1. LINC Y GOGLEDD Tony Heaton University of Wales Bangor

2. LINC y Gogledd • Cross – sectoral library partnership • Four full members: University with three public library services. • Three associate members: FE colleges • Unlocks the wealth of resources available for learners in North-West Wales

3. What makes LINC different? • LINC broke down barriers to borrowing • A free reciprocal borrowing scheme • Users to books, or books to users

4. From little acorns….. • University off-campus students • Public libraries learning support role • Heads of Service agreed common interest • Concordat for partnership agreed and approved by Committees and Councils

5. Steering Group • Examined existing policies, procedures, systems and infrastructures • To identify best means of inter library requesting, lending, delivery, recall, return (and non-return) • ICT systems and physical infrastructures • A name!

6. LINC y gogledd • Pilot scheme in October 2002 • Formal existence in North-West Wales since March 2003

7. Splendid isolation • “Access to library resources is absolutely essential to any learner. This need is even greater for those attempting to study in isolated communities with none of the usual support structures available to campus-based students” • 20% of the total land area of Wales with 10% of the population. Population density 7.9 people per km sq. • Mountains!

8. The case of the Off-campus student • Mrs. Jones • Part-time student • Working mum 2 children and elderly relative. • Lives far from Bangor

9. What Mrs. Jones did next • Go to her local public library • Asks for the book. Public Library emails University Library • Same procedure for all users

10. Personal Borrowing via LINC • Traditional for universities to charge for external borrowing privileges • No charge for personal borrowing • …If registered with scheme partner

11. Personal application form

12. Boring Statistics of 2004 • Personal registration with UWB through LINC 632 people; 3177 items borrowed • UWB items supplied to public libraries 573 items to 29 branch libraries • Public Library items supplied to UWB 37 items from 13 branches

13. Issues • Core reading texts • Perception of service dilution to core users • Staff resource issues as net lender • Managing expectations • Learning curve for Ynys Mon re email • Staff awareness • Correctly following procedures

14. Benefits University • Off-campus students benefit • Powerful marketing and recruitment tool Public library • Increases range of titles available • Reduced Interlibrary loans expenditure

15. Value added benefits • Media coverage; Political kudos • Basis of further joint projects; Funding • Getting to know each other is enriching • No hesitation now in contacting public libraries with queries and vice versa

16. The future • Other partners: Health & Special libraries? • Expansion east along A55 or South along A470? • Joint projects; Sharing other media • Remarketing and branding

17. Conclusion LINC y Gogledd is • Proven successful scheme to support community-based lifelong learning • Already embedded into mainstream library provision in the four services • Helps break down barriers to learning to make Wales the Learning Country

18. Credit where it’s due… • “Collaboration in resource sharing by the four partner library services, through removing barriers to borrowing, is unquestionably an essential key in helping achieve these Government priorities in North-West Wales”