Cross-Sectoral Partnership in Action The Ayrshire Libraries Forum

							Cross-Sectoral Partnership in Action:
   The Ayrshire Libraries Forum


            Stuart James
  Chairman, Ayrshire Libraries Forum

             ELISA Open Day
           Edinburgh 3 May 2005
               What is ALF?
• A cross-sectoral partnership of library and
  information services within a defined geographical
  area, founded 1998
• Ayrshire County retains a strong identity, although
  ‘reorganised’ into three local authorities
• Emphasis on public sector partnerships for
  enhanced service provision
• Lifelong learning, social inclusion across whole
  population of Ayrshire
               Who is ALF?
• Three public libraries
• Two HE libraries
• Three FE colleges
• Three hospital libraries and NHS Ayrshire &
  Arran Library and Knowledge Services
• School libraries
• National Library of Scotland
• Ayrshire Archives
          What does ALF do?

• Ayrshire LIP
• Joint training
• Loan support service from University of Paisley
• Joint digitisation projects
• Joint service overviews (e.g. DDA provision,
  library profiles)
• Monthly meetings, regular exchange of experience
• RSS Project
  What benefits does ALF bring?
• Enhanced services through collaboration
• Projects and services collaboratively we might not
  be able to do as well – or at all – individually
• Demonstrate how we address political agendas
  and Executive priorities through collaboration
• Bring a range of services together as appropriate
  for particular requirements
• Mutual support
   What obstacles has ALF met?
• Different funding streams: problem of getting
  cross-sectoral funds
• Changing internal politics
• A small county with limited resources: creating a
  critical mass
• Getting our message across through the media
• Plethora of agencies on our periphery – variable
  responses to our involvement
      Where is ALF going now?
• Have demonstrated possibilities of collaboration
• Convincing political masters without diminishing
  local resource input
• Develop a marketing plan
• RSS project: implications crucial whatever
  technical and service outcomes
• Await outcomes of Cultural Commission
• But continue to develop joint service provision on
  local basis
Where is ALF in the wider picture?
• One of several local collaborative organisations
• CoSMIC – development plan
• Relation with other domains
• SLIC – forward plan
• NLS – strategic plan
• Sectoral bodies (SCURL, Heads of Service,
  SHINE etc.)
• Formal and informal involvement