Amy Staniforth writes:

NHS Wales Library and Knowledge Service and Newtown Area Library have been recognized by CILIP Cymru Wales, the Library and Information association in Wales, for their incredible commitment and innovative services during a turbulent 2020.

The Award, presented by Lord Elis-Thomas MS, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism and Nick Poole, Chief Executive of CILIP at CILIP Cymru Wales’ Open Day and AGM on Thursday (3rd December) celebrates outstanding professional achievements by teams working within Library/Information Services in Wales.

As joint first prize winners both teams take £400 back to their service.

The Runners Up

The runners up team was The Welsh Higher Education Library Forum (WHELF) Cataloguing Team, nominated by Alan Hughes from Cardiff University. Alan says “the WHELF cataloguing Team has had a transformational and refreshing impact on the reinvention of cataloguing activities across Wales and beyond.

The all-Wales partnership of 14 higher education and research institutions – through modest confidence, expertise and professional connections – have been able to penetrate far wider and influential networks. Alan was blown over by their ability to rebrand a traditionally hidden and solitary activity into a front-facing force with Wales at the helm of the sector.”

The judges agreed, saying “It was nice to see an application from such a key team, often overlooked, but vital to providing core Library services. Their work supporting WHELF institutions, also has a wider impact due to partnership working both nationally and internationally.” As runners up the WHELF Cataloguing Team take £100 back to their network.