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NEW DEVELOPMENT OFFICER TO HELP LIBRARIES GAIN MUSCLE IN THE REGIONS

Partners to collaborate on new regional post

Library and information services in the English regions are to receive a powerful boost with the appointment from 3 March of Geoff Warren as Regional Development Officer.  His brief is to encourage collaboration and representation, within and beyond the library and information domain, in order to influence wider regional agendas. 

Geoff Warren has been working regionally for libraries in the West Midlands for 10 years, following various library posts in London and the Midlands.  He has been Director of The Libraries Partnership, West Midlands (TLP-WM) since 2000.  He will be seconded to this national post, which is jointly funded by the Library Association, Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries and the British Library.  The work will be guided by a steering group of the three funding partners and other key stakeholders. 

“We are very pleased to be working with Resource and the BL on this initiative,” commented LA Chief Executive Bob McKee.  “An important part of the LA’s role is to promote the development of library and information services, and Geoff is the ideal person to carry that role forward in the regions.”

"We urgently need to promote cross-sectoral collaboration between museums, libraries and archives at regional level,” added Resource’s Chief Executive Neville Mackay.  “This post will achieve that by establishing a single point of contact to coordinate their interests.” Geoff Smith, the British Library’s Head of Co-operation and Partnerships, concurred, saying “This unique funding collaboration between the three organisations indicates the high importance we attach to achieving an effective regional presence for the library and information domain.”

 Identifying and influencing funding opportunities, and promoting strong links between the library and information domain and the Regional Development Agencies and Cultural Consortia, are among the tasks that Mr Warren will be carrying out.  Decision making powers are being increasingly devolved to bodies such as Regional Chambers and Government Offices in the Regions, as well as to the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils, and regional government remains a possibility for those regions that want it.

For further information, or to arrange an interview with Geoff Warren, contact:

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 a leading professional body for librarians and information managers, with around 24,000 members who work in all branches of the profession.  Next April, the Library Association will unify with the Institute of Information Scientists to form a new body, CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.

Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries is a government agency sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.  Resource provides the strategic leadership, advocacy and advice to enable museums, archives and libraries to touch people's lives and inspire their imagination, learning and creativity.

The British Library is committed to working in partnership with others in the library and information domain.  Its Co-operation and Partnership Programme has encouraged and facilitated partnerships and collaborative activity in the key areas of library activity.

TLP-WM is working with the region’s Archive and Museum Councils to create a Single Regional Agency (SRA) which is expected to start its life in April 2003.  Following Geoff Warren’s secondment, an Acting Director is now being recruited to continue SRA-related work and strategic advocacy for libraries in the West Midlands.

10 January 2002