [eBook] titles”[i]. Libraries have been branded as government sponsored outlets for piracy [ii]and of being “cannibals” to the publishing industry. African publishers are reluctant to develop eBooks because of fears over extensive piracy.
Stance of Publishers? Timeliness / Availability. Publishers currently withhold or embargo eBook titles for supply to libraries.
“It appears that at the moment the collection building policy may be decided by the publishers and not by the library, which could mean a threat to access to information, and by extension to democracy”[iii].
Stance of Publishers? Libraries are without rights (with respect to eBooks). The terms and conditions of usage are determined by the publishers in licensing, and are affected by intellectual property laws. Where present, laws providing statutory frameworks for public libraries may be dated, and offer no levers for the acquisition, dissemination, long term storage and preservation of eBooks and online content. Libraries respect and advocate for intellectual property law but wish for current exceptions for hard copy formats to be extended to eBooks (e.g. long-term preservation, provision in formats suitable for people with disabilities, rights to lend). Digital deposit legislation may assist here.
Public Awareness. Library users / members of the public are not aware that eBooks may be available to borrow from libraries. Those members who are aware, but find our eBook collections inadequate, probably don’t understand that this is because of publisher restrictions / pricing.
Technology / Affordability. Many areas of the world still have inadequate access to technology and network capability, and / or this may be beyond the financial reach of all. However, budget tablet / smartphone devices, and improving mobile telephone network capacity might provide viable and cost effective solutions for the not too distant future. Affordability of individual eBook titles around the world may be subject to international currency exchange rate variations, disfavouring weaker currencies.
Platform / Standards. eBooks should be available to libraries in the formats that their patrons wish to use. In the UK Kindle users are not able to use eBooks from public libraries.
Cultural challenges.  In Japan, a technologically advanced society, eBook usage is very low. The most popular eBook material is eManga (digital graphical novels) bought and accessed by younger people.  Japanese librarians are reluctant to accommodate this genre of digital literature within their services. Japanese script is read vertically and this may be an additional detraction from using eBooks in Japan.
International challenges.  The international eLending picture is extremely complex. For instance, within Europe there is no aggregated source of eBook loans statistics;  the extent of provision for eLending from Public Libraries varies significantly between the European member states, as do levels of usage. Quantity and quality of available eBooks may be limited in some minority languages (with parallels for Wales here). Differential tax regimes may apply. Some states exempt eBooks from value added tax along with printed books, whilst other states exempt VAT on books, but not on eBooks.
The changing concept of the book.  The concept of the book is becoming increasingly irrelevant:
  • where users can pay for access to a paragraph, page, chapter or whole work;
  • the experience of eBooks on tablets will be completely different, with increased interactivity, multimedia content etc; and
  • the rise of self-publishing, circumventing the traditional publishing routes. 
Phil Bradley suggests that these are of greater concern and challenge to publishers than they are to librarians. Librarians think in terms of fulfilling information requirements. The vehicles for information transmission are therefore of lesser concern.
Data protection. Provision of eBook services via aggregators is in effect outsourcing part of your service, and allowing your aggregator access to information about your users and their reading preferences.  How can we adequately ensure that eBook services won’t sell-on user information to third parties, or barrage our users with unhelpful advertising or excessive recommendations?

National Campaigns / Initiatives – stuff of fairytales?


