Maidenhead & Windsor

Bigger and better, and more easily accessible – it's top marks this week for the popular reference collection at Maidenhead Royal Borough libraries thanks to an innovative national libraries' deal making more reference titles available on-line.

Maidenhead Borough residents can now do more of their "homework" and access an even bigger range of reference books from the comfort of their armchairs – and reference titles previously only available in print at the two main libraries at Windsor and Maidenhead will now be accessible on-line at branch libraries.

This includes the world-famous Oxford English Dictionary, recently featured on the BBC's Balderdash and Piffle. It is the accepted authority on the English language, defining over half a million words. Providing the online version also saves precious library space – the full 20-volume print version would take up about five foot of shelving in each library!

To access these services from home visit the online library page@ www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/onlinelibrary.htm

More directories, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, newspapers and business information can now be accessed through the libraries' computer network and out-of-hours by library members using their PCs with their library card and library pin number as part of a national deal by the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council.

Maidenhead Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for leisure and cultural services, said: "These are really exciting times for library users, enabling more and more people to have access to a wealth of information through a wider range of reference material at times convenient to them.

"By simply using their library card and PIN number they will be able to go on-line from the comfort of their armchairs and access even more titles and information. And for those people without a PC at home, even more information will now be available on-line at all the branch libraries rather than just the main libraries.

"This opportunity fits in perfectly with our ongoing aim of shifting the balance of our spending on reference material from print to electronic versions, while still maintaining a good stock of print material for those people who prefer their research the traditional way."

Mark Taylor, Maidenhead library and information services manager said: "The package deal to which we have subscribed represents really good value for money and allows us to buy new products at a better price - not only saving the borough just over £6,000 over two years, but also enabling us to buy more electronic titles which can be used by more of our library users."

The bigger and better deal – up and running at borough libraries from the beginning of the month - sees new additions of the Oxford English Dictionary On-Line, Grove Music On-line and Grove Art Online added to the existing collection of:
· The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
· Oxford Reference Books Online
· Online Newspapers (the last six years of many national dailies as well as local and international titles)
· XreferPlus – over 100 reference books such as Who's Who, dictionaries, thesauruses and crossword solvers.

Maidenhead Library chiefs are also looking into another national deal which would enable the purchase of licences to use up to 26 electronic titles published by 14 separate suppliers - and allow public libraries to benefit from access to electronic information currently only available at private libraries.

For further information about the new range of material contact Andrew Lewis, e-services officer, on 01628 796592 or Mark Taylor, library and information services manager, on 01628 796989 or e-mail libraries@rbwm.gov.uk.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead