Information Services Newsletter
Foyle Scheme opens up Library Resources
in Derry Area

Photo from left to right: Calum Morrison, Deputy Director, North West Institute of Further & Higher Education, Elaine Waterson the Vice-Chair of the Library Committee Western Education and Library Board, Stella Burnside, Chief Executive, Altnagelivn Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust and Elaine Urquhart, University of Ulster Assistant Director of Information Services (Library).

The launch of the Foyle Scheme took place on 2 September 2004 in the North West Institute for Further & Higher Education. This exciting new initiative involves the libraries in:

• Altnagelvin Hospitals Health & Social Services Trust
• North West Institute of Further and Higher Education
• Western Education and Library Board
• University of Ulster, Magee Campus

The scheme opens up resources held locally in the Derry area to members of each library. For many years local libraries have worked together on an informal basis and now spurred on by the U.K. wide INSPIRE initiative we have developed a formal access and borrowing scheme. It gives people in the Derry area direct access to an impressive array of resources totalling over 150, 000 items. Opening up our collections through this scheme will give local people the opportunity to consult our printed books and journals many of which are of high local interest. We are delighted to be part of this scheme and hope that it will expand and expect to see it go from strength to strength.

Ciaran Cregan