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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHAIRPERSON
1998
CONTENTS
MAP
INTRODUCTION
MEMBERSHIP OF GAELIC
INNOPAC
PHASE 1
PHASE 2
PHASE 3
TASK GROUPS
RESOURCE SHARING
HUMAN RESOURCES
DOCUMENT DELIVERY
JOINT ACQUISITIONS
SERIALS
CATALOGUING
PUBLICITY
STRATEGIC PLANNING
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
CONTACT WITH CONSORTIA AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
CONNECTIVITY
CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
GAELIC, the Gauteng and Environs Library Consortium, came into being
in April 1996, in response to factors present in the higher education
sector in South Africa, the call by Government for tertiary institutions
to co-operate and become more cost-effective, and the severe budgetary
constraints being experienced by libraries. Encouragement and support
from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation provided the impetus needed, and
in under three years, GAELIC has grown into the largest academic library
consortium in South Africa, with 14 members (as at December 1998) and
2 more expected to join in 1999.
Emphasis has been
on system implementation in our member libraries, and on a variety of
projects concerned with resource sharing (human resources as well as
information resources).
The 1998 Annual
Report of the Chairperson outlines the activities and achievements of
this past year; a record of work undertaken during the first two years
of GAELIC’s life may be found in the 1996/1997
Annual Report.
It is difficult
in a necessarily brief Annual Report to give sufficient credit to the
people who have done so much to make GAELIC a success, and to describe
in sufficient detail the projects with which we are involved. However,
readers of this Report are welcome to contact the Chairperson or the
GAELIC Office at any time for further information.
MEMBERSHIP OF GAELIC
Medical University of Southern Africa (Medunsa)
Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education
Rand Afrikaans University
Technikon Northern Gauteng
Technikon North-West
Technikon Pretoria
Technikon Southern Africa
Technikon Witwatersrand
University of Pretoria
University of South Africa (Unisa)
University of the North-West
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Vaal Triangle Technikon
Vista University
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
:
SABINET Online
FRELICO
OBSERVER STATUS
:
The State Library
MEMBERS OF GAELIC
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES
GAELIC ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Ms A McCallum
STEERING COMMITTEE
Prof H Edwards (Chairperson) University of the Witwatersrand
Ms M Botha Technikon Northern Gauteng
Mr P Buys Potchefstroom University for CHE
Mr G de Bruin FRELICO (Sasol)
Ms S de Beer Vaal Triangle Technikon
Dr M de Kock Vista University
Ms L Erasmus University of South Africa
Prof E Gerryts University of Pretoria
Ms M Hammes University of Pretoria
Dr J Henning Technikon SA
Mr J Kabamba Vista University
Mr G Kemp SABINET Online
Ms S Kibirigi University of North-West
Prof C Lessing Potchefstroom University for CHE
Dr P Lor State Library
Mr P Malan SABINET Online
Ms D Man University of the Witwatersrand
Ms D Nchabeleng Technikon North-West
Ms H Sander Rand Afrikaans University
Prof J Sinclair FOTIM (U P)
Mr N Shillinglaw University of South Africa
Mr M Swanepoel Technikon Pretoria
Mr J van der Klashorst Technikon Witwatersrand
Prof P van Eldik FOTIM (T P)
Ms S Veldsman Rand Afrikaans University
Mr C Vink Medunsa
Prof J Willemse Unversity of South Africa
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Prof H Edwards (Chairperson) University of the Witwatersrand
Ms L Erasmus University of South Africa
Ms M Hammes University of Pretoria
Dr J Henning Technikon S A
Ms D Man University of the Witwatersrand
Mr P Malan SABINET Online
Ms H Sander Rand Afrikaans University
Mr N Shillinglaw Unversity of South Africa
Ms S Veldsman Rand Afrikaans University
Mr H Watermeyer University of the Witwatersrand
IMPLEMENTATION MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Mr P Malan SABINET Online
Ms L Erasmus University of South Africa
Ms D Man University of the Witwatersrand
SITE CO-ORDINATORS
Ms E Anderssen Technikon SA
Ms M Botha Technikon Northern Gauteng
Ms S de Beer Vaal Triangle Technikon
Dr M de Kock Vista University
Ms Y Dumas Technikon Pretoria
Ms L Erasmus University of South Africa
Mr T Larney P U for CHE
Ms D Man University of the Witwatersrand
Ms F Maritz Medunsa
Mr C Nel Technikon Witwatersrand
Ms Y Roets University of Pretoria
Ms S Veldsman Rand Afrikaans University
INNOPAC
A major part of GAELIC’s work during 1998 included completion of
system implementation in Phase 1 libraries, and substantial progress
with Phase 2 implementation.
