WHELF update: August 2011

WHELF: Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum
August 2011: an update

WHELF actively promotes the work of higher education libraries in Wales and provides a focus for the development of new ideas and services.

At our recent meeting in July, these were some of the topics under discussion:

The Future Shape of Higher Education in Wales: consultation
HEFCW sets out very clear recommendations for the reconfiguration of the higher education sector in Wales.  WHELF plans to respond over the course of the summer, highlighting innovative work in libraries which clearly demonstrates the “collaborative culture – such as that embraced by institutions in Wales” identified by JISC .
Find out more at: http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/education/heinwales/?lang=en

Sharing to be selfish: can we improve delivery and increase efficiency through shared services?
Keynote presentation at the 2011 SCONUL Conference in Cardiff by WHELF member Rebecca Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student and Staff Services, Aberystwyth University. Shared services are an important area of work for WHELF.
Find out more at: http://www.sconul.ac.uk/events/agm2011/presentations/

Joint procurement – SHEDL/WHEEL
Also at the SCONUL Conference, a workshop co-presented by Jeremy Atkinson, Director of Learning & Corporate Support Services, University of Glamorgan. Jeremy is leading on collaborative e-book and e-journal procurement for WHELF.
Find out more at: http://www.sconul.ac.uk/events/agm2011/presentations/

Welsh Information Literacy Framework launched
The Framework illustrates how learners’ information literacy develops throughout education, offering suggested learning outcomes for information literacy from entry level through to doctorates. The structure of the levels has been inspired by the recently revised SCONUL Seven Pillars core model and is aligned with both the Welsh Skills Framework for 3-19 year olds in Wales and the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW).  The Framework can be viewed on the project website at http://library.wales.org/informationliteracy/ or at http://library.wales.org/cy/llythrennedd-gwybodaeth/ for those preferring to read it in Welsh.

WHELF/HEWIT Colloquium 2011
A wide variety of themes this year, ranging from technology enhanced learning, web and mobile applications, information literacy and marketing  to partnership and collaborative working.
The presentations from the event are available on the website: http://gregynog.glam.ac.uk/page/programme

Library Impact Data Project
At various conferences in Wales, we heard about the early findings of this project with interest. We now have the answer to the question: Is there is a statistically significant correlation across a number of universities between library activity data and student attainment? The answer is a YES!
Find out more at: http://library.hud.ac.uk/blogs/projects/lidp/2011/07/21/the-final-blog-post/

Welsh Collaboration in Action 2011: A Joint Event for Librarians Supporting HE in FE
Libraries have an important role to play in supporting higher education in further education, so each year WHELF organises an event for staff to enable participants to share experiences, get up to date on recent developments and develop individual and shared programmes of action for the future. This year’s event was held at the ATRiuM Campus of the University of Glamorgan on Tuesday 28th June 2011.

WHELF News
Congratulations to David Learmont whose role at Bangor University will be changing to Director Business Improvement, with the future appointment of a University Librarian.

We welcome Madeleine Rogerson, Head of Learning Support, who will be representing University of Wales, Newport at future meetings.

And finally … welcome recognition of the role librarians play in supporting learning and teaching:
At Aberystwyth one of the Academic Services team, Karl Drinkwater, has been awarded a university Learning and Teaching Fellowship for his innovative work. LCSS at Glamorgan has given its Excellence in Learning, Teaching & Assessment Award in the Excellence and Innovation in Student Learning Support category to Steve Lee, Information Librarian for Sport, Science and Chiropractic.

For more information please contact:
Sue Mace
Development Officer
WHELF: Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum
http://whelf.ac.uk/
http://whelf.ac.uk/