Dear library member,

We are writing to you to announce some changes to our work in Georgia. The British Council across Europe has redefined its role in order to ensure that what we do continues improvement to contribute to stronger cultural relations within and beyond Europe in a rapidly changing environment.

Our mission is to work on a large scale projects creating partnerships and networks as part of a vision of working together to build next generation Europe.

We want to do more to support Georgia on its road towards EU Accession. In Georgia we will further develop our project work and introduce new programmes that support the development of strong relations and links between Georgia, other European countries and the UK. We will expand our work with Georgian partners, including ministries, educational and cultural institutions, teachers’ associations, the media, NGOs, the British Embassy, the business community and other international agencies and institutions.

The new profile of our work in Georgia is the British Council new programme of information services.

In summer 2008 The British Council will be able to provide information and learning services to new and wider audiences in Tbilisi and the regions by working in partnership with Tbilisi State University, rather than through the British Council Library in Tbilisi.

The Tbilisi State University partnership will involve:

•donations of books and materials to the British Library at the Tbilisi State University

•donation of equipment by the British Council to the partner library.

•continuous work with British Library to influence policy, strengthen the infrastructure and build the skills and competence of staff.

•other forms of co-operation on other British Council services.

We plan to close the British Council library on 1 July 2008 and then transfer our stock, approximately 6000 contemporary British materials including books and multimedia to British Library at the Tbilisi State University.

We invite our current and potential British Council library members to renew their membership at the Tbilisi State University library from October 2008.

Benefits to members

The new arrangements should benefit our members in the following ways:

•The British Library at the Tbilisi State University will serve as a cultural and information centre with materials available for wider public with learning potential: students, academics, young professionals and all people interested in British culture and education.

•The British Library will be able to provide more in-depth coverage of certain subjects, satisfying all professional groups, such as ELT, management, law, political science, economics, media, etc

•Tbilisi State University will equip its British library with 10 computers that will have access to internet and will be subscribers of the British professional web-sites.  

•Members should get as good or better service from the partner library, as we will be offering them training for their staff.

Meanwhile British Council will continue provision of examination services and distance learning possibilities and of course, the online provision of information through wide range of web services for teachers, students and learners of English and continue other in-house workshops for teachers, students and young professionals.

More information on this change is available on our special website. We are delighted that you have been using our library and Cyber Space to practise your English and learn new things and for the ideas and feedback you have given us.

We hope, however, that you will continue to interact with us through our existing and new programmes and activities. I understand that some of you may feel that this change is not fully aligned with your expectations. We would like to encourage you to send your feedback to office@ge.britishcouncil.org or talk to our staff in our premises.

Yours sincerely,

Lena Milosevic

Director

British Council Georgia