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Looking Ahead
ALGIS held an awayday in September which proved a valuable time for looking
at the role of the group and considering its future. The findings of
the day were discussed in greater detail by the committee in December
and we took on board the feeling of the awayday that the ALGIS still
had a role to play in supporting those working in information in local
government. I think we all felt energised by the awayday to continue
the work but we do need more people to join the committee if we are to
be able to support the activities the group would like to be able to
offer.
Events
We are delighted to be able to offer members three events for 2007.
Firstly on Valentine’s Day, Wednesday 14th February 2007, we have
been fortunate enough to book places for ALGIS members to attend the
House of Commons Library’s open day. The day runs from 10:15am
through to 4:30pm and includes talks by library staff, a tour and lunch.
This event is only held once a year and it is no longer possible to book
a tour as an individual group so don’t miss this rare opportunity
to see behind the scenes. The day will be free but there is a £4
refundable deposit. Arrangements will be made to collect and return this
but at present we just need to know who will be interested in attending.
Numbers will be limited so please email the LARIA office (lariaoffice@aol.com)
if you are interested in attending. It will have to be on a first come
first served basis.
Our next big event will be our AGM on 20th March 2007 and the focus of
this day will be the relationship between information work and research
in local government. Links between the work of LARIA members and those
in ALGIS are very close. Research and information are entwined but I
am not sure the links are always recognised. I wonder if researchers
think to ask their information colleagues for help, and do information
professionals promote their skills within the research community? Our
AGM will take place at the offices the Greater
London Authority and will include an opportunity to look around as much
of the building as possible. It will depend a little on what is going
on in the building at the time but we should definitely be able to see
the library. Booking forms and AGM papers will be sent out in advance
of the meeting but please book the date in your diary now.
On Tuesday 12th June we have arranged for a tour of the Welsh Assembly
building in Cardiff. Designed by Richard Rogers this fascinating building
should provide us with an interesting day out which we hope will include
a chance to sit in the public gallery for a plenary session of the Assembly.
Again if you would like to attend this event could you email the LARIA
Office as soon as possible so that we have an idea of numbers. There
will be no charge for the day.
Local Authority Publishing Guide
ALGIS is excited to have a small part in a project to publish a new guide
to local authority publishing. Local Government Analysis and Research
(LGAR) is working with the Standing Committee on Official Publications
(SCOOP), part of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
(CILIP) Information Services Group (ISG), on the project. It aims to
develop a ‘userfriendly tool that will be available to local authority
staff in a variety of formats.’ It will be a layman’s guide
to the publication of documents in local government covering hard copy
and electronic publishing. It is due for publication in the spring of
2007 and promises to be a useful tool so watch out for it.
Jane Inman Chair of ALGIS in LARIA www.algis.org.uk
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