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November 30, 2007
Fahrenheit 451
Posted by Perkins at 8:47 PM | Comments (0)
November 27, 2007
Tropic of Ruislip
Miss Eliza Dolittle sends a copy of this article from The Bookseller
New look library, Katherine Rushton
The revamp of Ruislip Manor Library goes far deeper than just a coat of paint- new stock, management restructure and extended opening hours are all boosting visitor numbers
It is a Friday morning and Ruislip Manor Library is bustling with users. Parents sit with their children poring over picture books; teenagers scan the reference section for resources to help with their homework; office workers grab bestsellers along with a coffee on the way to work; and elderly users compliment library staff on the new look of the facility.
It feels a bit like a set-up, but Ruislip Manor's latest lending and visitor statistics give credence to the scene. The new look- part of a makeover planned for all 17 branches in the London borough of Hillingdon by library maverick Tim Coates- attracted more than 1,000 visitors and issued 1,465 loans on the library's first full day of opening on 14th October, more than it used to manage in a whole week. And one month on it is still lending twice the number of books it used to.
Councillor Henry Higgins, who recruited Coates and oversaw the change, puts the results down to investment in books. Of the 100,000 pound makeover budget, more than a third went on new titles, ranging from foreign language books for the local Gujurati and Chinese communities to bestsellers by Julian Barnes and Danielle Steele. The makeover extended to a bright modern interior, which is lent a literary feel by quotations painted on the walls. The look, which was devised with a tight budget in mind by the retail design company Mackenzie Wheeler, will now be unrolled across the rest of the borough's libraries.
Underneath the paint job is a more radical makeover to the way the library is run. Before the revamp there was a proliferation of staff with the word 'manager' in their title, who could be paid the same as floor staff depending on their length of service. 'It was primarily a key-holding role' says Higgins, adding that no single person had overarching responsibility for the branch. That is about to change. Rusilip Manor is currently recruiting for a single manager who will be accountable for the running and the performance of the library and who will be rewarded with a bigger salary to match.
Open more hours
Opening hours have also been extended to accommodate Ruislip's commuters. Doors are unlocked at 8.30am and stay open until 10pm Monday to Thursday and until 5 or 5.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Higgins is also looking into Sunday opening.
The other significant structural change at Ruislip Manor is the speed and cost of sourcing books. Stock used to be ordered from and sent to Hillingdon Central Library where plastic jackets were issued, address stickers put in and books catalogued before being distributed to branches in the borough. 'It was too slow and it was a waste of money. That's just not good enough', says Higgins, adding that libraries must compete with retailers to deliver books when they are attracting media attention. 'We live in a commercial society whether we like it or not. Whatever I see on TV I want to be able to walk into my library and find it.'
Post makoever, all books bought by Ruislip Manor are processed at library supplier Bertrams and sent directly to the branch. The borough has also negotiated a retail discount. '(As a council) we spend 600,000 pounds a year on books and we pay in 30 days without the potential for returns. We're a real player in the market and publishers have got to realise that' Higgins says.
While many authorities are closing branches because they don't have the cash to maintain library buildings or buy new stock, the revamp of Hillingdon's libraries will pay for itself and is eventually projected to save at least 250,000 pounds. Part of the funding will come from other services the library offers. For example, while many libraries have invited coffee shops to set up in-branch outlets, Rusilip Manor has invested in a coffee machine and is offering the service itself. 'This is not a gimmick' Higgins stresses.' The money gets ploughed straight back into buying books.'
Directly opposite the coffee bar is another new attraction: a row of shiny new Apple Macs installed to lure teenagers; Higgins has already sweet talked major publishers into offering free audio book downloads and is currently courting Apple for a corporate sponsorship deal, which would see Apple donating extra Macs and using the library as a training centre.