PHASE 1
Technikon Northern Gauteng
Technikon Pretoria
Technikon Southern Africa
Technikon Witwatersrand
University of South Africa
University of the Witwatersrand
Implementation of the INNOPAC Library System, funded by the Andrew W.
Mellon Foundation ($ 1,500,000.00) was successfully achieved in these
six libraries in the first half of 1998. A questionnaire was sent to
each of the Phase 1 libraries to assess system implementation according
to five main criteria, namely data conversion, authority control, implementation,
user satisfaction and assistance received. Information gained is proving
very useful in Phase 2 implementation.
The work does not
come to an end with successful implementation! Several tasks have been
identified by Phase 1 and are receiving ongoing attention:
- Assistance is
being provided by some sites to others regarding system functionality;
- Ongoing support
and project management is proving necessary, as sites need to exchange
ideas regarding best practice;
- Communication
between sites is necessary for the loading of new releases and training
(Phase 1 libraries have subsequently migrated to version 12 of INNOPAC);
- Ongoing monitoring
of developments and enhancements in the INNOPAC software;
- Establishment
of guidelines for backup procedures;
- The purchase
of additional modules and user licenses
The level of support
to sites by the Implementation Team during the year was good, and expertise
was freely shared. The III implementation consultants sent out to South
Africa were skilled and knowledgeable, reacting promptly to problems
and questions, and ongoing support from the III Company has been most
satisfactory.
Feedback from library staff, students and academic staff at all Phase
1 sites has been very positive.
More detail on Phase 1 implementation may be obtained from the previous
GAELIC Annual Report, 1996-1997.
PHASE 2
Medical University of Southern Africa
Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education
Rand Afrikaans University
University of Pretoria
Vaal Triangle Technikon
Vista University
The implementation
of Phase 2 started in June 1998 with the confirmation from the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that funding of $ 1,200,000.00 for the
project had been approved. During the ensuing period hardware platforms
for all members were ordered and installed, the complete catalogues
of four members were migrated to the INNOPAC system and the test databases
for two further institutions are in the process of being installed.
According to the implementation schedule, all 6 GAELIC Phase 2 systems
will be fully implemented by July 1999, with institutions working through
the various stages of the process in groups of two. The progress in
Phase 2 institutions is as follows:
University of Pretoria
The INNOPAC system was installed and was fully tested during October
1998. The complete catalogue of the University was loaded onto the system
during December. Training has already been completed for OPAC, Cataloguing
and Acquisitions with final training in the Serials module scheduled
for the beginning of February 1999. With only patron and order data
still to be loaded, the institution will be ready for full implementation
during February 1999.
Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education
The INNOPAC system was also installed and fully tested during October
1998. The complete catalogue of the University was loaded during November.
The process was simplified at this library due to the fact that since
Potchefstroom had been using a USMARC-based system, conversion from
SAMARC to USMARC was unnecessary. Training has been completed for OPAC,
Cataloguing and Acquisitions with final training in Circulation and
Serials scheduled for early February 1999. All other data elements such
as patron data and order data already have been migrated to the INNOPAC
system and the institution will be ready to fully implement at the end
of January 1999.
Vaal Triangle Technikon
The INNOPAC system was installed and fully tested during November
1998. Some difficulty was experienced during the extraction of the database
in the first instance, and it was decided to use the same records for
a final data load to avoid future problems. Training has been completed
for OPAC, Cataloguing and Acquisitions with training in the Serials
module scheduled for the middle of February 1999. After the downloading
of patron information the Technikon will be ready for full implementation
during February 1999.
Medical University of Southern Africa
The INNOPAC system was installed and tested during the first week
of December 1998. MEDUNSA staff have received training in OPAC and Cataloguing
and will receive further training in the remaining system modules in
February and March 1999 once the catalogue has been loaded. Full implementation
is expected by April 1999.
Rand Afrikaans University and Vista University
The hardware platforms have been installed at both institutions,
test data has been extracted from both catalogues and Innovative Interfaces
are currently in the process of installing their application software.
Both system installations will be completed during February 1999 and
training will start in March 1999. Full implementation is expected by
August 1999.
