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May 13, 2006
Bloggington : the Daily Routine
Some time ago Mrs Sideloader, the head of the Carnegie library on the harbour front at Bloggington on Sea wrote out the daily routine that she expected of her crew.
Here is what she put
Outside
• It’s hard and takes practice but you have to see your library as a stranger sees it and make it so they find it attractive and want to come in. Some people do this naturally, some don’t; just as some people dress instinctively in a stylish way and some don’t. We are on public show- we must look smart. There are people who don’t care what we look like, but we have to dress for those who do care.
• Stand 10m away from the library and see what is there.
-The front windows must be clean, bright and arresting.
-The window displays should entice someone outside to want to come and see what is inside. Whether that be books, or a clear view of the library, it must be a stage set- brilliant, bright and inviting
-The steps, pavement and paintwork must be clean
-Any signs must be professional, clear, clean and legible.
-Many library buildings, old and new, are very attractive and were well designed. Make sure that that those qualities are retained. Don’t spoil them by bad signage or by other changes which detract from the original features. Don’t stick things to the windows (inside or out!)
-If designers have been used to improve your graphics or your presentation- use their rule book; don’t ignore their work- don’t destroy what they have thought about.
-What you see from 10m is the best advertisement for the library. It must be attractive and interesting. Just because you have got used to what is there doesn’t mean it is satisfactory
• From time to time pick your favourite 5 shops, or restaurants or pubs, go and stand 10m outside: ask 2 questions
-Do the people who own and run this place look like interesting people who will be unintrusive, friendly and welcoming; or do they look difficult and will require you to behave in a way that will make you uncomfortable?
-Have they got something inside that is worth exploring, browsing or just enjoying: or might it all be dowdy and disappointing?
-Against these two measures, give them and the library a score out of ten- it may help identify what you can improve. Ask others, who don’t work in the library to do the same and see what they tell you.
• Most good presentation isn’t about spending money- it’s about seeing yourself as others see you.
Inside the front door
• Clean the carpet and the floors every day
• Every day make sure all the lights are working : no flashing fluorescents, no dirty bulbs or deflectors.
• Use notice boards and keep them current, attractive and interesting. Use people’s material from the community, liberally- but display it tidily and neatly. People are proud of their own posters.
• Don’t put blue-tack or sellotape on walls or wooden furniture, counters etc
• Keep the service counters tidy and uncluttered. Don’t use the shelves underneath the counter for storage. Keep them clean and tidy.
• Make sure all the windows, blinds and shutters are clean.
• Make sure all the internal signs are clear, clean and well lit. There are DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) requirements about lettering. They are intended to make everything very easy to see and read.
• Any flowers or plants should be alive, thriving and looked after. No dead plants.
• Staff should be smart, clean and stylish.
• Check display posters are straight and properly hung. If possible make sure the books they advertise are visible close by.
• Compare yourself to the lobby of a really smart hotel. Look good.
Displays
• Dust the shelves on a regular rota so that the library is completely cleaned each week. At the same time, make sure every shelf display is tidy and presented in a professional manner: no books fallen over, no empty shelves because the classification needs moving.
• Put books back in the right place- clear the returns and place the new stock every day so there is no accumulated back log.
• Weed the stock every day so that as much stock is leaving as is arriving. This will allow you to keep the shelves full all the time and not have gaps in the display.
• Adjust the classification signs constantly so that they deliver their promise. A sign that says “Gardening books” should be as comprehensive collection of topics about gardening as the space in your library permits
• Use smartly prepared shelf edge labels to sub-divide a category or to highlight particular authors or subjects.
• “Don’t use signs that say “oversize” books unless you absolutely have to- adjust the shelves if you can.
• Use all the shelves making displays which are an attractive mixture of “spine- out” and “face-out”, pulling the face out books to the front of the shelf with display blocks. Use the top and bottom shelves: the important thing is to have as wide a selection as possible of the best books on the topics within a category.
• Don’t sit behind the issues desk waiting for readers: there is always the possibility to make displays more attractive.
Study areas
• Areas for private reading or study, or for using computers, are a most important part of the function of the library. Make sure that that the desks, surfaces and chairs are cleaned every day.
• Make sure that computer screens and keyboards are also clean.
• Respect people’s privacy, dignity and their work and study and make sure that other readers do the same.
• If you have comfortable arm chairs and sofas, keep them tidy and make sure they give a reader privacy- don’t gather them round one table as if they were for a group in conversation. Put them in quiet corners.
But the first and most important thing each morning : Feed Perkins, the library cat.
Posted by Tim Coates at May 13, 2006 7:18 PM