South America. Chloe Vincente de Billion described a “library fairytale” in eLending, charting successful direct partnership with academic textbook publishers, ignoring the aggregators. This approach recognised how vital textbooks sales are to publishers’ viability, and that the extent of illegal copying of hard-copy resources was already problematic. Working with publishers to understand their needs and ambitions enabled a win-win solution to be arrived at through affordable eLending solutions.
In New Zealand, one aggregator, Wheelers, have developed a purchase model for eBooks to libraries. Work by the National Library in New Zealand and the Library and Information Association in New Zealand have led the way in these developments. Of specific interest to Wales, this arrangement has enabled delivery of eBooks in libraries in Maori and other indigenous languages.
United States.
  •  The American Library Association has developed a toolkit to raise awareness of range of issues relating to eLending, identifying the need to promote eLending via public libraries to members of the public and to support library staff.
  • Some State Library Associations have been vocal when publishers are unhelpful, whilst the ALA has published open letters to specific publishers when they take action that disadvantages libraries. However, the ALA is cautious of only focussing on negative stories, but also encourages celebrating  positive developments in eLending.
  • One eBook to prove them all”. Extensive promotion of a single eBook title within libraries to identify what the positive spin-off for publishers are.
  • Direct engagement: Talking directly with publishers about their concerns. Is there evidence that provision of eLending from libraries is causing an increase in piracy? If not, then why not expand the provision with libraries!  Taking different approaches for different sectors (e.g. school libraries). Also talking directly to authors. Do you find it acceptable that you book is embargoed (withdrawal period)  in eBook format for sale to libraries?
Sweden.  In Sweden the existing model of eBook supply to public libraries was expensive, with limited titles because of withdrawal periods, and was monopoly controlled through a single aggregator owned by the publishers. Talks to change this marketplace, between the Library Association and the Publishers Association in Sweden, broke down. The SLA stressed:
“Access to eBooks in libraries is not only a question of freedom for borrowers in choosing their preferred reading format, but it also affects the library’s core mission: to increase reading and provide citizens with free access to information. .[...] We want a long-term model that weighs publishers’ commercial interests in newly released books with the libraries’ mission to freely make available current information and knowledge.”
Image (c) Swedish Library Association, 2012.
http://www.biblioteksforeningen.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Say-hello-to-yor-new-librarian-120906.pdf
The SLA undertook a brave campaign to force publishers back to the table: “Say hello to your new librarian” with a picture of a chief executive of a Swedish publishing company.  In dire circumstances don’t be afraid to upset some people. Rough times are sometimes required in order to achieve change! The Swedish Government are now on-side strengthening the understanding of libraries core mission with the Swedish publishers. Work is underway on a National eBook Machine – digitizing, storing and making accessible the widest range of content possible.
The context of Sweden is significant here. There is a small, geographically confined market for Swedish language books with a limited number of big publishers in Sweden. Libraries and publishers are therefore undeniably reliant upon each other. Governmental / statutory support for libraries is also strong. The likelihood of success for a similar campaign for eBooks in English, for example, is doubtful.
Denmark. The Danish Library Association worked with two of the largest publishers in Denmark to successfully start publishing eBooks, and to provide a pilot scheme for eLending (eReolen.dk).  Attempts to extend the scheme with the original publishers failed, but in their stead a wider range of publishers have now joined the eLending scheme. Coincidentally, the collapse of the pilot project provided opportunities for very positive media coverage of the role of libraries within contemporary Denmark, and additional support from the Danish Government.

Ways forward?

Take publishers by the hand. Libraries can help publishers to develop new business models, but we can only do this when publishers and libraries meet at “eye-level”.  Should this be achieved by carrot or stick? Probably a combination of both!
Libraries don’t usually recognise that we have appropriate sticks. However, in this case, we have. Libraries have been a shop window for publishers. The gains for publishers in working with libraries are significant. Libraries also have an advantage. At present finding, purchasing and using eBooks isn’t easy or straightforward. Libraries can provide a trusted partner to support wider use and access to eBooks, and this will benefit publishers and authors in the long run.
Public opinion can also be changed and used to influence publishers.  US examples at local level of news stories about publishers preventing access to the full current catalogue of eBooks by libraries has grown in momentum. At more extremely level is the example of Sweden, and the “This is your new librarian” campaign.
Inform, lobby, influence. Immediate need for joint actions in effective:
·         flow of information between IFLA, EBLIDA and national library associations and societies. All of these organisation need to be aware of what is happening, what has been achieved, and where problems continue to arise.
·         lobbying  of national and European parliaments, WIPO.
·         Influencing change in international and national copyright frameworks.
·         Influencing / raising awareness of issues with the media and informing public opinion.
Several bodies have formulated principles for eLending (see “useful resources”  below). These can be helpful in establishing points for negotiation, evaluation and review of eLending services in public libraries. There is, of course, no requirement to adhere to any of these Principles documents but they provide a framework for future negotiation with key stakeholders including publishers.

Useful resources

Speakers' Presentations are available via the CILIP web site
IFLA - eLending http://www.ifla.org/e-lending . Provides access to the IFLA Background Paper, Think Piece (providing a wide range of perspectives), and the IFLA Principles for eLending (February 2013).
ALA - Transforming Libraries http://www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/ . Includes the E-Books and Digital Content page, which in turn includes E-book Media and Communications Toolkit - Resources to help start and continue the conversation regarding library e-book lending, access issues, and general public awareness. Tools include press release and op-ed templates and guidelines for using them with editorial and news media contacts, news hooks you can use locally, tips for relationship building with media contacts, and links to examples of e-book-related editorials and news stories.
EBLIDA (European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations) E-Books in Libraries Campaign (launched Summer 2012) http://www.eblida.org/e-books-in-libraries.html . Includes a link to the EBLIDA Principles on the acquisition of and access to eBooks in libraries (November 2012).
CILIP’s response to the DCMS Consultation on eLending in Public Libraries in England. Including four key recommendations, and access to the full consultation response and a briefing paper. http://www.cilip.org.uk/news-media/pages/news121117.aspx  
A TweetDoc capturing tweets with #IFLAebooks is available (PDF, 16 pages - can be slow to load). 
With apologies for any errors, significant omissions, or misrepresentations – these are all of my own making.
 

