Information Services to Science Parks: The Co‐operative Approach at Belasis Hall Technology Park

Citation

James, S. (1999), "Information Services to Science Parks: The Co‐operative Approach at Belasis Hall Technology Park", Library Review, Vol. 48 No. 6, pp. 48-48. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.1999.48.6.48.5

There are still problems in convincing those in industry and business who can most benefit from it of the real value of information. It has always been free (or apparently free) so that there is a built‐in reluctance to pay for it, and many would rather manage without. That much has been evident throughout my own career, when providing free information to business through a public library and latterly in relations with business and industry through an academic library. There are some signs that attitudes may be changing: with electronic information people see access as likely to be costly, so assume that a reciprocal benefit is to be had; we also recall the Library Association′s Investors in Information Scheme. While we wait to see any real outcomes from that, we also wait to see whether the information age really will change attitudes. In the meantime, reports of experience are invaluable to help plan services, but also have a depressingly familiar ring to them.

On the face of it this was an ideal project and proving ground: it involved a collaboration of academic, public and major industrial libraries around a geographical location which in size, compactness and nature seems just right. All the right things were done: clear aims were stated (“to create a one‐stop scientific, technical and commercial information service for technical companies and Belasis Hall Technology Park”). Information needs were analysed and a scheme was set up based on those and promoted vigorously. But it needed subsidy, not only during its formative time, but afterwards also if it was to continue. Good ideas were presented for links and sources of funds, but the project hit the recession and another good scheme bit the dust, ironically just as the park itself expanded so giving a greater company and personnel base to serve.

This is a useful report which will become a part of the collective experience. The project was clearly designed and is thoroughly reported, including costs. It did realise some positive achievements in promotion, awareness and co‐operation which are duly reported. The report itself takes the first 48 pages, followed by 25 pages of literature search results (a direct printout from LISA) and 30 pages of appendices giving useful detail. Something tangible and longer term might yet come out of this project, but for now this thorough report is a useful record to give advice, and warning, to others embarking on similar paths.