Professional issues
SINTO provides information on a range of professional issues of interest to LIS staff in the region.
The SINTO blog and Twitter feed are used to give news of emerging issues.
The SINTO Bob Usherwood Prize is awarded to a student of the Department of Information Studies at the University of Sheffield. The prize is awarded to a postgraduate dissertation that makes a significant contribution to improving professional practice or understanding related to co-operation and partnership working across sectors in the SINTO area.
The following documents have been produced by the SINTO Director:
- Contribution of information to economic development in the Yorkshire and Humber region
- CPD and workforce development in the LIS sector in Yorkshire
- Do libraries provide for the needs of Deaf people?
- Equity and excellence in public libraries.
- Is Wikipedia a useful source of information for school libraries?
- Libraries are Good for Business
- Public libraries in the knowledge economy
- Staff and student research from the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield
- Training and development for library assistants
- A Vision for business Information provision in Yorkshire
SINTO Bob Usherwood Prize
The SINTO Bob Usherwood Prize is awarded to a student of the Department of Information Studies at the University of Sheffield. The prize is awarded to a postgraduate dissertation that makes a significant contribution to improving professional practice or understanding related to co-operation and partnership working across sectors in the SINTO area.
The aim of the prize is twofold. Firstly is to encourage students to explore research topics that will be of value to local professional practice. Secondly to encourage practitioners to take more interest in library research in general and the work produced by students from our local "library school" in particular.
The prize is named after the Chair of SINTO, Professor Bob Usherwood.
Further details of the prize can be found here.
Prizewinners:
2010 - Joint winners:
Carla Laughton for What is the extent and value of reminiscence work in public libraries, and what are the possibilities regarding collaboration with archives, museums and the health and care sectors in this area. PDF file of dissertation
Rebecca Broadley for An investigation into Yorkshire public library outreach projects aimed at homeless people. PDF file of dissertation
Carla's study looks at the nature of reminiscence work, barriers to providing a service and scope for co-operation with other agencies. Rebecca's study looks at good parctice in conducting outreach for homeless people and identifies suggestions for successful outreach. Both are of great practical value for libraries planning to introduce or develop such services.
2009 - Award not made.
2008 - An examination of adult literacy materials and schemes in English prisons and the role of the prison library in their provision and evaluation by Peter Field.
Principally, the study aimed to describe some of the literacy materials available in prison libraries and some of the reader development programmes that accommodate informal learning. Additionally, the study sought to discover if the library is under pressure to measure and demonstarte outcome and value, particularly in relation to literacy learning. It concludes that there is some excellent practice in prison libraries, but it is dependent on variable local conditions. PDF file of this dissertation.
2007 - Medicine for the Soul: bibliotherapy and the public library by Elizabeth Brewster.
The study investigates the experience of bibliotherapy in the public library from the staff perspective. The impact of creative and self-help bibliotherapy are examined, and significant conclusions about the views of public librarians on partnership working, mental health, social inclusion and reader development are presented. The importance of partnership working is highlighted. PDF file of this dissertation.