Online
Library Forum connects people worldwide with
Ireland & Canada
Irish Library News, July 2007
 |
Anthony
Edwards, Senior Executive Librarian; Eric Stackhouse, Pictou-Antigonish
Chief Librarian and Noel Crowley, Clare County Librarian |
A new online forum for County Clare has recently been developed to offer people worldwide an opportunity to share their interest and knowledge about books, local history, arts and culture, and their favourite place in Clare.
“This is a fine example of how technology can bring people together around common interests and build our community by sharing what people know about a book or a place.” says Noel Crowley, County Librarian.
The Clare forum is simple to use but sophisticated enough to share photographs and other digital items. Anyone connected to the Internet can sign up for a username and password and read or contribute information. A unique feature of the Forum is “My Favorite Place” which gives a person the chance to say where that special spot is in County Clare. Users can also view and contribute to similar topics in Antigonish and Pictou Counties in Canada.
The Library Forum is a joint initiative of the Clare County Library and the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library of Nova Scotia, Canada and is supported by volunteers and staff. Pictou-Antigonish Chief Librarian Eric Stackhouse says “This is another example of the innovative relationship that Nova Scotia has with County Clare and how cooperation offers our library users to have the best. Public libraries are the heart of the community, locally and online.”
Although in place for only a few weeks, and with a minimum of publicity so far, there are over 60 signed up members of the forum already, according to Senior Executive Librarian Anthony Edwards, who hopes that more and more people will see the forum as the natural place and space in which to share information about Clare, books and the arts in general. Each forum is moderated by either library staff or volunteers, and extensive measures have been put in place to deter spammers (both robot and human).
To
view or join the forum simply go to the library website at www.clarelibrary.ie
and follow the link to ‘Forums’. All are welcome.