Comments on: Libraries are changing and even thriving.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 21:41:12 +0000

Our fantastic library is on a school site the school is from the ages of 4 to 18 and it it also open to the public. In term term it is open from 0800 until 1900 which is fantastic for all parents/users. The library offers so much to our community but sadly the council are closing it! This will be a huge loss as the library provides so much they also run activities for the children in the holidays and on Saturdays. If you would like to show your support to keep it open please ‘like’ our Facebook page ‘save Wootton fields library’ . Many thanks

By: Ian Anstice

Ian Anstice — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 06:58:47 +0000

I thought I would go with something brighter than the normal relentless procession of depression and then you go and spoil it all 🙂 You’re quite right that co-location brings its own dangers as well as opportunities. Nothing in this world is black and white any more.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:32:30 +0000

Services sharing buildings can be a positive thing if it keeps libraries open but there are real dangers in merging rather than co-locating services within buildings. Library users having to queue up behind people waiting to be seen for other queries – often of a sensitive or confidential nature, library buildings and staff managed by managers who have no real understanding of the library ethos, opening hours altered to suit the other service as well as to cut costs, professional posts lost, narrowed or downgraded, the library offer becoming an adjunct to the other service, library assistants becoming receptionists, no specialist services in reference,av, children’s or bibliographical services because new management can’t see their importance … Speaking from experience? Yes sadly I am. Feel confident that my authority will have librarians and a library service in five years time? No. Have book exchanges? Yes. So perhaps that is the trade off – at least the books will remain.
Sorry to be so miserable after such a positive post from you Ian – bad day!

By: Ian Anstice

Ian Anstice — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:24:57 +0000

Thanks for this excellent comment. I’m not allowed by my family to go on enough day trips to visit nice new libraries myself. The wife whispers darkly words like “obsession” and “divorce”. Can only assume they are the names of two perfumes, one successful and the other … um … less so.

By: John Kirriemuir

John Kirriemuir — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:16:40 +0000

I had a day out in Worcester yesterday and visited The Hive. Pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/silversprite/sets/72157630651135428/

A few observations:

1. A *lot* of PCs. All with big screens, higher end kit. No Macs, though.

2. It's very Nordic in design, lighting and arrangement inside. Reminded me of several libraries in Sweden and Finland.

3. It's brand new; everything sparkling. Many staff, all positive.

4. The roof was leaking.

5. Difficult to quantify the number of books. Quite a few, with lots of empty shelf space to expand. The special collections area was sparse, though.

6. I didn't have any formal ID, but still (with no hassle) got a day pass for the Internet. This is good.

7. What was *really* good was the opening hours - another plus of combining a public and academic library. It's open 8:30 to 22:00 ... seven days a week.

8. Because it was summer, with most students away, reckon it was relatively quiet. Most of the people on the PCs were eastern European workers on Facebook (and no, not judging though imagining Daily M@ail reading types will).

9. Nice coffee in the cafe. And the shop was the only library one where Worcestershire Sauce was for sale. My school was two miles away. Those who were were bright, studied, got good grades went on to college and university. Those who didn't went to work in the Lea and Perrins factory making it.

10. A games area, with playstations hooked up with various games. Popular with groups.