[i]  Gerald Leitner, Chair IFLA MLAS
[ii] Peter Wilcke, Swedish Publisher “Public libraries which now have sites for downloading of eBooks to computers and mobiles can become a sort of  “legal marketplace for piracy””. (Quoted by Niclas Lindberg, Secretary General, Swedish Library Association).
[iii] Gerald Leitner, Chair IFLA MLAS

Friday 15 February 2013

Could you benefit from the Kathleen Cooks Bequest?

The legacy of Kathleen Cooks lives on. In 2012 the Kathleen Cooks Fund made awards totalling just over £5,400. Might you benefit from Kathleen's generous bequest in 2013?
In 2012 the Fund provided financial assistance for the following events in Wales:
·         Conversations with Cataloguers
·         Forum for Interlending
and enabled individual CILIP members to attend training events including:
·         Training the trainers
·         DARTS3 conference (blogged about here)
·         University Science & Technology Libraries Meeting
·         Day delegate attendance at CILIP Cymru Wales Conference in 2012 (blogged here)
The Fund also supports the Welsh Books Council in the annual awards of the Tir na n’Og prizes for children’s books published with genuine Welsh background in English and Welsh.
The legacy of Kathleen proudly lives on. Will you join those in benefiting from Kathleen’s generosity in 2013?  Applying for financial support is straight-forward!
Who can apply?
·         Welsh Library Authorities
·         CILIP groups in Wales
·         Individual members of CILIP in Wales
Awards are granted where applications meet at least ONE of the following criteria:
·         Result in a new or improved service to users of library and information services in Wales
·     Add to knowledge in Welsh libraries and information services
·     Improve professional knowledge among members of CILIP Wales
·     Assist in the production or purchase of specific items or collections of permanent value to Wales
Awards are typically in the region of £500 - £1000, but may on occasion be greater.  Decisions are usually made within 10 days and the process is very straight-forward.

What have you got to loose, and think what you could gain!

Thursday 14 February 2013

Health Libraries Group Wales event- Tuesday 26 March 2013


Great news! The recently reformed Health Libraries Group in Wales have announced the programme for their Spring Study Day  to be held on Tuesday 26th March 2013 at the Royal College of Nursing in Cardiff.

The day will provide a fascinating insight into:
  • using smartphones to provide access to key medical texts
  • the open-access debate, and how Cardiff University are responding
  • a video conferenced session with colleagues from the University of Sheffield School of Health and Related Research
  • the virtual enquiry service provided for RCN members in Wales
This event will also provide lots of useful networking opportunities and time to find out more about HLGW. Please support this event! Further details are given below.



Health Libraries Group Wales (HLGW)
Spring Study Day & AGM - Tuesday 26th March 2013

RCN Wales
Ty Maeth
King George V Drive East
Cardiff
CF14 4XZ 

10.00am to 4.00pm - including lunch – cost £15.00
 (Please make cheques payable to ‘Health Libraries Group Wales’)


Programme for the Day


10.00                    Coffee & Registration / Welcome & Introduction by Joint Chairs

10.30                           iDOC Team - Smartphones on the ward?
foundation doctors' experiences of using electronic texts to support workplace learning – Prof Alison Bullock and Dr Rebecca Dimond - Curemede, Cardiff University

11.30                          The Finch Report and Open Access Publishing 
                              Sonja Haerkoenen – Cardiff University
                                     
12.30                          Lunch

1.30                                       A Free Web Toolkit for the Modern Library
                                    Andy Tattersall & Claire Beecroft – SCHARR (School of Health & Related Research) University of Sheffield (presentation delivered remotely from Sheffield)

2.30                       Virtual Enquiries at the Royal College of Nursing 
                                    RCN Library, Archives and Information Services
                                     
3.00                             Coffee

3.30                         HLGW Annual General Meeting

4.00                             Close

I would like to attend the HLG Wales Spring Study Day

Name:


Job Title:


Organisation:



Work address:



Postcode:


Tel:                                                  Email:



I am/am not a member of the Health Libraries Group Wales


Please indicate whether you require a vegetarian/non-vegetarian meal 


Any other special requirements:


Please return booking form (with payment cheque) to:


Pat Duxbury
p/t Care Sciences Information Librarian
University of Glamorgan
Glyntaff Campus LRC
Treforest
CF37 1DL

Tel: 01443 483151

Thursday 7 February 2013

‘Exploring Spaces’ - understanding the learning spaces that libraries provide


Martin Edwards attended the Experiences of the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (HETL) conference on ‘Exploring Spaces’ (Orlando, Florida, January 2013) with financial support from the Kathleen Cooks Fund. This is Martin's overview of a project to review learning spaces at the University of Wales Newport and some of his experiences of attending and delivering a paper at the Conference.


