Media Releases

NEW COURSES ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS INFORMATION TO BE OFFERED BY LA

Library Association to take over British Library training capability

New courses on patents, business, the environment, health and the Internet are to be offered by the Library Association from 2002, following the British Library decision to cease its professional training programme by the end of this year.  The BL’s decision results from wider plans to refocus its priorities, which led it to approach the LA about offering a similar range of courses.

“We have many years’ experience of developing and running training courses for library and information professionals, and excellent onsite training facilities at our Ridgmount Street headquarters, just a few minutes away from the BL,” said Penny Simmonds, Professional Development Manager at the LA, “So we embraced this opportunity to expand our range and broaden our professional appeal.”

Following an overwhelming final vote last week, the LA is to unify with the Institute of Information Scientists from next April to form CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.  Using a mix of BL and external presenters, these new courses will have particular relevance to former IIS members looking for services from the new organisation that are specially tailored to their needs.

“The BL has offered the strongest possible endorsement of our training capabilities in taking this decision,” added Janet Liebster, Managing Director of Library Association Enterprises, which includes both professional development and conferences.

Jill Finney, Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing at the BL, commented “We are totally committed to delivering services that are of real value, but in some specialist areas other organisations may be able to serve users better.  In the case of training, our awareness of a changing marketplace and the existence of other excellent training providers in the field led to our decision to close the programme.”

Besides the new courses that it will take over from the BL, the LA already offers training in financial & performance management, information & communication technology, interpersonal/personal development, management skills, marketing & promotion, professional/technical skills and workplace libraries topics.  Full details of its autumn 2001 courses can be found on its Web site.

For further information contact:

Penny Simmonds, Manager, Professional Development, The Library Association.
Tel: 020 7255 0562.
E-mail: penny.simmonds@la-hq.org.uk.

Tim Owen, Head of External Relations, The Library Association.
Tel: 020 7255 0652.
E-mail: tim.owen@la-hq.org.uk

Notes to Editors

The Library Association is the leading chartered professional body for librarians and information managers, with around 24,000 members who work in all sectors, including business and industry, further and higher education, schools, local and central government departments and agencies, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries.  From April 2002, the LA and the Institute of Information Scientists will unify to form CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

31 October 2001