The Committee on Library Co-operation in Ireland (COLICO), established in 1977, co-ordinates library co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. COLICO also advises An Chomhairle and the Library and Information Services Council (LISC) Northern Ireland, on matters relating to library co-operation. COLICO facilitates the exchange of information and undertakes co-operative work in Irish libraries, North and South, and with The British Library.
An Chomhairle Leabharlanna manages the secretariat to COLICO and provides support to the Committee’s initiatives. An Chomhairle also publishes the COLICO annual report, which includes inter-lending and document supply statistics for libraries in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
An Chomhairle appointed the following representatives to COLICO for 2008:
- Mr Robin Adams, Librarian, Trinity College Dublin (Chair);
- Mrs Norma McDermott, Director, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna;
- Ms Madelaine Dennison, Head of Library and Research Services, Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas
- Ms Breda Gleeson, County Librarian, Kildare County Libraries;
- Mr Donal Tinney, County Librarian, Sligo County Library;
- Ms Teresa Walsh, County Librarian, South Dublin County Libraries, and
- Ms Jean Harrison, Regional Librarian, North Eastern Health Board, Co. Louth.
Ms. Elaine Urquhart (Assistant Director, Information Services, University of Ulster, Jordastown) was elected as Chair of the COLICO committee with Jean Harrison as vice-Chair.
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. The Committee met three times in 2008, alternating the meetings between Belfast and Dublin.
Robin Adams (then Chair of COLICO), Norma McDermott, and Sean Philips, at COLICO's February 2008 meeting
To mark the thirty-first anniversary of COLICO, the Committee invited Sean Phillips, a former Chair and retired librarian at University College Dublin, to give a presentation at its February meeting.
Speaking on the theme of ‘COLICO – Achievements and highlights’, Mr Philips outlined how the role and functions of COLICO had changed over the years as the Committee adapted to changing circumstances and demands.
The Committee took the opportunity to mark Mr Philips’s retirement from UCD and to acknowledge his years of service to COLICO.
A brief outline of the activities is given below. A fuller account is available in COLICO’s annual report, which is available on the COLICO website.