News from the Open University Library & Learning Resources Centre

Digilab
The new Digilab situated on the ground floor of the Library at Milton Keynes is a creative play area, aimed at Open University staff and postgraduate students, to encourage exploration of new ideas and knowledge sharing. The room has hands-on access to new technologies and ideas, including social software such as YouTube and flickr, mobile devices and games consoles.  Staff can also explore the possibilities of experimental learning within the Second Life vitual environment or the potential of games in learning, with guidance as to how to exploit their existing or potential applications for learning and teaching. Visit the Dibilab website at www.open.ac.uk/digilab for more information.

New Information Literacy Course – ‘Beyond Google’ TU120
The Open University Library is celebrating the end of the second presentation of its new course, TU120 Beyond Google. The course, co-authored by library staff and academic colleagues from the Technology faculty, focuses on bringing information literacy up to date by using new tools such as social bookmarking, blogs and wikis. The next presentation of the course runs later this year, in October. For more information, visit the taster site at www.openuniversity.co.uk/tu120

m-libraries Conference 13th – 14th November 2007
The Open University Library, in partnership with Athabasca University, is delighted to be acting as hosts for the very first International m-libraries Conference.  This event promises to break new ground in library technology development.  As the use of mobile technologies becomes increasingly ubiquitous, libraries around the world are experimenting with developing services and resources to be delivered to mobile phones, MP3 Players, PDA’s, portable games consoles and other devices.  These developments have not yet been the subject of any international conference or symposium. 

For more information, visit the m-libraries website at www.open.ac.uk/library/mLibraries Registration is now open with ‘early bird’ concessions and we look forward to meeting many M25 colleagues.

Open Research Online
Open Research Online is now live.  It is a repository of OU research publications and other research outputs and, with 5000 items, is now the 3rd largest academic repository in the UK.  It is an Open Access resource that can be searched and browsed freely by members of the public.  Visit http://oro.open.ac.uk/  for more information.

Services to Partner Institutions
Internationally, the Open University is developing a new Partnership Strategy and so the Library has established a new Partnership project to look at alternative service models for supporting these initiatives.  The Library’s Business Development Manager is leading the project to scope services to staff and students at the Open University’s partner institutions. 

Contact: Josephine Burt, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

University Centre for Milton Keynes
The Open University is working closely with University for Milton Keynes partners in planning this new Centre which will include a Digizone and Learning Resources Centre.  The opening is scheduled for Spring 2008.

Nicky Whitsed
Director, Library Services