SLS Partnerships and new ways of working ASCEL Conference 6th November 2010 Gill Harris Tower Hamlets SLS and Jeremy Saunders Berkshire ELS

WorkShop 1: Online Resources Context: School Libraries a Plan for Improvement Partnership with JISC Collections for Schools Tower Hamlets e-book project Questions and discussion

School Libraries: a Plan for Improvement “Schools library services could be a cost effective way of ensuring that all schools, but particularly primary schools, have access to the expertise and resources they may not have on site or may not be able to afford in the future.”

“At a time when the public sector is facing tighter economic management the potential of schools working in partnership to purchase and deliver improved provision will become increasingly important.”

http://www.jcs.nen.gov.uk/

JCS - Over 20 Resources From Key Stage 1 to A/AS level and IB, including: copyright cleared image and video libraries curriculum-mapped games and simulations newspaper archives digital mapping general reference information for all subjects ‘subject’ resources for Art, Citizenship, English, Geography, History, Literacy, Maths, Modern Languages, Music, RE, PE, and Science.

Original ‘game plan’ 3 year development project [initially] targeting secondary schools funded by Becta rolled out through regional broadband consortia reduced prices for buying groups

Currently… Year 3 self-funding (Becta funding withdrawn) principal partners SLS regional pricing reduced prices for buying groups

New Arrangements… Contracts (schools & publishers) still w. JISC Delivery subcontracted to JMartin Consultants (Joyce Martin, project director) 15% price increase

Involvement with SLS So far… Some SLS have supported establishment of local buying groups, e.g. Herts., Berks. Some SLS have made bulk subscription to specific resources for all schools e.g. reference collection for secondary schools or Image galleries

Benefits Buying Group SLS Subscription Lower unit cost Positions SLS - and school libraries - in relation to new technology and obtaining vfm for schools Up-to-date, tested, quality resources in school SLS Subscription Universal offer – all schools benefit Even lower unit price

Partnership Models Option One ‘SLS undertaking a one-off ‘call for subscriptions’ Option Two SLS managing a local buying group

What’s involved? Direct schools to JCS website / catalogue and invite them to take up free 30-day trials; Encourage discussion about the resources at meetings or by email during the trial period; Set a deadline for librarians to submit their list of resources for which they’d like a quotation; Input quotation requests to the online form; quotes will then be emailed to the SLS for forwarding to the schools;

(Continued) Place the actual orders and submit required information about subscribing schools for Licence Acceptance Form via website. The system will generate either just one invoice (for the SLS) or multiple invoices for the individual schools. Chase payment Act as the first point of call for all enquiries about the resources and process. Maintain awareness of the initiative e.g. add a link to JCS from SLS website and alert member schools to quarterly JCS e-newsletter email (secondary and primary).

Benefits Positions SLS in relation to new technology obtaining vfm for schools Extends service offer Up-to-date, tested, quality resources in schools Low direct cost to SLS (mainly time) Increased control over process Income stream (5% if over £3,000)

Partnership Models Option One ‘SLS undertaking a one-off ‘call for subscriptions’ Option Two ‘SLS managing a local buying group’

What’s involved? All the activities listed above Option1 …in addition: At least 2 ‘calls for subscriptions’ per academic year. Taking responsibility for renewal payments which are issued in late June. JCS will organise, if requested, one Publisher Day per academic year for the SLS and supply literature as and when required. JCS will also send announcements about events and new products etc so that SLS are the first to be informed.

Benefits Positions SLS in relation to new technology obtaining vfm for schools Extends service offer Up-to-date, tested, quality resources in schools Low direct cost to SLS (mainly time) Greater ownership of project Extends relationship with school to new service area/ potential new members On-going income stream (5% on ea. call over £3,000 & on renewals)

Where next? Start? December? to be available as part of next year’s service offer Feedback on draft proposal Expressions of interest half-day session for potential partners to discuss & share ideas …initially through me.