The point, says Higgins, is to make libraries work for their local government funding by reaching out to as many users as possible while reatining the focus on books. 'About 27% of the population always use a library, but that leaves 66% who could but are not (plus 7% who are unable to). We're courageous as a council and we've put our necks on the line because if we don't libraries will die
Book lending figures since opening, Ruislip Manor
Day-- 2006--- 2007
14 Oct, 462,--- 1,465
16 Oct, 391,--- -- 601
17 Oct, 427,--- -- 514
18 Oct, 282,--- -- 460
19 Oct, 360,--- -- 460
20 Oct, 230,--- -- 470
21 Oct, 520,--- --1,002
23 Oct, 560,--- -- 830
24 Oct, 360,--- -- 710
25 Oct, 260,--- -- 560
26 Oct, 370,--- -- 710
27 Oct, 360,--- -- 420
28 Oct, 380,--- -- 630
30 Oct, 400,--- -- 620
31 Oct, 300,--- -- 430
01 Nov, 195,--- -- 380
02 Nov, 310,--- -- 460
03 Nov, 210,--- -- 520
04 Nov, 405,--- -- 850
Pete writes-- encouraging news so far, well done to all concerned
Charlie Main writes-- bloody marvellous !
Christopher Hawtree says-- Well done. Just goes to show what we have all been saying. Provide abundant books and good hours - and the readers follow.
Posted by Perkins at 9:27 PM | Comments (1)
November 26, 2007
More books for Cumbria
£100,000 library boost
More than £100,000 is to be spent on thousands of new books for libraries across Cumbria to attract more users, reports BBC Online. Cumbria County Council already has one million books in stock and will spend the money on an extra 17,000 books.
As well as the latest popular fiction and non-fiction, the extra investment will be used to buy more illustrated novels for junior readers. It will also invest in multiple copies of popular books, and offer readers older titles which are out of print.
BBC
Posted by Perkins at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)
November 25, 2007
Slaughter in the book stacks
Booksurfer writes
Slaughter in the Stacks?
"ALMOST a quarter of a million books have gone missing from Waltham Forest libraries amid claims they have been burned or pulped" reports the Waltham Forest Guardian. Nearly 75,000 books vanished between January and March this year alone, amid reports of library staff spending weeks packing and labelling books for disposal, and van loads of books destined for the tip. the full story can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/37w4rs
[The 144 characters in the original link have been shortened to 25 characters using TinyUrl]
http://booksurfer.blogspot.com
Posted by Perkins at 11:06 AM | Comments (0)
Silence the crticism
"Booksurfer" writes
Libraries Threatened by In-fighting
Alison Flood writes about the new report on Libraries from think-tank Demos for the Bookseller:
"The report, Fact and Fiction: The Future of Public Libraries, divides the library lobby into two camps: the "book lobby", which argues that the solution lies in putting more re-sources into book stocks, and the "diversifiers", who believe that libraries are about more than books and need to broaden their offer. The book lobby thinks the diversifiers are philistines, while the diversifiers look on the book lobby as obtuse." The report
calls on the two sides to work together to avoid forcing the public library service into a permanent downward spiral.
www.thebookseller.com/news/48735-page.html
This "coming together" presupposes that the "book lobby" (Library users who deplore the running down of the public library system over the past ten or more years) has as much power to influence events as those the report calls the "diversifiers" - when in fact the latter is made up by the Councillors, council officials, politicans and central government bureaucrats who have neglected the Library buildings, cut library staff and book budgets and sold off the books over the past years. "Coming together" sounds like another way of saying "don't complain - put up with what we give you."
A quick examination of Public Library statistics demonstrates that the "downward spiral" has been going on for over ten years. The so-called "book lobby" (of which I count myself a member) are not against computerised resources in Libraries - far from it. Many reference sources are much better provided online than in out-of-date printed works - and it is great to be able to access these from home, as I can in Essex. Computerised catalogues and online reservations are great - but so are books. The argument about computers in Libraries is a complete red herring - they are already there, and have been for many years. Nobody is saying that they should be taken out. But neither should they be used as a stalking horse for the kind of cuts and changes they have been taking place. The whole focus of our criticism is that book stocks are being reduced, insufficient books are being purchased, and Libraries are being turned into "community centres" "one-stop shops" for council services, and even gyms, to the detriment of their use as libraries. Library closures, staff cuts, and falling bookstocks are resulting in people turning elsewhere for books and information. Of course, a "one-size fits all" approach is wrong, but so is the continual closure of small community libraries to finance services in big urban centres. Yinnon Ezra and John Holden want to find common ground with the book lobby. Until they can accept that continuing library closures, the neglect of library buildings, and the reduction of bookstock are unacceptable it will be very difficult indeed to find common ground.
Posted by Perkins at 11:02 AM | Comments (0)
Profitable use of public libraries
Referring to the recent pronouncement by the MLA press office
Christopher Hawtree writes
I fear that the spokesman cannot have made much use of public libraries, cannot have savoured any good prose, when he speaks in terms of wanting to "break down silos".
