COLLEGE LIBRARIES INFORMATION NETWORK COLINET

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COLLEGE LIBRARIES INFORMATION NETWORK (COLINET)

• 1985 TO 2007 A CASE STUDY

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Background

• COLINET was established in November 1985.
• I it operated at two levels
• An Advisory Body
• Committee of Librarians
• It comprises a mix of
• Public and Private tertiary institutions

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What was COLINET set up to do?

• Ensure speedy access to information.
• Promote the sharing of ideas and resources
• Encourage participation of the colleges in
• the National Information System.

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College Defined

• Tertiary institutions whose primary mission is
  either undergraduate in focus or vocational,
  professional or specialist training.
• They normally award, either independently or in
  conjunction with others, certificates, diplomas,
  bachelors, or master degrees which are
  accredited.

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Focal Point and Nodes

• One library was designated as focal point CAST
  (Now UTech)
• others were nodes for sub groups.
• Mico Node for teachers colleges
• Jamaica Theological College- Theological colleges
• Excelsior Community College Community Colleges
• CASE Node Specialist Colleges
• NCU Node for Universities

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Guidelines and standards

• Encouraged as a tool to build collections and
  develop facilities and other resources.

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Physical Resources

• COLINET makes recommendations and offers guidance
  in
• Preparing architects briefs
• Providing reference material on buildings
• Catalogues on furniture and equipment

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Collection and Services

• All colleges are keen to improve their
  collections in order to satisfy accreditation
  requirements

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Technology

• COLINET has encouraged units to
• computerize their catalogues. Today all
  catalogues are online, most using WIN-ISIS.

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Financing

• Inadequate financial support for the
  libraries, in the public as well as private
  sector colleges is the area of greatest concern
  for the Network as it impacts every area of
  activity.
• COLINET does not have a budget but UTech,
  through the Calvin McKain library, is committed
  to the successful functioning of the Network.
•  

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Meetings and Training
COLINET Librarians meet twice per annum but will
hold special meetings if otherwise
required. Workshops and short courses are
arranged to provide hands on opportunities.
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Meetings and Training Contd.

• A symposium is held biennially to bring
  stakeholders together and focus on
• Trends and Issues
• The status of college libraries in Jamaica
• Challenges that college librarians face .

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What of the future?

• For the future three things will be undertaken
• -The focus on standards will be
• intensified
• - Revival of COLINET Advisory
• Body
• - Biennial Principals Forum

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THE END

• See you at COLINET - Soon!!