Hi everyone, I would like to plumb the depths of your collective wisdom on an issue that is going to be quite central to the development of the Literature Network over the next year.

A central aim of the Literature Network is to expand its membership. The network was originally set up to link the eight Literature Development Officers around the region, but with LDO's in dwindling supply, we need to look at other ways of fulfilling the role they played in linking the many individuals and small organisations that are involved with literature in the East Midlands. We want to expand the existing network to include as many of the people leading literature in this region as possible.

The overall aims of an expanded network are:

Information - we want to help share information about literature around the region, share existing audiences and build new ones and involve many more people in literature. LiteratureNetwork.org is a good step towards this but there is much more that could happen.

Networking - there are many individuals and organisations who have natural synergies and could benefit from working together which the network can help build relationships between

Advocacy - because of the small scale of individual literature projects, the overall impact of what we do is often overlooked by funding bodies and other authorities. The network can help to raise the profile and importance of literature in the region. I have two questions which I would really appreciate your thoughts on:

• What would you feel able to contribute to an extended network? How could you help support it and hence the regional literature community? What time or other resources might be available?
• What would you expect from joining an extended literature network? What would you like to see it do for you? How is this different for individual practitioners, small organisations, or larger institutions in which literature plays a role?

This is just an opportunity to raise ideas and asks questions at the moment. All ideas gratefully considered.

Damien Walter

Literature Network Coordinator

http://literaturenetwork.org