Beyond the Boundaries: Academic Library Co-Operation in Scotland. Gillian Anderson. Twin Cities Conference: Innovation into Practise- New Service Concepts, Helsinki and Turku, Finland, 13-16 May 2009

1. Higher Education Academic Library Development in Scotland Gillian Anderson UHI Millennium Institute Twin Cities 2009

8. Student Completion Rates

9. Scottish Universities The ancients (15 th/ 16 th centuries): St Andrews, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh The chartered universities (1960s): Strathclyde, Heriot Watt, Dundee, Stirling The post-1992 universities : Abertay, Paisley, Robert Gordon’s, Napier, Glasgow Caledonian 2006 : Queen Margaret University 2008 : University of the West of Scotland 2012? : University of the Highlands & Islands

12. the southwest; and from the Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides to whisky making Moray-shire. Sandy beaches, rocky shores, lochs, forests, moorland, farmland and mountain all contribute to a landscape that is unique in Europe. The Highlands & Islands of Scotland is a vast and diverse area stretching from the Shetland Isles – on a latitude with Bergen in Norway to Argyll in the

13. Covering hundreds of islands and over half of the UK's entire coastline, the Highlands region has one of the most varied eco-systems in the world. Its unspoilt countryside and diversity of habitat make it unsurpassable for a huge variety of outdoor activities from snow-boarding to canoeing to mountain trekking. Not forgetting relaxing on deserted pure-white shell beaches.

14. The Highlands & Islands contain a network of small communities each of which , in its own way, enjoys a superb quality of life. From busy bustling towns to crofting townships to quiet glens, communities are bound together by a common sense of living in peace and harmony with the landscape, and lifestyles reflect this.

15. The heritage of the Highlands & Islands is rich and diverse and ranges from the ancient, like the 5,000 year old Callanais standing stones on Lewis to the modern. The region has produced some of the UK’s brightest talents in science, music, dance and visual arts. UHI reflects this diversity in its degree and Masters courses.

16. Shetland College NAFC Marine Centre Orkney Coll. North Highland College Lews Castle . Moray Highland Theological Coll . Inverness Sabhal Mor Ostaig Lochaber Scot. Ass. M arine Science Argyll Perth The bigger lights are the UHI Academic Partner institutions … ..…and the little ones are learning centres

17. There are few other places in the world…. ... as beautiful to study in. UHI’s campuses and learning centres are located in every part of the region and the ever changing natural world is never far away. … . where you don’t have to go to a city to take part in higher education (although UHI can offer that too). Flexibility is built into courses so that studies fit into life, not the other way round.

18. There are few other places in the world… ……where the approach to learning is a breath of fresh air. Scotland’s 21st century university-to-be is an educational model that attracts increasing attention from around the world

21. Linked by technology Use technology to overcome the tyranny of geography. APs and learning centres are part of an advanced high-speed network UK leader in using video-conferencing technology for academic delivery. Students use online learning materials and also have access to locally based study resources and support Creating the University of the Highlands and Islands

22. If Inverness = St Louis, Missippi: then - Struan in Ardnamurchan = Boise, Idaho Server room (Skye) = Bangor, Maine VLE Manager (Lewis) = Duluth, Michigan LSM and VC Master (Shetland) = Alaska How does a library service develop to support such distributed, networked teaching and learning?

23. Vision Creating the University of the Highlands and Islands Develop and deliver an integrated and innovative library service that uses advanced technology and provides a comprehensive service responsive to individual needs, and which is a credit to Scotland’s newest university.

24. Student story Creating the University of the Highlands and Islands Struan lives on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides An Edinburgh accountant, he moved with his wife and young family to where her family originated. He does p/t accountancy work for the local hotel and a local small business To widen his employment options, Struan is doing UHI’s MSc in Rural Resource Management.

26. Video-conferencing bridge and master

29. Struan satisfaction Creating the University of the Highlands and Islands

32. Assynt, Sutherland

36. Tapadh Leat Diolch Gillian Anderson UHI Millennium Institute [email_address]