The Source: news about digital libraries and library innovations from around the web

Introducing The Source


Culture of innovation: An economic analysis of innovation in arts and cultural organisations (Note: PDF)

From the National Endowment for Science Technology & the Arts (NESTA) website

Seemingly a paradox exists in the arts: creativity and novelty lie at the heart of all artistic endeavour, yet funders call on arts and cultural organisations to be more innovative. Understanding this paradox is one of the reasons why the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) embarked on the research on which this report is based.
Working with one of the world's leading cultural economists, Australian David Throsby, and two of the UK's premier cultural institutions, the report proposes a framework for innovation that can be used by both arts funders and arts organisations. It describes the rich ways that arts and cultural organisations innovate in audience reach, push out artistic frontiers and create economic and cultural value.


Creative industries economic analysis: final report (Note: PDF)

From the Enterprise Connect website

The importance of creativity and innovation in driving tangible economic outcomes has been recently rediscovered. It is becoming increasingly apparent that there is a vibrant and valuable group of economic activities that create and transform the imagination as well as goods and services. This study seeks to provide greater clarity about the economic dimensions of creative industries as a driver of wealth creation, employment, competitiveness and prosperity.


Library Consortia and the Future of Academic Libraries (Note: PDF)

From the Collaborative Librarianship News website

Academic libraries are at the crossroads of dramatic change, and the pressure to adapt is increasing due to the consequences of the severe downturn of 2008-2009. Major concerns include ongoing budget stagnation and/or budget cuts and the need to acquire serials materials whose costs rise annually at unsustainable rates. In order to save money and streamline operations, taking advantage of consortial arrangements to eliminate redundant activities among member libraries seems more significant than ever. Fortunately, new internet-based technologies make collaboration more possible than ever before. Library consortia are uniquely positioned to help their member libraries in this collaborative process.


A library without books?

From the Curriculum Leadership website

A concerted analysis will find that there is a dramatic difference between a 'school library' and an information services unit, a difference that has to do with both perception and the actual situation. There is a vital and growing need for information professionals with a strong understanding of teaching and learning to play a central role in the school's operations. The standing of the teacher librarian position, rightly or wrongly, is closely correlated to that staff member's success in integrating the latest information technologies into the school's educational program. Teacher librarians who have moved from the traditional model of the school library to the creation of an information services unit are today generally very well positioned to continue to play a significant role in schooling.