Archive for March, 2014

Changes

• Bristol – Building of new Bishopston Library delayed due to concerns over quality of  building work.
• Hertfordshire – Royston Library refurbished.
• Southwark – £1.2m temporary library made from shipping containers

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Editorial

Blaenau Gwent looks likely to be come the first Welsh authority I am aware of to pass control of its public libraries to a non-profit trust.  Let’s hope it’s more successful than the outsourcing in Croydon where it has been confirmed that the loss of 11 library staff was among the first actions of Carillion when it took over. This has not impressed the Labour opposition there who confirm they will retake control of the library service if they win the forthcoming election.

There’s a couple of interesting reports just been released.  The UK one by the Carnegie UK Trust concerns British projects to get online the final one-fifth of the population.  Although it mentions libraries in a positive way, it does not devote one of its case studies to a public library project. The other report is from the US Pew Research Centre which confirms the vital place that public libraries have in American life.

Changes

• Blaenau Gwent – Libraries to move into new “Life Leisure Trust” with other council sports/leisure/cultural/heritage council services.
• Bradford – Mobile libraries to end on 31st March.  Housebound delivery service to be reduced.
• Carillion / Croydon – 11 library staff (7.42 full time equivalent) cut, including some compulsorily redundant.
• Newport – Considering moving libraries into Trust.

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Editorial

You’ll notice a lot more items under the “Ideas” heading than normal.  This is because many of the US “Movers and Shakers” 2014 of the library world have been announced – and many of them are on the list precisely because of the ideas they have.  I’ve read through all of the biographies released so far and the list below is what strikes me as new ideas I’ve not seen in the UK.  Some of it may seem fairly obvious, such as storytimes in cafes, but so what, that’s the beauty of it – how many libraries near you actually do that? Others show differences between the US and the UK that may be more difficult to emulate: for instance, they do a heck of a lot more over the summer holidays for instance in keeping up the educational skills of children.  British libraries do that as well of course, but it tends to be only formally done with Reading, not anything else.  Looks like we’re missing a trick.

Another trick we’re missing is sharing best practice in the way that Movers and Shakers does in the United States.  I hear that CILIP may be instituting something similar to this soon and I really hope it comes off in spades.  I says that because it isn’t just about promoting the achievements of (I’ve seen the phrase, honest) “Librarian Rock Stars” or celebrating success: rather, it is about spreading good ideas and hope.  It’s also about encouraging the taking of risk and being entrepreneurial (in the best sense of that word). There’s never been a time when that is so important for UK libraries to do a bit of that.

Changes

Swindon – Old Town Library to be reduced to 18 hours per week.

Ideas

1. Using what the library already has for education – “Libraries should use available technology to provide opportunities for project-based programs, where patrons can show off what they create.” Over the past two years her Mad Scientists and Math and Science Labs programs have included deconstructing computers and creating chemical reactions with everyday items, like hot sauce packets from Taco Bell. She’s also incorporated more high-tech tools into her technology programming, writing grants for inexpensive Arduino microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi computers, and laptops.”
2. Collaboration between school and public libraries – “Limitless libraries” program: where stock and membership (and, as importantly, bulk book ordering) is shared between systems for the benefit of all.
3. Guerilla storytime – Practical sessions at conferences sharing best practice for story times.  Blog Storytime Underground.
4. Buying ebooks rather than using an e-book provider like Overdrive.  229% increase in issues and increased independence.
5. LibraryReads – Website showing top ten recently published titles recommended by librarians becomes great promotional tool.
6. Moving bookstock from Dewey to bookstore model. No sign of how successful this has been though.
7. LiLi –  A LiLi  is a “souped-up Nissan Cube with more than $25,000 in audiovisual enhancements, an Xbox Kinect, a custom-built mount with a 37″ LCD screen, tower speakers” … “Since 2012, stereotype-shattering LiLi has reached more than 50,000 people through over 160 visits to local community events and social service agencies”
8. Community cards – ” provide library membership to people with no fixed address: for many authorities in the UK which require proof of address, this sounds like a good idea. Interesting to see how it works in practice (rate of losses etc).
9. Listening stations – Headphones etc for those with visual difficulty to listen to talking books in the library.
10. Library as incubator – Providing library space and resources to encourage Arts projects. Website.
11. Summer Learning Challenge – “Based on research about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and learning skills defined by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it draws kids into learning through child-centered, active learning experiences—including science experiments, games, and creative activities—that reflect literacy skills”.
12. 2:1 stock purchasing – If there are two reservations for one book then another copy is bought.  Encourages reservations and popular book stock.
13. Storytimes at coffee shops to promote public libraries.  People have to know about libraries in order to use them,
14. Summer reading app – “will offer games, reminders to read, digital badges, and community connections, as well as gather statistics for librarians”
15. Microgrants – $2500 grants for “initiatives that offer new, innovative library services”.

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Changes

• Portsmouth – Southsea Library to close on Sundays (£10k cut). 5 full time staff equivalent (library assistants – 183 working hours per week) – £95k cut to be lost. Late-night openings at Cosham, North End and Southsea libraries would also be removed one night a week (£6.5k cut).  Records Office to be moved to first floor of Southsea Library. Fines for the late returns of books will rise by 1p, from 16p to 17p per day, up to maximum of £8.50. The late return of CDs will go up to 30p per day from 25p and DVDs will go up to 60p per day from 50p.
• Sheffield – Cuts will mean loss of 71 full time equivalent posts: To be replaced by 750 volunteers.
• Wolverhampton – Full-time library workers fall from 117 in 2008 to 17 in 2014. Self service to be installed in all 16 branches will mean more job cuts. Whitmore Reans Library reduced to being open 15 hours per week (was six days). Collingwood Library now mainly self-service.

Ideas

• E-library at courthouse for jurors – USA.
• Homago area for teens – “Hang out, mess around, geek out” area, USA.

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Editorial

World Book Day has come.  This means classes of children coming in, normally in some sort of fancy dress, learning about how wonderful public libraries are.  I’ve already done a school assembly (got to love 250 children screaming “World Book Day”), opened a new school library and did two class visits (“We’re Going On a Bear Hunt” is famous but may I also recommend “Here Come The Aliens“)  … and that was just on Monday.   The Day (and, let’s be honest, the whole week) is a wonderful opportunity for public libraries to get children in as schools are so keen to get involved this week.  Indeed, it’s great when schools phone you and not the other way.  I try to squeeze as many activities as I can in and I hope all public libraries are able to do the same … and keep those statistics too.

World Book Day is all about. well, books, of course and so it’s only appropriate to mention some fairly good evidence that has come in from the US that suggests that it is not public libraries per se that are declining but rather those in the UK where book funds have been cut.  Across the Atlantic, material funds rose 2% on average in 2013 and usage went up 2%.  This tallies well with the UK experience where declines in usage appears to mirror somewhat cuts in funding. So one may wonder whether it’s not that UK public libraries are dieing: rather it appears they are being murdered or, rather, suffering from neglect.

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