The Role of SWRLS

The South Western Regional Library Service is a charity (2840720) working in the field of interlibrary lending in the South West of England and the Channel Islands. Its work is now mainly strategic, consisting of:

• representing the interests of member libraries at a national level such as The Combined Regions (TCR) and its working group, CONARLS
• co-ordinating data input to UnityUK, the union catalogue of The Combined Regions, and contributing to its technical development.
• developing a regional union catalogue through the use of WorldCat Local
• coordinating and promoting INSPIRE initiative in the region
• supporting and promoting the Newsplan project, preserving local newspapers on microfilm, within the South West
• funding and supporting the SWRLS/Plymouth Music Scheme, ensuring that all member libraries have adequate access to sheet music
• training and development opportunities to CILIP Seal of Recognition standard
• working jointly with JISC RSC SW to meet training needs of members

SWRLS also co-operates with other appropriate cultural agencies, such as Cyprus Well (SW Literature Agency) MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council), and advises it on library matters in the SW.