PHASE 3
Technikon North-West and the University of North-West joined as members
of FOTIM and GAELIC in 1998. A meeting with representatives from the
University of the North-West and Technikon North-West was held in August,
at which the background, costs and other implications of becoming members
of GAELIC were discussed. Letters of commitment were signed by the two
institutions and data collected in preparation for the Proposal to the
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for funding for GAELIC Phase 3. The Proposal
will be submitted to the Foundation in January 1999.
Discussions with the Universities of Venda and the North are ongoing.
It is likely that they will become members of GAELIC in 1999.
TASK GROUPS
RESOURCE SHARING
HUMAN RESOURCES
A successful year was experienced by the Human Resources task group.
Good progress was made in a number of areas, in particular the presentation
of training workshops and an audit of training needs for GAELIC.
The training needs
audit in 1997 revealed that the following areas requiring attention
: labour law, user education, information technology and negotiation/selling
skills. Workshops were organised for each of these areas during 1998.
A workshop on the new Employment Equity Bill was held on 12 May, and
was addressed by Prof van Eck from the Department of Labour Law at the
University of Pretoria. A workshop on user education was held on 3 September.
Issues under discussion included the requirements, standards, basic
principles and evaluation relating to User Education within GAELIC.
An information technology workshop held on 8 October included presentations
on networking and Internet connectivity, the National Union Database,
FOTIM Project ICT 2000, co-operative IT and the implementation of the
INNOPAC system within GAELIC. A workshop on personal selling skills
held on 16 October dealt with issues such as communication, personal
selling and marketing. The workshops were attended by a total of 231
staff members from GAELIC libraries and the evaluation indicated a positive
response from participants.
An audit of training needs was conducted again during August 1998 and
four training projects were decided on for 1999 – GAELIC functions involving
hands-on training by GAELIC libraries with the necessary expertise;
team building; computer literacy; and copyright with emphasis on electronic
information.
As a result of the GAELIC strategic planning initiative, it was decided
that Human Resources should be one of the four proposed focus areas
in GAELIC.
DOCUMENT DELIVERY
Turnaround time has improved considerably amongst GAELIC institutions,
but there is some concern that libraries may not be able to sustain
these efforts. Traffic has increased substantially. All but one GAELIC
Library have installed Ariel workstations. After lengthy debate, a draft
proposal for funding for additional stations was put on hold for a year
because the greatest need for workstations was at so-called ‘advantaged’
institutions which are net providers of information, and it was felt
that prospective donors might not respond positively to this. Greater
cooperation with CALICO regarding document delivery is currently being
investigated.
In accordance with the GAELIC
Document Supply Policy Guidelines approved by the GAELIC
Steering Committee and subsequently implemented in 1997, the following
were monitored during 1998 :
Service levels
The 1998 statistics indicated that in terms of returnable documents
a turnaround time of 5,3 days was attained on average, and in terms
of photocopies a turnaround time of 4,1 days was attained on average.
Visiting clients
Concern was expressed by heads of GAELIC libraries that the number of
visiting clients at libraries might increase as the policy in this regard
is less restrictive than previous agreements amongst universities and
technikons. A comparison of available figures for the period pre-GAELIC
and those of 1998, indicated that GAELIC libraries experienced no significant
changes regarding the number of visitors.
Document Delivery
mechanisms
Courier services are utilised for the delivery of returnable documents.
The majority of libraries made use of the van service between Pretoria
and Johannesburg and three libraries made use of commercial courier
services.
Training workgroup
The workgroup provides training on all document delivery matters with
regard to GAELIC. An assessment of essential training needs was conducted
and three trainers were identified and trained others during 1998. GAELIC
libraries were allocated to each of these trainers who attend to their
specific needs.
Agents for overseas
documents
A policy and working procedure was established whereby GAELIC libraries
may request items from overseas via the University of the Witwatersrand,
University of Pretoria or Unisa. The viability of this service is being
monitored.
Total transactions
within GAELIC during 1998
A total of 80 911 transactions were executed between GAELIC members
in 1998.
Mr Serge C Motau
of SASOL addressed the workgroup towards the end of 1998. As a motivational
speaker, he gave a lively presentation with a focus on principles that
may be applied to improve commitment within a changed environment.
JOINT ACQUISITIONS
The consortium subscribed to two (OVID) full text databases, namely
ABI/Inform and Biomedical databases from 1 March 1998 to 28 February
1999.
