Pathways to Learning - Linking Learners and Libraries
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Pathways to Learning - Linking Learners and Libraries
08.03.2010

Access to Libraries and Archives will become more accessible with the launch of the Pathways to Learning (PAL) announced today (March 8th 2010) at University College Cork (UCC) by the Minister for Education & Science, Mr Batt O’Keeffe, TD.

Pathways to Learning is a programme initiated by the Committee on Library Co-operation in Ireland (COLICO).  Its purpose is to broaden access to materials in all participating libraries by setting up a structure for referring library users to relevant resources held by other institutions in the scheme.  The concept arose from the success of a cross–sectoral library provision in the UK (Inspire).  COLICO agreed to explore the potential for transferring the programme into an Irish context.

The Cork PAL Scheme, the first regional scheme involving a cluster of libraries in the Cork area, includes eight libraries, facilitating access to academic, local authority and hospital collections:  University College Cork; Cork Institute of Technology; Cork City Library; Cork County Library; Cork City & County Archives; Cork University Hospital; Mercy University Hospital; and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital.

As part of the Pathways to Learning Programme a sister scheme, Music PAL, will be launched simultaneously in Dublin and Cork also today (March 8th 2010).  The Music PAL scheme includes 10 public, 9 higher education, 3 conservatoire and 5 special libraries throughout the island of Ireland, a total of 27 institutions in all. Many of these hold broad collections of various sizes, while others (such as the Irish Traditional Music Archive and the Contemporary Music Centre) focus on specific musical genres. 

Speaking at the launch, Minister O'Keeffe said: 'The Cork Pathways to Learning scheme in important in terms of enabling citizens to access the learning resources of the eight major libraries and archives in the region. An impressive range of institutions with diverse collections are participating in the scheme and it is an excellent example of how, by combining resources and acting collaboratively, we can advance education and social opportunity at the level of the individual citizen.”

UCC Librarian/Chair, Cork PAL, Mr John FitzGerald, said he welcomed this initiative which facilitated greater public access to a wide range of public, academic and special libraries. He said the Cork region was chosen because of the range of public, educational and health libraries and archives. Outlining the scheme, he explained: “Members of any library participating in the Cork PAL or Music PAL schemes may apply for a Pathways to Learning Access Card at the library they use on a regular basis. The Access Card will allow them to visit and make use of the facilities at any of the libraries that are members of the PAL schemes. They will be able to get advice and information from their ‘home’ library on which other libraries in the scheme are likely to have the resources to meet their learning and information needs.” He continued: “Each participating library agrees to accept referrals from any of the other members of the scheme, and at a minimum to allow reference access to print materials. Other facilities such as loan of materials or access to online databases are at the discretion of individual libraries and may depend on factors such as licensing agreements or institutional policies.”

For details of the scheme visit: http://www.library.ie/pal

Picture: Students Orla Mills and Julie Reddy at the launch of Cork Pathways to Learning (PAL) today (March 8th 2010).

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