Library Service of the Velocity Interoperability Network Established

The Library Service of the Velocity Interoperability Network has been formally established. The Service is responsible for the branch libraries at the principal sites of the Network, for membership and lending, for the digital collections, and for the deposit and public availability of the official publications of the Network's departments and offices.

With its establishment complete, the Service today launches its official website at libraries.gov.vin. The site carries the locations and opening hours of the seven branch libraries, the categories and conditions of membership, the loan periods and reservation rules that apply to every kind of item, a guide to the digital collections, and the Service's first statistical release.

The Service takes over the reading rooms and lending collections formerly maintained by member organisations. At establishment its stock stands at 214,600 physical items and 41,800 digital titles, and 8,340 readers whose registrations were transferred from member organisations hold membership from today. The opening of the branches, the opening of membership to new applicants and the launch of the digital collections are the subject of separate announcements published today. General enquiries may be sent to contact@libraries.gov.vin.