MLA: World-Class Reference Access
Last updated: 06/05/2008 - 09:29
A new agreement, managed by The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), will enable public libraries in England to achieve significant financial discounts on high quality online reference resources.
The last such agreement resulted in over £3.5m savings for public libraries in England.
MLA’s ground-breaking Reference Online initiative was originally launched in February 2006 with the intention of finding ways in which public libraries in England could provide their users with the best possible range of online resources at the most economic price and to streamline the procurement process for both libraries and suppliers.
The second Reference Online Framework Agreement, which has just come into force, offers subscription opportunities to all public libraries in England. The 2008 agreement will last for four years and sees an increase in the number of MLA-approved suppliers to twenty-two and the number of products double to fifty.
The resources offered for libraries to choose from via Reference Online include general reference material, business, legal and financial information, subject-based encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, serials, newspapers and newspaper archives, and – for the first time – materials for children and streamed music services. Materials to which libraries subscribe will be available either in the library or remotely 24/7 to anyone with library membership.
Roy Clare said: “MLA’s Reference Online programme enables library services to purchase world class online resources at lower costs. The agreement opens up a huge amount of reference material to library users both at home and in their local library. It also represents very good value for money and I welcome very warmly the successful outcome of a great deal of work by Susi Woodhouse of the MLA, and others who have supported her in negotiating this outcome.”
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The MLA and the nine regional agencies work in partnership to provide strategic direction and leadership for museums, libraries and archives across England. Together these agencies work to improve people’s lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the museums and library sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future. For more information about the work of the MLA and the 'Designation' scheme, visit The Museum's, Libraries & Archives Council website.
Click here for more information on Reference Online.
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