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Libraries for Educational Access Regional Network - LEARN
LEARN is a partnership between all the public library authorities, the University of Chester and many of the colleges across Cheshire, Warrington, Halton and Wirral. If you are registered at any of the libraries in the partnership you can access the other libraries in the scheme for reference and study purposes. LEARN partners are:
Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Cheshire Public Libraries, Halton Public Libraries, Macclesfield College, Mid Cheshire College, Priestley College, Reaseheath College, Riverside College, South Cheshire College, University of Chester, Warrington Collegiate, Warrington Public Libraries, West Cheshire College, Wirral Metropolitan College and Wirral Public Libraries.
Details of the partnership and the access policies, opening hours and contact details of participating libraries are available from any member library or in the electronic leaflet below:
Finding Inspiration |
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Today, I have flown
with the buzzards, the kestrels,
the pigeons and the crows.
Flown across counties,
Flown across centuries.
I have wound up stone stairs
to a timbered hall.
Held in my hands Bede's
guide to grammar and poetry,
Felt the brush of a mind
from a thousand years ago.
I have seen all the known world
mapped out,
And caught a glimpse of Judgement Day.
I have read of Private Henry -
Royal Scots Fusiliers,
shrapnel wound in his forearm,
5th November 1914,
At the start of another
of Europe's dark crimson harvests. |
I have watched knowledge and ideas
fly onto a screen.
Expressions and discoveries
from across the globe,
Barely hours old,
Set free and passed on -
Unchained with the press of a key.
Sparks of ideas, of knowledge,
Of passion -
To land, if you're lucky,
On dry kindling,
Lighting a new, bright flame.
So, open the door.
Let in the air.
Breathe life into these sleeping words.
Wake them up.
Let them whisper.
Let them declaim.
Let them shout.
Let them inspire! |
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(Michael Mable, November 2006) |
Joined up LEARNing Conference
On Wednesday 11th July 2007, 222 librarians and information workers gathered at the Hartford Campus of Mid Cheshire College for an action packed day of workshops, seminars and networking opportunities at the first LEARN staff development event.
Joined up LEARNing speakers and presenters have kindly agreed to allow us to post their presentations and handouts here.
Unfortunately, our keynote speaker was unable to attend, but his excellent PowerPoint presentation, complete with web links is available: Phil Bradley, Internet Consultant - What's this Web 2.0 stuff then?
Sally Curry kindly agreed to fill in for Phil at very short notice. Her presentation explained what Inspire is all about and reminded us why libraries are wonderful places. She described what we have to gain by working together in partnerships such as LEARN. Inspire Update
Workshop A: Have an answer for everything
The workshop consisted of a hands-on practical session exploring the range of online resources available through the public libraries who are part of LEARN. The session was guided by a team of professionals from public and academic partners: Sue Eddison, Cheshire Libraries; Jo Shepherd, University of Chester; Leo Appleton, West Cheshire College; Pauline Black, Wirral Libraries.
Workshop B: Blogs, wikis and all that Web 2.0 stuff
Although Phil Bradley, Internet Consultant, was unable to lead this practical workshop on creating a start page and introducing social software web sites, he did provide a handout that participants were able to work through to try out Web 2.0 resources. The session was guided by Lindsay Wallace, Mid Cheshire College and Anthony Beale, West Cheshire College.
Workshop C: Everybody's speaking VLEse
This demonstration session explored what a Virtual Learning Environment is and examined how students of all ages are learning in the 21st Century. Session leaders were Rob Newcombe, West Cheshire College and Henry Blackman, University of Chester.
Workshop D: Podcasting - education and recreation
Alan Carr from Mid Cheshire College explained what a podcast is, how they are created, how to download them and how they can be used for learning and leisure purposes. Alan demonstrated popular podcasting applications such as iTunes as well as free software for recording audio and for mixing audio with images.
Workshop E: RFID - the way forward
Jo Aitkins from Leicester University Library and Alan Metcalf from Liverpool Public Libraries provided a joint presentation outlining the impact of the introduction of Radio Frequency Identification in both an academic and a public library setting. Their presentations illustrate how RFID is transforming the way libraries are used.
Workshop F: Don't read, won't read
This practical session looked at ways of encouraging teenagers into the library and getting them reading for pleasure. Janet Atkinson, Carol Maplesden and Shan Wilkinson, Cheshire Libraries; Janette Fleming and Jennie Archer, Halton Libraries shared ideas and experiences and talked about setting up teenage reading groups.
The conference was supported by library and information suppliers who provided a marketplace exhibition during the lunch interval. Their assistance is gratefully acknowledged.
Conference sponsors were:
3M - Phil Farrell Esbco - Steve Giannoni Intellident - Clare Beasley and John Cunningham
Plescon Security Products - Robert Bellamy, Nick Hunt and Matt Wilson
Also present in the marketplace:
Inspire - Sally Curry Research for Libraries - Robert Dowding and Laura Stanham
Delegates were asked to complete evaluation forms. Thank you to everyone for your feedback, which will be incorporated into a conference report in due course.
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