Type | Library and Information sector |
---|---|
Established | 1993 |
Location | London |
Website | http://www.m25lib.ac.uk/ |
The M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries is a collaborative organisation that works to improve library and information services within the M25 region, and more widely across the East and Southeast of England.
The Consortium has registered charity status, awarded by the Charity Commission of England and Wales in January 2009.
Since its formation in 1993, with 29 members, the Consortium has continued to expand both its activities and its member base. In 2002, membership was opened up to non-higher education organisations; [1] M25 now currently represents 55 institutions as of 2016. [2]
The Consortium provides a forum for sharing expertise and good practice; it is committed to collaboration as a way of building relationships around libraries, users and collections to bring added value to services. [3] Whilst its direct customers are member libraries, indirect customers include students, academics, and researchers of member institutions (and beyond). [4]
Acting as a single voice for its diverse membership, the Consortium has aimed to represent the interests of academic and research libraries at both regional and national level. It has built working relationships with several information service organisations, including:
The Consortium's technical and administrative support team is based at the British Library of Political and Economic Science, London School of Economics, 10 Portugal Street, London. WC2A 2HD.
The Consortium's work has facilitated a range of services and resources for the benefit of learners and researchers.
M25 continues to grow and forge additional partnerships with library sector organisations. On an ongoing basis the Consortium reviews and looks to improve services offered to users; currently it is looking into ways to encourage member libraries to allow walk-in visitor access to electronic resources.
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