A major part of the subscription to these full text databases was funded
by the Open Society Foundation; the remaining funds were covered by
participating GAELIC institutions. Despite efforts to obtain funding
for a second year from possible donors, no donors could be found. In
terms of the sustainability of this project, it had originally been
proposed that libraries cancel 40% of duplicated tiles in the first
year and 50% of duplicated titles in the second year. However, uncertainty
about obtaining funding for a second year, halted the proposed cancellation.
A contract was signed
with DIALOG for unlimited access at a minimal fee.
During October 1998 a consortium subscription, as from 1 January 1999
was signed with MCB Press. This subscription implies that, given our
current print subscriptions, GAELIC members will have access to all
110 electronic full text journals .
The evaluation of these projects indicated that all participating libraries
are experiencing the real benefits of resource sharing. This is not
only with regard to cost-effectiveness, but especially to the access
of information at a very reasonable price to members who in the past
could only afford subscriptions to a few printed journals.
SERIALS
The Serials Workgroup was charged with the development of a co-operative
collection development policy for Serials, which was compiled during
1998. Members of the Serials workgroup were appointed as representatives
on the Joint Acquisitions team. This ensured feedback regarding the
current status and inter-relationships between online databases and
serials, sharing of information on recent developments, issues impacting
on libraries, and publisher discounts. All participating institutions'
serial holdings were updated on SABINET, which facilitates access to
serial information for resource sharing within GAELIC.
CATALOGUING
During the year
the six workgroups of GCATS met regularly and were actively involved
in various activities. This resulted in :
- ten training
sessions
- a problem-solving
session on USMARC with Randall Barry, a USMARC specialist from the
Library of Congress
- the completion
of a comprehensive authority control policy document entitled Authority
control manual and policy guidelines for GAELIC libraries
- a Technical
services workflow document
- the approval
of core bibliographic records for 11 types of publications
- the completion
of a document entitled Specifications for SAPSE (South African
Post-Secondary Education System) reports to be developed by Innovative
Interfaces Inc. containing interim INNOPAC procedures to
be used for the compilation of the SAPSE reports
- a comprehensive
list of requirements for a GAELIC/national union database
- liaison with
Library of Congress on South African names and subject headings
This Task Group
is working closely with SABINET Online regarding the national union
database, in which GAELIC has a vested interest. Plans are on track
for the formation of a South African INNOPAC User Group, which will
be launched early in 1999.
PUBLICITY
The Publicity Committee was not very active during 1998. The meetings
which took place during the year were centered around the creation of
a marketing pamphlet, which in itself had a disappointing outcome, due
to lack of available time of staff members which resulted in the printing
of the pamphlet being delayed. In view of the restructuring of GAELIC,
it was decided against proceeding with the publication of the pamphlet.
The creation of an interim web page provided some presence to GAELIC
in cyberspace and served its purpose well. Sincere appreciation is extended
to SABINET for hosting it. This electronic publication is now also in
urgent need of renewal.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
The need for an alternative/new management structure resulted from a
2-day workshop on Strategic Management attended by the GAELIC Steering
Committee (4 May and 19 June). A draft strategy for GAELIC was produced
and extensively debated by the Steering Committee, the Management Committee
and the Resource Sharing Task Group. Some of the 9 original recommendations
were amended as follows:
Recommendation 1
GAELIC is an enabling infrastructure to enhance the services rendered
by its members to their clients. A catchy "silver bullet"
message is needed to capture this.
Recommendation 2
All actions, tasks, programmes and projects should be handled in a business-like
way and according to business plans.
Recommendation
3
Four strategic focus areas were defined at the Workshop – Information
Resources, Information Technology, Business Management and Human Resources.
GAELIC’s future success will to a large extent be determined by the
successful strategic management of these areas.
It was agreed that although it was important that the teams be composed
of persons with competencies, skills and expertise, this should not
be at the expense of democratic participation. The latter would facilitate
growth and development. Each institution should place on a team that
person responsible for the particular area in his/her library, but that
in addition, institutions could nominate a second person where capacity
building was required. The team should select as a leader a person with
expertise in the focus area.
A profile is to
be compiled for each area.
Recommendation 4
GAELIC should be managed by a Strategic Management Team with a strategic
vision, business management skills, administrative support and continuity.
