Do you know where you can see a picture of your village as it was 30 years ago? Or where you might find libraries of religious books in Milton Keynes? Or who holds the British Balloon Museum and Library?
MLA South East part-funded a project this year to make the contents of Milton Keynes libraries and other cultural organisations more accessible to anyone in the local community. A new website Milton Keynes Inspire (www.mkinspire.org.uk) was launched by local broadcaster Big George recently.
Milton Keynes Inspire is an online database which allows anyone to find out about collections held in libraries or information centres in Milton Keynes via the internet. Around 60 collections have already been identified and searches are possible on subject, names of people and organisations, places and dates. Additional information will also include the location details of the collection, information on disabled access, and group and educational visits.
Milton Keynes Inspire has been a key project for Milton Keynes Learning City Libraries Network this year. Set up in 2001,The Libraries Network includes seven public, university, college and the hospital libraries.
At the launch, Big George highlighted to role libraries have played in his learning and the important part they will play as Milton Keynes grows. Nicky Whitsed, convenor of the Network and Director of Library Services at The Open University, emphasised that the challenge is to develop services and activities that make a difference and said ‘As well as making it much easier for learners in the local community to find collections that will interest them, the Milton Keynes Inspire website includes information on opening hours or who to contact and so brings much information about libraries together.’
Other partners in the project are the Milton Keynes Adult Continuing Education Service (ACE) and the Milton Keynes Economy and Learning Partnership. Other parts of the project have involved activities with groups of students on Adult Education courses and a work exchange among staff in libraries, museums, archives and galleries across Milton Keynes. Much of the work has been carried out by temporary Project Officer Dr Kwasi Darko-Ampem. This project is part of a national plan, called Inspire England, which aims to refer learners from their local public libraries to other academic and private libraries in the community. Many institutions and organizations have signed up to the national Inspire Kitemark. Eventually it is hoped to have a national map of accessible libraries and collections throughout the country.
For more information contact Josephine Burt, Project Manager, tel: 01908 659121or email: j.m.burt@open.ac.uk. A project summary is available at:
www.mkweb.co.uk/mk-libraries-network/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=28570.
