The Good Library Blog

Congratulations, Tim. It sounds terrific. Take heed, other councils: spending one third on new books is exactly what the people who pay your salaries are asking for. Isn't it about time to start listening to them?

Actually, it still needs a lot more books etc; Hillingdon had already trebled their book purchasing in the last few years and this purchase was additional but there are still lots of gaps (in the basic range)-- At least we have taken step one and we have a platform to build on. But the feel of the place is right, I think.

Yes, comgratulations. Hillingdon leads the country.

People want books. These are what will bring back readers who have given up on the places. That should be the prioroty, not the forlorn hope of bringing in people who are not interested by books: the way to set about that aspect of the matter is through schools.

I think you're forgetting the many staff, some of them backroom, who worked incredibly hard to get the library open, even though they don't know whether they'll have a job in the new structure.

How can you say that outreach will be of a higher quality? It'll be done by staff who are not experts in eg children's work and who are managing a large library as well. Outreach work already involves the local community as contary to your view, librarians do not spend all their time in an library ivory tower locked away from the customers.

Fabulous is a relative term - I don't think that anyone using the children's library will think so as it is cramped, with no space for front on display. The library counter is a nightmare for accessiblity and working behind.

But it was gratifying to see the stock I'd chosen on the shelves and the coffee was pretty good.

I don't expect that you'll post this as it does not coincide with your view, but live in hope that freedom of speech is still possible.

Jenny - Thanks and good to hear from you.. I'm sure the layout problems can be overcome if they turn out to be enduring ones. I'm sure also your colleagues in the library are a little more expert than you say-- congratulations on your adult opening stock order- you are right to be pleased. Very well done. Everyone is hoping it will be a big success. Tim

On your blog of the 10 August 2007 you wrote:
"Outreach work will be scaled back so that resources can be redirected to library branches and opening hours extended"

Above you have said:
"Incidentally the outreach from this library to its local community will be far greater and of higher quality than was previously possible."

Please excuse my ignorance but these appear to be contradictory statements. Would you care to clarify?

Hi Tim, thanks for posting my comment. I am not saying that my colleagues have no skills or expertise. I am an assessor for CILIP’s ‘ACLIP’ qualification which mean that staff who have not had the opportunity to study for a degree in library and information work can be recognised for their achievements and work their way up to chartered status. However, there needs to be an acknowledgement that working in a library does not necessarily mean that you have the interest, skills or knowledge to do the work of a librarian. Staff appointed to a role they have not done before will need to mentored and trained in areas that are new to them - I cannot see how they will suddenly become as expert as those who have training and experience behind them. It takes time to build this up.

I’m sorry to have missed you at the Ruislip Manor Library opening, as it would have been interesting to walk round and talk about what could be improved for the next refurbishment. I also think that it is vital to get feedback from the customers once they’ve got over the initial excitement of it being new and also to listen to the staff about what it’s like to work there.

In response to Christopher’s comments I would like to say that the outreach work we currently do involves every primary school in the borough being visited by a librarian to promote the summer reading scheme. We do work with refugee groups who now use our libraries (as part of the Welcome to Your Library project), where they probably wouldn’t have without our encouragement. We run several reading groups and a creative writing group and also organise a programme of author events. This is just a small part of the outreach work that is currently done.

I agree that books are the core business of a public library, but without experienced and knowledgeable staff, with the time to interact with the public (as opposed to doing the back-office, time-consuming role of managing a library and it’s coffee shop) what we offer becomes no better than a charity shop with a large books section. The unique selling point of libraries is the chance for people to get unbiaised and informed opinion about books and free access to information. Without librarians such as myself and my colleagues I feel that this will eventually be lost.

Steve

That quote on Aug 10 wasn't from me. It was the Bookseller article which was, I think a commentary on Hillingdon's own published council paper. That Bookseller article did contain some misinterpretations or misunderstandings of detail. The main drift, however, was right.

I have never said that outreach would or should be reduced. I think it should be done effectively and efficiently and comprehensively and I made some suggestions as to how. Those were my recommendations to the council and, so far as I know, it is their intention to follow them.

Tim is right, the quote is a comment on the council strategy paper. Said paper is publically available.
There is an issue over what people mean by outreach, and I share Jenny's concern that it will suffer as a result of staff redeployments etc. It, like so much else here, remains to be seen.
That said, good luck to Hillingdon. I hope to get down there and see for myself in November when I am in London.

One thing you mention Tim is a response to user need-something we can all agree on.

Can you tell us what user consulation was done by you or the council, in Hillingdon itself- was anything additional done?

Pete

Yes of course- my report to and lengthy discussions with Hillingdon were largely based on users ( and non users) views of public libraries both across the country and also with specific data from Hillingdon. The whole purpose was to try to identify areas in which they would all like to see improvement- and work out how to give them that. Hillingdon has many of the characteristics of outer London boroughs where people have ready access to many facilities of high standard - and also in the diverse nature of their population. The latter is, of course, not unusual. If you like, Ruislip Manor is the first attempt to embody the conclusions we drew and I'm sure that in making improvements to the next few libraries, if there are lessons to be learned they will be.

Remember that one of the features of the Hillingdon review is an attempt to allow each individual library to respond to the characteristics and needs of its own local community. This is done by allowing individual libraries much more control overy their stock and their outreach and marketing programmes. In doing that there are training needs which are also part of the planned work - so, hopefully, things will continue to improve as time goes by. What is there is by no means the end result- that will depend on the skill, enthusiasm and experience of the staff in the libraries. Some will find that easier than others, I'm sure- but that help is a role that even CILIP and MLA could contribute to, if they wiished.

It is interesting to note that Buckinghamshire, which is the adjacent (and almost surrounding) county, last year closed 8 (I think) of their libraries, or put them completely into the hands of local people, in a similar review. That, of course was an option also for Hillingdon-- but one could hardly have missed the outcry from people in Buckinghamshire to that so called 'improvement programme' - so I'm sure councillors in Hillingdon, as elsewhere, are conscious of the public view about certain ways to proceed. (ie closing libraries brings pad press) Tim

I’m very proud of you.