June / July 2001

Dear Delegate:

Course outline

Rapid advances in information technology have revolutionised the knowledge management process in central banks, and libraries and information centres are at the forefront of these changes. This course aims to maximise the output and impact of the library function in a central bank/ regulatory agency, raising the library’s role to the policy-making level.

A highly practical course, it will comprise presentations by distinguished experts in all fields of information management and librarianship, as well as talks by the main users of libraries – the public relations department, researchers, economists and policy advisers. There will be ample opportunities to work in small teams, to meet central bank librarians in the same geographical region and to discuss in detail subjects of special interest.

Principle themes of sessions
Key issues in central bank libraries. The course will kick off with a tour d’horizon of the main challenges facing libraries of all types. Particular attention will be given to the organisational structure of the library, fulfilling the demands of users, collaboration with other central bank/regulatory libraries, training personnel and human resources issues, how to increase budgets and, most importantly, how to raise the profile of the library.

Information technology revolution. This theme will cover issues such as library automation, how to use the internet to your advantage, and how to set up an intranet and a digital library. What are the legal and copyright issues relating to e-journals and internet subscription websites and databases? What issues are involved in CD-ROM network and storage?

Knowledge management. Often seen as the future of the central bank library is its role as a learning and training department – a way of satisfying users and raising the profile of the library to the policy level. As well as organising information in paper-based and electronic archives, there will also be a session to discuss setting up specialist newsletters for central bank staff and best practice used in collection development policies.

Problem surgery. The final day will incorporate teamwork sessions focusing on special interest subjects. The main conclusions from the group-based work will feed in to the final discussions at the end of the day. Delegates will each prepare a case study to present to the rest of the group for feedback and comment.

Course director
Dr Paul Ayris, Director of Library Services, University College London

The course features sessions, each of which will be introduced by a specialist in the field. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss specific issues of particular interest to them in an informal atmosphere with outside experts as well as central bank colleagues.

Independent view
The conference organiser and sponsor, Central Banking Publications Ltd, is an independent organisation delivering a range of regular publications, directories, research studies and electronic media services for monetary authorities and financial supervisors worldwide.

Distinguished panel of experts
Among the distinguished panel of expert presenters will be central bankers, academics, technology experts, information resource managers and librarians.

The seminar will be a two and a half day, residential course held at the beautiful Cambridge college of Christ’s, right in the heart of this historic university town. This year the organisers will ensure that delegates are provided with ample opportunities to exchange experiences and discuss common problems and issues with colleagues and fellow delegates from other central banks.

We very much look forward to welcoming you to Cambridge on September 9 for what promises to be an unmissable event.

Yours sincerely,

William Clarke, CBE, PhD
Chairman, Central Banking Publications Ltd

MONDAY 9th SEPTEMBER

TUESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER

KEY ISSUES FOR CENTRAL BANK LIBRARIANS

Staff development - taking an active approach
Anne Mcilwane
University College London

Strategic approaches to staff development in libraries are now widely recognised as the key to good human resource management and to coping with a world of constant change. Staff training and development is no longer a luxury but a necessity and both managers and individuals need to incorporate this into their working lives. This session will explore innovative ways of putting good staff development programmes into practice and will encourage individuals to think proactively about their training needs.

How to raise the profile of the libraries
Peter Rodgers
Secretary and Head of Information/Library Services, Bank of England

One of the key tasks facing a central bank librarian is to ensure that not only does the library provide users with access to the information services they need, but also that potential users know what they can expect the library service to provide. The readiness of the central bank’s board to ensure an adequate allocation of funds to the information centre/library is dependent on the good image and reputation of the department among users. This talk will discuss “dos and don’ts” for central bank librarians.

Fulfilling the demand for user services
Martin Reid
University College London

For any library service to fufill the needs and expectations of its parent organisation it must have clear and reliable information about what those needs and expectations are. This talk examines how UCL Library has employed ‘Libra’ user surveys to develop its services, making them more responsive to the needs of users, and improving its reputation and profile in the process.

IT REVOLUTION

Overview of library automation
Dr Paul Ayris
Director of Library Services
University College London

The advances in library automation are so pervasive that it is possible to think of a library and information service which is entirely electronic. What would this service look like to librarians/information officers and to users of this service? What are the constraints on moving to an electronic service? What about the need for archiving? How important is digitisation of content? Does ease of access to information mean that libraries should change their traditional emphasis on collection development? This talk will examine such themes and provide a practical manifesto on how to deal with the electronic revolution in your institution.

Licensing, managing, and marketing rlectronic resources
Susan Vincent
Chief Librarian
US Federal Reserve Board

Electronic resources present new challenges for central bank librarians. Who's responsible for negotiating contracts?  Who pays for what?  How are contracts managed?  How are electronic resources handled in the online catalog? What marketing techniques are effective for introducing new services?  Who provides training to users?  This group discussion will focus on the complexities of licensing electronic resources, as well as ways of managing access, and marketing these new services.  It's an opportunity to share ideas and experiences in the complex arena of electronic resources management. 

Managing website development

In recent discussions of central bank communications, the role of the website has sometimes been neglected. Indeed, from a conventional economist’s perspective, a website might seem to be only a technical dissemination issue. However, central bankers are increasingly realising the advantages of websites in creating new audiences, fast global reach and the possibility for efficient analysis of central bank information. This talk will discuss ways of increasing awareness of  the value of good central bank websites at senior management level and will examine what are the basic constituents of a good website.

TUESDAY 11th SEPTEMBER

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

General Principles
Dr Paul Ayris

Central bank librarians face many new challenges – deriving partly from advances in technology, partly from the changing requirements of users, and partly from management, financial and personnel constraints. What are the most common problems facing central bank librarians?  How do these differ from those facing librarians in other specialised fields? What can central bank librarians learn from the experiences of colleagues facing similar demands?

Peter Bakstansky
Senior Vice President,
Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Change is a fact of daily life and all central bank libraries have to cope with change as a matter of course. This presentation will examine the external forces which are leading to change in such institutions and identify areas where banking libraries themselves have identified the need for change. The presentation will use practical illustrations from current practice in central banking libraries to illustrate the issues involved.

CASE STUDIES

Exchange of experience practical use of automation
Chaired
by Dr Paul Ayris

In this section of the seminar, all participants will be encouraged to present brief examples from their own experience of issues in automation and change management that they personally have had to manage – and the lessons learnt.

WEDNESDAY 12th SEPTEMBER

COLLABORATION

Option for collaboration between central banks libraries
Howard Picton
Deputy Manager, The Information Centre
Bank of England

Central banking libraries are situated in institutions where confidentiality is crucial to a bank's success. They are, moreover, geographically disparate which makes joint working difficult. Nevertheless, such libraries share common aims and objectives and there are possibilities for joint working in terms of sharing good practice, joint website developments, collaborative collection management or joint project work. This talk  examines the issues involved in collaboration and suggests a practical way forward.

PROBLEM SURGERY

Dr Paul Ayris

Librarians participating in the conference have asked for a Problem Surgery, where they can bring any issue related to their work for discussion with colleagues in the conference and with Dr Ayris as the course director. Issues covered in 2000 included CD-ROM networking, public relations and dealing with difficult staff. Participants are encouraged to treat this part of the conference as THEIR chance to discuss any professional matter they would like with the course director.

Conference ends after lunch

Option:
Tour of Cambridge University Library

Tony Harper/Barry Eden