NLS joins UK counterparts to strive for excellence
The National Library of Scotland is currently co-hosting an event which aims to help the UK create the “best research library support in the world”.
Scotland’s largest library, along with the University of Edinburgh, is hosting the 2010 Research Libraries UK (RLUK) conference which is currently taking place in Edinburgh.
RLUK aims to shape and realise the vision of the ‘modern research library’ by encouraging collaboration, promoting best practice and ensuring the richness of the UK’s collections can be exploited by researchers to their full potential.
The conference will see RLUK’s members – leading research libraries from across the United Kingdom – coming together to share their knowledge and expertise.
Martyn Wade, CEO of the National Library of Scotland, said: “I believe we have risen to the challenge of becoming a truly modern research facility. In recent months we have made vast amounts of additional digitised material available online and have even created an iPhone/iTouch app, allowing a whole new audience to gain access to our prestigious John Murray Archive.
“It is important that organisations such as ours continually strive for excellence, and events such as this week’s RLUK Conference help us to share our knowledge with other research libraries and further improve our offering.”
This year’s conference is based on the theme of innovation in a time of financial change, and features an impressive programme of presentations and panel sessions, with Martyn Wade chairing one of the opening events. The conference also marks the beginning of a two-year mentoring programme aimed at encouraging networking within its member organisations.
The National Library of Scotland will hold a drinks reception this evening (Wed) to welcome delegates, many of whom will also have the opportunity to take an exclusive tour of its George IV Bridge building in Edinburgh.
The conference takes place at the Radisson Hotel on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, until Friday. For more information on the work of RLUK visit www.rluk.ac.uk and to find out more about the National Library of Scotland and its collections, visit www.nls.uk
About the National Library of Scotland
· The National Library of Scotland is a major European research library and is the world’s leading centre for the study of Scotland and the Scots - an information treasure trove for Scotland’s knowledge, history and culture.
· The Library’s collections are of world-class importance. Key areas include rare books, manuscripts, maps, music, official publications, business information, science and technology, and the modern and foreign collections.
· The Library holds well over 14 million items, including printed items, approximately 100,000 manuscripts, over 32,000 films and nearly 2 million maps. Every week it collects approximately 6,000 new items. Around 80% of these are received free of charge in terms of the Legal Deposit legislation.
· See www.nls.uk for further information about the Library and its collections, and for information on events being held at the Library please see www.nls.uk/events
- Log in to post comments