Conarls

connecting people and resources

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/ Introduction

Conarls is a co-operative providing strategic and operational support for library resource discovery and sharing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

/ Terms of Reference

The following Remit was adopted at an Extraordinary General Meeting, held at Wakefield on 16 February 2005.

  1. The Circle of Officers of National and Regional Library Systems (CONARLS), will now be known as Conarls and broaden its concerns to cover aspects of resource sharing as well as its traditional one of inter-lending. A library sector co-operative, it will be concerned with the co-operation of strategic and operational affairs related to the resource discovery and delivery of library and information collections in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

  2. Conarls' mission is to support resource discovery:

    • in a strategic context by supporting local, regional and national initiatives which aim to provide access for all to library and information collections in the UK and Ireland.

    • in an operational context by supporting the identification and location of monographs, serials and other published formats through national, union and other library and information catalogues and resources and the delivery of the material between library and information services in the UK and Ireland.

    • by maintaining a website as a focus for its concerns and as a conduit for dialogue and the exchange of information between it and the library and information community involved in resource discovery. It will also host an e-list for library and information officers involved in resource discovery.

  3. Conarls' membership comprises a nominated representative of the library and information sector from:

    • each of the English government regions
    • Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • The British Library

    together with other bodies as appropriate. Approaches for membership from interested bodies are welcomed.

    Details of the membership will be published on the website.

    Observers can be invited by agreement

  4. Conarls, as a body corporate, will meet by agreement but no less than twice a year, one of which will be the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Member organisations are required to support the work of Conarls by payment of an annual subscription as determined by its AGM. The AGM will also receive and approve the accounts and nominate the Treasurer for the proper administration of its funds.

  5. Conarls' business will be conducted on a consensual basis.

/ About Regional Library Systems

Regional Library Systems have been establishing inter-library lending and promoting co-operation since 1931.

Members of the Regional Library Systems, which are not statutory bodies, include nearly all public and university libraries, as well as a large number of other public and private sector organisations. Regional Library Systems are funded by subscriptions and income generation.

Regional Library Systems can provide ....

  • Union Catalogues
  • Transport Schemes
  • Networking
  • Online Databases
  • NEWSPLAN
  • Cataloguing Standards
  • Annual Reports
  • Publications
  • Training
  • Seminars
  • Consultancy
  • Newletters
  • Statistics
  • Research and Development