Collaboration = GrowthHLG 2010

Gwen Giles & David Law

The Base-line!

• Where are we?• Background to development of the consortium• Some of the benefits of Base-library• How we have worked together strategically• Branding & the Base-library website• How we have improved effectiveness• Next steps…

Where is BaSE?Birmingham and Solihull

The Black Country

Staffordshire

Coventry & WarwickshireWorcestershire

Shropshire

Herefordshire

BaSE 1999 - 2010• 1999 - Birmingham and Solihull Education

Library Accreditation group• 2003 - BaSE LMS Project Group• 2004 - Base-library catalogue went live in July• 2006 - Merger with Black Country patch group• 2008 – Black Country library catalogues merged

with Base-library in April• 2008 – LMS Administrator appointed in June

Benefits

• New funding model for LMS administrator post and maintenance contract

• Access to more resources• Support and development• Reduced inconsistencies and inequities between

different library services• Turning point!

Strategic Collaboration• Sub groups….

– Clinical Governance– Equality & Diversity– E-Books– Serials– Trainers– HE Liaison– Horizon scanning

Birmingham & Black CountryBaSE Library - A Brand!

• Base-library website– Creates a web facing interface allowing users to

search, renew, reserve, up date details.– Regularly updated with local library details, new

evidence– Creates a brand that is recognised by core usersBase = Broadening access – supporting education

Effectiveness as Library Services• How effective are we, as a group from diverse

and disparate Trusts, in delivering strategic aims as a single group?

• 2 away days organised. Highlighted need for individuals to adopt different roles (Belbin). Improve communication and take action rather than make decisions!

Birmingham & Black Country Next Steps

• Increasing collaboration across boundaries;•working across patch groups•accessible catalogues across boundaries• jointly funding posts• empowering all grades of library staff through partnership working• working with HE partners

• Realising the challenges but also opportunities of “Transforming Community Services”• reacting to the new White Paper

Birmingham & Black Country Collaboration and Growth

Continue being Productive by

• working beyond or without SHA boundaries

• delivering nationally on a Do Once and Share philosophy

• being connected to our partners

Are there any questions?