Library Link

Citation

de Verteuil, S. (2001), "Library Link", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 29 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2001.12229daa.002

Library Link

Library Link – www.emeraldinsight.com/librarylink

Library Link is a free service which provides information and support for librarians and information professionals, including conference-linked workshops designed to improve understanding and communications between the publisher and the librarian.

Mission statement

The Library Link mission is to facilitate the world-wide dissemination of information in the field of librarianship. This is achieved by providing information for the librarians in their role as information brokers for their library users and as professionals in their own right. Library Link aims to reflect current methods of information dissemination through utilising both electronic and print media to publish the debates that take place at this site.

History

Library Link was set up in 1992 to support librarians of subscribing organisations. Originally the service offered a newsletter, bulletin board service and hard copy table of contents alerting. It was later re-launched as a free Web site for everyone in the library community and had its own editorial team and a free journal made up of content from the MCB portfolio of library and related titles.

In August 1998 the first Library Link Workshop took place at the IFLA '98 Conference in Amsterdam. The workshop series is an innovative medium for dialogue between a publisher and its market. It combines face-to-face with virtual meetings, giving information professionals the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing librarians and publishers in the electronic age and to influence the product and service development of Emerald. A summary of the workshop is published on the site for future reference and for those people who were unable to attend.

June 2001 saw the re-launch of the site making it what it is today. Based on direct feedback from the library community the Library Link site has been radically revamped to reflect the current issues and professional concerns preoccupying the minds of information professionals.

Library Link aims and objectives

The aim of Library Link is to facilitate the global dissemination of information for librarians. Supported by Emerald – The Management Research Database it provides information professionals with comprehensive resources, information on consortia developments, free online access to information management articles, and discussion forums on a wide range of topics.

The site is split into three main sections:

1. 1.

   Library Collection Development and Management.

2. 2.

   Library Management and Information Services.

3. 3.

   Library Technology.

Updated on a regular basis, each area has its own Viewpoint, a related free fulltext article, links to other sites of interest and an archive of previous issues.

In addition, Library Link members and publishers can keep abreast of the latest news and information provided by the News section.

Library Link editorial team

Five major information management professionals under the leadership of Gary Gorman, of the School of Communications and Information Management at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, comprise the new editorial team for Library Link. They provide news and articles for the Web site from all over the world giving it a real international perspective.

Library Link membership

Membership to Library Link is free and offers the following:

• •

  Free online articles – from Emerald Fulltext.

• •

  Monthly e-mail newsletter.

• •

  Up-to-date information on industry specific news.

• •

  Advance notice of Library Link workshops.

• •

  Entry into the quarterly free prize draw.

• •

  Free access for six months to Emerald Reviews – Information Management and Technology.

• •

  Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Sue de VerteuilManaging Editor sdeverteuil@emeraldinsight.com