School Libraries of the Future Project Northern Ireland

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Welcome to the School Libraries of the Future Project NI

This is a short overview of the project but hopefully it contains enough useful information to help you find out what the project is all about

CONTENTS

For further information about these pages, contact E Tinneny E-Mail tinneny@rmplc.co.uk

Introduction

Northern Ireland is currently involved in a national project entited "School Libraries of the Future". It began as a pilot project involving 11 school and college libraries and focussed on the impact of new technologies on accessing information in the library.

Five of these schools are in Northern Ireland.

Initially it was intended to run from June 1994 to March 1995 but it is now in its second phase and this will run until April 1995.

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Aims of the Project


  1. to develop an achievable vision of libraries in education

  2. to maximise the potential of new technologies for accessing information and learning resources

  3. to look at the impact on all stakeholders involved

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Project Funding Bodies

There are a number of funding bodies involved in this project

National Council for Educational Technology

British Library Research & Development Department

Department of Education and Education & Library Boards, Northern Ireland


Research Machines provided ISDN access to their Internet Service
Reuters provided subsidised access to their Business Briefing service.

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Project Staffing

Project Head
Jean Beck
Director NCET

Project Manager
Ceris Bergen
Programme Manager NCET

Project Officers
Carolyn Carter
Educational Researcher

Laura Plummer
Assistant Chief Librarian
SEELB Northern Ireland

Technical Support Officer Phase 2
Eibhlin Tinneny
Assistant Advisory Officer
SEELB Northern Ireland

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Background Information

The outcome of research and development projects in the past and other research evidence indicate that if learners are to gain most benefit from the increasing range and quantity of information, those who support the learning process will need to pass control of information over to the learners.

A key area surrounds the issues of access to information and resources. Technology can now make information available to learners at the point of need and it enables them to manage, manipulate, present and communicate information in new and unusual ways.

Learners need highly developed information and communication skills to exploit these new opportunities. Teachers, librarians and others need to understand their role in supporting learners.

Originally it was envisaged that one school in Northern Ireland would be included in this project but following discussions between the Education and Library Boards and DENI, it was decided to extend the scope of the project to 5 schools, one in each Board area.

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Northern Ireland Project Schools

  1. St Peter's Primary School
    Ross Road
    Falls Road
    Belfast
    E-Mail Address stpeters@rmplc.co.uk
    Belfast Education & Library Board

  2. St Cecilia's High School
    Bligh's Lane
    Londonderry
    E-Mail Address cecilias@rmplc.co.uk
    Western Education & Library Board

  3. Coleraine Girls' Secondary School
    Carthall Road
    Coleraine
    E-Mail Address cgssnet@rmplc.co.uk
    North Eastern Education and Library Board

  4. Friends' School
    6 Magheralave Road
    Lisburn
    E-Mail Address libfsl@rmplc.co.uk
    South Eastern Education and Library Board

  5. Armstrong Primary School
    College Hill
    Armagh
    E-Mail Address arms@rmplc.co.uk
    Southern Education and Library Board

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