    Universal Availability of Publications Core ProgrammeArchive - Historical MaterialWorkshop ReportLinks between libraries: Twinning, Networks and Partnerships Workshop Organised by the IFLA Core Programme for UAP and the IFLA Round Table on Continuing Professional Education, held during the IFLA General Conference in Jerusalem, 13 August 2000There is a great deal of enthusiasm for building partnerships between libraries or between individual library professionals. A number of successful partnerships exist, and lessons can be learnt from these on how to establish professional and practical links between libraries. On the other hand, the good ideas behind library twinning are not always easy to put into practice. The IFLA UAP Office recently came to the end of a three-year project to develop a database which would match potential partners, but the results did not really justify the resources required to maintain the database, in spite of the interest in the project.In order to explore what needs really exist in this area, and to ascertain whether a 'partnership database' is the best way to match libraries seeking to build professional links, a half-day workshop was held during the IFLA Conference to discuss these and related issues. Four speakers illustrated the broad spread of interest in the idea of library partnerships, and the different approaches that are made to the challenge of successful library twinning. Linda Ashcroft, Chair of the Round Table on Continuing Professional Education, inspired delegates with a call to stand up and be counted. Rather than sit back and wait to be invited to form partnerships, Linda urged library professionals to make their voices heard and their needs known, pointing out that building professional links is an excellent means to personal professional development. She emphasised the importance of keeping in touch with your library association, and in voicing concerns to them. Resource sharing might involve exchange of materials, or staff, or simply expertise, but partnerships do not need to be based on a stronger partner supporting a weaker one, since "equal partnerships can build strength". Jean Poland presented a paper written by Jeanette Regan from the Australian National University, which described the Physics Astronomy Mathematics Asia Pacific Forum (PAM-APF) project to support equal access to information resources in that particular subject field. This particular project does work on the basis that stronger partners should support those with greater needs, and is a reaction to concerns that rapid technological developments are increasing the divide between information "haves" and information "have-nots". The Forum uses the strategies of providing publicity, access to international forums and the local voices of those in need to improve library and information provision in developing countries. There have been real and tangible successes in the work of the Forum, and those attending the workshop were keen to know if similar forums exist in other subject or geographical areas. It was suggested that the Forum could be developed and promoted as a model on which other subject-based support networks could be based. The ALA (American Library Association) Sister Library Programme is already widely known, and Sarah Long, Past President of the ALA, offered an inspiring insight into the difference the programme has made to community library links between US and foreign public libraries. With the slogan "Libraries build community", Sarah explained how the opportunity to build relationships with libraries in other cultures can help all librarians learn, understand and better serve their own communities. The ALA International Relations Office also supports the programme, and maintains a database of Sister Library arrangements at http://www.ala.org/sisterlibraries/index.html. The IFLA Core Programme for UAP has been maintaining the IFLA Twinning Database for three years. The database was developed to match libraries seeking twinning partners, much along the lines of a dating agency. Libraries would apply to have their details entered on the database, and UAP staff would aim to put two libraries in touch with each other, matching their needs as closely as possible. The database emerged out of earlier work by UNESCO, which identified a need for a central focal point for libraries wanting to find a partner library. Pauline Connolly, the database manager, explained to the workshop participants that the database had not achieved the expected results, and that the Office for UAP was considering closing it down, since the results had not justified the resources spent on maintaining it. There was a good discussion on how libraries could best find suitable partners, and why the ALA Sister Library programme had been so successful in matching libraries, while the IFLA Database clearly had not. It was agreed that a database containing applications from libraries was probably not the best route to successful partnerships, given the wide diversity of type, size, subject area, level of technological development, and needs demonstrated by the libraries which had applied. Personal contact, or an individual direct approach to specific libraries appear to be better methods of building partnerships. What emerged clearly from discussions was the need for an information resource on models, guidelines, case studies and existing successful partnerships to which people could refer when considering building a twinning link. The work already carried out by the IFLA Section on Science and Technology Libraries is this area was highlighted and applauded. This Section's resource pages relating to twinning can be consulted at http://www.ifla.org/VII/s7/p1994/cooplib.htm. It has since been confirmed that the UAP Office will close down the IFLA Twinning Database. All libraries listed on the database will of course be told of this decision, and advised of alternative options for building networks.
Workshop ProgrammeLibrary partnerships: the benefitsLinda Ashcroft Liverpool John Moores University, Chair, IFLA Round Table on Continuing Professional Education
Physics Astronomy Mathematics - Asia Pacific Forum (PAM-APF): Global
strategies to assist with equity of access to information resources.
The ALA Sister Library Programme
Is there a need for a library twinning focal point? The IFLA Twinning Database and beyond. AbstractsPhysics Astronomy Mathematics - Asia Pacific Forum (PAM-APF): Global strategies to assist with equity of access to information resources
Presented by: Jean Poland, Cornell University Library. PAM-APF is one example of a network in a specialised subject and geographic area. This Forum uses the strategies of providing publicity, access to international forums and the local voices of those in need. This paper will discuss the development of the PAM-APF, its successes and how they can be emulated in other areas, and the challenges that have arisen. The ALA Sister Library Programme
Libraries build community, but today's community is a global one. Becoming a Sister Library provides an opportunity to build relationships with libraries in other cultures that can help all librarians learn, understand and better serve their own communities.
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