Citation
Freeman, M. (2001), "Libraries in the Learning Community; Building Strategic Partnerships", New Library World, Vol. 102 No. 4/5, pp. 180-185. https://doi.org/10.1108/nlw.2001.102.4_5.180.4
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Some good things come from “oop North” (not least this reviewer!) and this is a fine and timely production from the North East. This is the thought‐provoking and well‐produced Report of the International Conference on Libraries in the Learning Community, organised by the Library and Information Commission and the University of Sunderland, last year.
An impressive and well‐chosen array of speakers were led off by Baroness Blackstone expounding the Government’s vision and projections for the oncoming Learning Society envisaged for this nation. She brought forth some interesting statistics, such as 70 per cent of jobs today need “cerebral skills” and that seven million adults in the UK have no formal qualifications at all. She recognised that “Libraries must continue to be a strong and vibrant link in the chain of lifelong learning”.
The well‐chosen menu of papers presented by such luminaries as John Dolan, on Birmingham’s dynamic and innovative Public Library Service, and Andrew McDonald’s excellent account of LASH (Libraries Access Sunderland Scheme) all made good prophetic visionary reading – librarianship needs some visionaries at this moment in our professional history. Pity about going OD on the acronyms though!