The location for HETL’s ‘Exploring Spaces' conference depicting part of the university campus at the University of Central Florida, Orlando


Background

 
Back in May 2012, the Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (HETL) called for papers on the theme of ‘Exploring Spaces’ for a conference to be held at the University of Central Florida, Orlando. At the University of Wales, Newport, staff in the library service had received a ‘learning and teaching’ grant to try and understand the learning space the libraries provides for its users, with an original remit to:

  • To gain a better understanding of space (physical and virtual) and how this meets the learning and research needs of our learners (staff and students)
  • To investigate whether teaching can be supported with our learning centre resources
  • To investigate whether there is a difference between a learning centre and a library and if so, how this impacts on the learning experience.

The rationale for this came on the back of a university restructuring process which laid more emphasis on learning centres and less so on libraries.  We were also keen to see how much the notion of an information commons had progressed in a decade or so since its inception.

The Conference Experience

The conference itself was hugely different to both the library-specific and non-library conferences I had attended in the UK.  The scale of it (both the size of the campus and the number of delegates and speakers) may at first have appeared overwhelming, but I was impressed with the efficiency of the organisation, the structure of the programme and the pace of the change from keynote speakers to symposia to roundtable presentations and panel discussions.  HETL was a new association to me and I was impressed with its global coverage and the commitment of staff from across the world (who were mostly present at the conference).

UWN Newport City Centre - The Learning Centre including an information point, some of the IT study spaces and (towards the back) a social space.


My presentation focused on the qualitative and quantitative methodologies we had employed at Newport to try and identify a relationship between the learning styles of our students and the study spaces we provide. It is clear that there still needs to be a demarcation between the silent / individualised and the group / blended learning areas.  Strong support was also shown for more IT zones and bookable study rooms.  This has largely been achieved at our new campus in the city centre, but is something we are still working on at our older campus at Caerleon.  Other points raised in the presentation noted the need for social spaces, and this is something I am starting to look at in conjunction with the Newport Riverfront Arts Centre, aiming to deploy techniques from the commercial and non-education sector into higher education libraries.

I was also part of a roundtable group identifying the relationship between learning spaces and student experience. This involved attending other presentations on library themes including:
  • the design of a bespoke ‘Learning Ground and Sandbox’ at ‘Portland State University’
  • non-linear approaches to teaching students information literacy / fluency from ‘To The Point Research/Google, Inc’, and
  • managing media technology and services (both on-demand borrowing and service support) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 
It was good to gain an insight into what other higher education libraries in other parts of the world are doing and the Q&A session at the end reinforced the notion that we share the same issues and problems, including:
  • how to support research in higher education (whether through faculty or a dedicated graduate research centre);
  • bridging the digital divide and avoiding disintermediation (both for users and front-line staff), and
  • the growing role of marketing and use of social media.


A ‘snapshot’ of some of the findings at Newport, with a demand for improved spaces of all types, replete with improved environmental factors.  This is something we have started to address by laying less emphasis on printed stock and opening up floor space and study rooms.


The role networking plays in such a large conference is invaluable and it was really useful to have informal discussions with academic staff from a wide range of disciplines as well as library people. For instance I had a good dialogue with the Head of Service at Bishop’s University, Quebec and it would be invaluable to continue communications with him to learn about the outcomes of the design and construction of their new library.

The Future


In relation to HETL, I would like to stay informed and become involved with activities in the future.  In relation to the work done at Newport on learning spaces, as mentioned above, I am embarking on a research investigation at the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre as part of a Strategic Insight Programme and aim to bring ideas about space from another sector and service back to the library to increase the engagement we have with our learners and researchers.  Part of my presentation will also be delivered at the forthcoming event Learning Spaces and the Student Experience: Do Spaces Matter? at the Senedd, National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff on March 11 2013. 

Acknowledgements


It is with sincere gratitude that I acknowledge the funding from the Kathleen Cooks Fund which made my visit to the HETL Conference possible. Thanks to Dr Bela Arora, who also participated at the conference and has been instrumental at setting up a learning spaces forum at the university.  Thanks also to Angharad Evans and Madeleine Rogerson for all the work and research they performed at Newport when we initially received the learning and teaching grant.  As the university mergers with Glamorgan University to become the University of South Wales, then this is an ideal opportunity to re-examine the learning spaces we provide across multi-campuses.

Martin Edwards is Team Leader in User Services, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at the University of Wales Newport.

CILIP Cymru Wales is grateful to Martin for providing permission to publish this report.