It was agreed that this team consist of the four leaders of the focus
areas, administrative support, two members of FOTIM, co-opted members,
the GAELIC Chairperson, and external experts if necessary.
Recommendation 5
GAELIC should no longer expect any one institution or individual to
make the large time commitments that have been made up to now. The recommendation
that FOTIM provide bridging finance for a part-time temporary post of
GAELIC Manager was however not approved in that this kind of appointment
would not attract the right calibre of person. More office support was
however considered essential. It was recommended that, with additional
office support, Prof Edwards continue as Chairperson for 1999, while
the new structure was established. At the end of this period, GAELIC
would have a better idea of what office/leadership structure was required.
Recommendation 6
Provision is made for an Annual General Meeting in the style of a corporate
business meeting, which would discuss and approve reports, business
plans, budgets, etc. of the strategic focus teams and the Strategic
Management Team. It would debate GAELIC’s strategic focus and approve
strategies. Some concern was expressed that a single meeting per year
for all those members not directly involved in the work of the key focus
areas or the SMT may not be sufficient to retain commitment and interest.
It was thus recommended that in addition to the AGM, two or three further
meetings are held each year.
Recommendation 7
A GAELIC Users’ Group should be formed to support matters of mutual
interest/concern. Groups relating to the separate modules of INNOPAC
are already being formed.
Recommendation 8
Certain issues need to be investigated further in order to transform
GAELIC. These include the position of tertiary institutions in neighbouring
countries, the leveling of the playing fields between net suppliers
and users of resources, and membership of non-tertiary organisations
Recommendation 9
A GAELIC Team should prepare an action plan for implementing the new
structure.
The team recommended in item 9 above met towards the end of 1998 and
has set in motion a number of activities which will culminate in a new
strategic structure for GAELIC in 1999.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
SABINET-Online
SABINET Online continued to provide Project Management services to GAELIC,
primarily in the form of Mr Pierre Malan, who has been invaluable regarding
system implementation in member libraries, and in providing technical
information and solutions when necessary. Mr Malan was an active member
of both the Management and Steering Committees, and was leader of the
Systems Implementation Management Committee. It is expected that the
contract will be renewed in 1999 in order to complete INNOPAC implementation
in Phase 2 and Phase 3 libraries.
During the course of 1998 GAELIC had major input into SABINET Online’s
planning for a new South African national bibliographic database.
FRELICO
FRELICO (Free State Libraries and Information Consortium) has established
strong links with GAELIC, and co-operation is occurring in a number
of areas. The two major Free State tertiary institutions, University
of the Free State and Technikon Free State, are currently implementing
INNOPAC, and are part of the GAELIC Phase 2 scheduling, testing and
training program. FRELICO is also participating in the purchase of the
General Business File full-text electronic database. The
two consortia are currently engaged in formulating a Memorandum
of Understanding, the first of what may become a number of formal
co-operative agreements.
THE STATE LIBRARY
The Director of the State Library, Dr Peter Lor, has been an observer
on the GAELIC Steering Committee since inception, and members of his
staff have participated in a number of working groups. During 1998,
the State Library’s major concern has been that, with the trend towards
purchase of electronic databases and the cancellation of print journal
subscriptions, document supply services to the remainder of the library
sector (non-tertiary) may suffer. GAELIC is very aware of this problem,
and is now negotiating site licenses that permit inter-library document
supply.
CONTACT WITH
CONSORTIA AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
CHET (Centre For Higher Education Transformation)
In November 1998, CHET organised the 2nd Forum for Regional
Consortia in Education (FORCE) Workshop, held in Natal. Representatives
of the five library consortia attended, and discussions were held on
possible areas of co-operation. Heather Edwards, Chairperson of GAELIC
was mandated to convene a meeting during the course of 1999 to consider
sharing of information, co-operative purchasing of electronic full-text
databases, human resource development, sharing of user education programs
and processes, and technical compatibility and connectivity.
INFORMAL MEETING TO DISCUSS CO-OPERATIVE PURCHASING
Following immediately on the IATUL (International Association of
Technical and University Libraries) Conference at the University of
Pretoria in June 1998, GAELIC organised a panel discussion. Delegates
to the Conference who were members of consortia were invited to attend,
as were several vendors, Mr David Ball (Southern Universities Purchasing
Consortium in the UK) and Mr Mike Johnson of CHEST (UK). Lively discussion
ensued, and GAELIC hopes to follow up, possibly in co-operation with
the CHET initiative, in the near future.
