Introduction

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Welcome to COLICO - your first contact for Library Co-operation in Ireland.

We aim to provide a high quality information service on strategic co-operation within the library and information services on the island of Ireland.

COLICO (Committee on Library Co-operation in Ireland) is a North-South body whose function is to optimise the collective value of the combined resources of Irish libraries for their clienteles. The committee was established in 1977 and since 1994 has been the formal advisory body on library co-operation to An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, and the Library and Information Services Council, Northern Ireland (LISC). COLICO also provides liaison between Irish libraries and the British Library, which is represented on the committee.

COLICO monitors and encourages co-operative projects on the island of Ireland and works towards providing and enhancing shared resources for library staff and users. Most Irish libraries co-operate with COLICO by providing data on their document supply and inter-library loans traffic which are included in the statistics published in the COLICO Annual Report.

An Chomhairle Leabharlanna manages the secretariat and provides other support to the committee including the publication of the annual report.

COLICO's Functions

• To act as an advisory committee to An Chomhairle Leabharlanna and to the Library and Information Services Council (Northern Ireland) on all matters relating to library co-operation;
• To co-ordinate, support and monitor co-operative activities including Newsplan and Pathways to Learning between libraries in Ireland;
• To examine all aspects of library co-operation in Ireland, develop policy, formulate proposals for action and encourage participation;
• To provide liaison between Irish libraries, the British Library and other similar bodies;
• To provide a forum for the exchange of information and co-operation between libraries in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland;
• To monitor the Irish Joint Fiction Reserve Scheme operated by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna on the committee's behalf.