News & Events
Pathways to learning: exploring the potential for cross-sectoral library service provision, National Library of Ireland, on 8 November 2006 (invitation only)
COLICO (Committee on Library Co-operation in Ireland) was established in 1977 and advises An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, and the Library and Information Services Council, Northern Ireland (LISC) on library co-operation. COLICO monitors and encourages co-operative projects on the island of Ireland and works towards providing and enhancing shared systems and resources for library staff and users.
The committee is exploring the feasibility of providing a cross-sectoral pathway for learning to users of the public, academic, national and specialised libraries in Ireland, in order to promote wider participation in the knowledge economy. To this end, COLICO is organising the conference Pathways to learning: exploring the potential for cross-sectoral library service provision, which takes place, courtesy of the Director and the Board, in the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, on 8th November 2006.
The conference will address the challenges in providing equal access to the rich resources of Irish libraries. You will have the opportunity to hear senior representatives of the profession and policy makers who will consider the issues leading to the development of such a mechanism. COLICO has identified a number of questions that should be addressed at the conference, and these are also included in the attached document.
We are delighted that Senator Maurice Hayes, who has wide experience of public sector policy, including his role as Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, has agreed to give the keynote address.
A precedent on cross-sectoral library service provision has been set by the Inspire programme (www.inspire.gov.uk) in the United Kingdom which has received widespread support. We are pleased that participants in INSPIRE from both England and Northern Ireland will share their experiences at the conference.
Pathways to Learning is funded by COLICO with the support of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, LISC Northern Ireland, the Consortium of National and University Libraries (CONUL), and The National Library of Ireland. Attendance at the conference is free and by invitation.