Information Services Newsletter
Director's Welcome

I am pleased to write a few words at the start of this, the fourth issue of the Information Services Newsletter. Pride of place has to go to the opening of the new Learning Resource Centre at Magee, which came into operation on 2nd January. ISD staff had worked very hard with the contractors to ensure that the revised opening date was met; while much remains to be done to get things absolutely right (as is always the case with a sophisticated new building), the feedback from staff and students on the campus has been very positive. The handsome and striking design brings a distinctive style to the Magee campus. The library stock of 80,000 volumes is easily accessible on the ground and first floors. The coffee bar is already proving popular and shares with the electronic classroom on the top floor a panoramic view, while a purpose-built environmentally controlled Rare Books Room ensures optimum conditions for our substantial collection of historic and scholarly papers and books. 

The Department has installed the Library's TALIS computer system in the Portrush site, allowing students and staff there to be able to browse the University's entire holdings and borrow and renew books quickly and efficiently. On the University-wide front, our automated telephone renewal and information line (TalisMessage) is proving very popular as a means of renewing library books and accessing information such as Library opening hours. A significant number of enquiries come in during the night, suggesting that many of you are, indeed, burning the midnight oil! It can be accessed on 028 9036 8530. 

Further in the future, we are looking forward to implementing a web-based email system for all students in 2003/04; 'Netmail' will allow students to access their email via any Web browser from any location. It is already being piloted with staff for whom this will form a key part of a new common desktop. 

These and other developments show that improvements for users of Information Services continue to keep the staff in the Department very busy; indeed we find the pace of change every bit as challenging as you do!

Nigel Macartney