THE NATIONAL VIRTUAL LIBRARY
Prof Heather Edwards and Mr Pierre Malan were invited to participate
in an ad-hoc working group under the joint aegis of the Adamastor Trust,
Telkom and the Department of Communication with the mandate to investigate
the possibility of founding a National Virtual Library (NVL) service
in South Africa. Several meetings were held, and an overseas consultant
contracted to conduct a workshop and assist in the compilation of a
proposal, to be submitted to the Director-General of the Department
of Communication. At this point the Working Group disbanded, and the
matter was taken forward primarily by Telkom and the DoC.
The NVL has been described as "a bold initiative to give the citizens
of South Africa electronic access to the collective library resources
of the country, and to enable them to access the global world of information".
However, more stakeholder consultation is felt to be necessary if the
project is to succeed.
SABINET Online, seen as a very important factor in the transfer of knowledge
in South Africa, was approached by the DoC, and discussions took place
on a possible future role of SABINET in the development of the NVL.
No further information was available by the end of 1998.
SOUTH AFRICAN CONSORTIA
Regular contact is maintained with the other consortia in South
Africa (FRELICO, CALICO, esAL and SEALS). Prof Heather Edwards and Mr
Pierre Malan spent two days with esAL (Eastern Seaboard Association
of Libraries) in March 1998 to assist where possible with esAL’s Proposal
to the Mellon Foundation and to share experiences. Heather Edwards visited
again in November with Mr Tom Nygren of the Foundation.
Mr Philip Clarke of SEALS (South Eastern Academic Library System) attended
one of GAELIC’s Management Committee meetings during a visit to Gauteng,
and is welcome whenever he is in the region. Documentation that could
be of use to SEALS has been forwarded.
Contact with FRELICO has been described above under Strategic Partnerships.
GAELIC and CALICO have worked closely on the Connectivity and VAT issues,
and in several other areas, and regular contact was maintained during
1998.
Contact has been made with a consortium in Ireland consisting of 15
libraries, implementing the INNOPAC system. GAELIC documentation has
been forwarded. Correspondence has also taken place between GAELIC and
a proposed Library Alliance in New Zealand, as well as with the University
of Botswana, and the Africa University in Zimbabwe.
CONNECTIVITY
During 1997, the issue of connectivity had been taken up by the Andrew
Mellon Foundation and other influential benevolent foundations in the
United States, who saw the two major problem areas of bandwidth and
Telkom charges as deterrents to the work undertaken by these foundations
in the higher education sector in South Africa. Meetings have subsequently
taken place with the objective of reaching agreement with both the Government
and Telkom regarding a fair deal for education. This complex issue is
now in the hands of a Technical Task Team comprising IT people from
each region. The immediate objective is a meeting with relevant decision-making
bodies in early 1999, and it appears that good progress is being made.
CONCLUSION
GAELIC continues
to make rapid progress. 1998 has been an extremely busy year, with Phase
1 libraries completing system implementation, Phase 2 libraries at different
stages of implementation, and Phase 3 underway in the preparation of
a Proposal to the Mellon Foundation. All Task Groups have achieved their
objectives for the year. The hard work of the Joint Acquisitions team
has made an important contribution to GAELIC becoming the virtual library
it hopes to be; the Human Resources team is successfully meeting training
needs and doing all that it can to address the disparities in staff
skills and development at our member libraries; the Cataloguing task
group has made an important contribution not only regarding GAELIC’s
union catalogue, but also the National Union Catalogue; and the Document
Supply team has succeeded in reducing the turnaround time of information
transfer within the consortium.
Generous support from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation has made all this
possible, and we thank also the Open Society Foundation (South Africa)
for its important contribution to our co-operative purchasing initiative.
Members of the Steering
Committee have contributed in a very positive way to the ongoing progress
and success of GAELIC. Their participation, commitment, and willingness
to give priority to GAELIC issues cannot be underestimated, enabling
us to reach consensus and take decisions without undue delay. Contributions
made at the Strategic Planning workshops have resulted in a new structure
for GAELIC, which we hope will stand us in good stead for the future.
My very sincere
thanks to all GAELIC members who have worked so hard and given so much
of their time and energy during this past year. It has been a pleasure
and an inspiration working with you. My grateful thanks too, to Ms Anke
McCallum, Senior Administrative Officer, and my right hand!
Heather M Edwards
Chairperson
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