‘Virtual scholars’, motivating students, and the potential of wikis and blogs were just some of the topics under discussion at a meeting of all of the University’s librarians.

Although smaller gatherings of librarians have been held for some years now, this is the first time colleagues from the University Library, faculties, departments, colleges and affiliated institutions have come together. It is planned that it will become an annual event.

Peter Fox, the University Librarian, explained: “This was a marvellous opportunity to get together and network, as well as learn more about the latest developments in library and information services.

”Thanks to generous sponsorship from Blackwell Book Services, we were able to bring in a range of outside speakers.”

The event included a keynote address from Professor David Nicholas, Director of the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies at University College London. Professor Nicholas spoke about the challenges poses by internet-driven information and the emergence of the ‘virtual scholar’.

A number of workshops were on offer covering a variety of topics, from developing teaching and motivational techniques to exploring new ways of using library space.

There was also news on the ebooks@cambridge project. This currently provides online access to the texts of more than 100 of the most widely used books in the University and over 3000 texts no longer in copyright.

The inaugural Libraries@cambridge conference was opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alison Richard.

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