Yes, it’s two cheers for Swindon Council.
I went onto their website to see if you can now set up inter-library loans, something I still have to rely on sometimes even in the interwebbed world, online. You couldn’t – but I spotted their 24 hour library
This gives online access to the OED, Britannica, the Times archive, NewsUK and more, direct online, all free of charge. Now I know many in academic circles are used to this sort of free and easy library access, but it’s great to see us mere mortals getting it too.
Why only two cheers? It’s a shame I had to find it by accident. But, hey. I did.
Should the cheers be for the council, or the librarians? Who made the decision to fund the 24hr library?
Get the answer wrong and you could be on the receiving end of some very hard stares when you go in to pick up your borrowed books.
I was using the term ‘council’ in the broadest sense, of course to include those excellent employees the librarians. Even the one who gave me the wrong pin for online access.
Nice one Brian. I had a quick look but access is limited to physical members of this particular Library. Shame as I’m sure a much broader audience would be interested in these resources.
This does not appear to be true Open Access.
Graham – the restriction is placed on them by the licence holders of the various resources. However, I believe that a number of local authorities and many university libraries have, or are getting, such access. In the end, I guess it’s one of the many things that should make anyone consider the joys of living in Swindon. (Ahem.)
Ain’t been to Swindon for a couple of years. I have an ex there so must ask her if she’s got access.