Do management-types spend all day talking in this way? To the rest of us it sounds like agricultural vandalism.
Posted by Perkins at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)
November 22, 2007
Naval Gazing
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is to cut its costs by 25% and is looking to restructure in the wake of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Future plans for the organisation were laid out yesterday at a board meeting, which saw the board discuss its "radical vision" for reform, which it said would focus on avoiding "duplication and waste".
The meeting also saw the board agree to reshape the MLA Council "in a way that matches the challenges of the vision, breaks down silos, and fosters more flexible and strategic working", following Treasury approval.
It also backed the proposal that sections of the MLA (HR, finance and IT staff) are transferred to Birmingham.
The board will now present its options to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The MLA board also considered the report of the external review of the Better Stock Better Libraries programme, and requested that further work be done to establish which components of the programme can be integrated with the libraries Action Plan. This is due in the "near future", the board said, and aims to develop ideas to help local authorities and their libraries deliver more effectively for the public.
"We will continue to consult with the LGA and other partners," the board said. "A further statement will be made once the Board has reached a final view."
22.11.07 Alison Flood in the Bookseller
Posted by Perkins at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2007
The History of Libraries
Colette Hiller writes
Who can help me? I'm collecting information for a children's book about the history of the libary. It will be full of interesting facts and pictures and colourful stories. The aim is to put public libraries into a context which children can understand and feel excited about and proud of. The hope is this book will give children an understanding of why this institution was fought for. The aim is for children to appreciate and use libraries as a result.
I'm collecting interesting facts and snippets - Can anyone help?
Gratefully - Colette Hiller
Posted by Perkins at 9:43 PM | Comments (0)
November 18, 2007
The pursuit of progress and diversity
Here is a photo of the MLA board for the region of Yorkshire
In Leeds alone book lending in public libraries has fallen by 28% in just 5 years since the MLA started.. let's hope these good people know what they are about. In York the fall has been 23%. Of course those are the kind of figures this team will be pawing over on their day trips to lovely Harewood House.
Further south their colleagues have taken up the fine art of censorship as once practised by The Lord Chamberlain ! What goes around comes around -- "We know what you shouldn't read" . In this house a book called '100 ways to keep your cat awake and make it useful' has been banned and we are all much the better for that.
Posted by Perkins at 1:01 PM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2007
Reading - the future
Posted by a librarian in an English County Council
"We are currently reviewing our collection of playstation 2 games and looking at which formats e.g. Playstation 3, Wii, Xbox etc, to stock in the future. I'd be very interested in hearing from authorities that have already moved to the newest formats - how did you decide which formats
to stock? How did you introduce the new collections? What impact has the change had on income? I'd be happy to collate and share the information I gather with the list. Many thanks"
Perkins says
You could also sell cat food
Amanda Field (and her 4 cats) agree with Perkins
Perhaps they could also ask libraries why on earth they introduced Playstation game-hire in the first place? In what way, exactly, does this activity encourage reading and literacy? My four cats agree whole-heartedly with Perkins: if libraries gave out catfood, they'd be first through the door, thus boosting the visitor numbers.....but you'd never get them to borrow a book (unless it was a 'scratch and sniff' one).
Perkins reveals that
The county which is encouraging children to use playstation games rather than read books is Suffolk (where the punch comes from)
Peggy says
Having read the last four posts, I am now grinning like a cheshire cat......
Gary Marks says
You are so out of touch with the real world.
Posted by Perkins at 2:53 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2007
A school librarian spells it out
from Marcus Viner
Libraries are an indicator of reading standards,and it is the standard of the teaching of English which is the problem. For libraries to thrive there has to be a need for them, a customer base if you will. It is naive and unhelpful to think that providing libraries is a cure to the problem of illiteracy, rather we should think of them as the catalyst which feeds a passion born out of good schooling. As a school librarian / Teaching Assistant of over 6 years I see the problem first hand, and whilst the teaching profession continues to believe that spelling is unimportant, that wordsearches and handouts will inspire kids, that using cut and paste and spellcheck are adequate substitutes for teaching spelling and grammar etc etc then public libraries will continue to disappear.
We can't expect libraries to be full when we aren't teaching our kids to read, any more than you can expect swimming pools to be full when no-one can swim!
from Pete
But school libaries can act as a catalyst for, and an example of, better teaching. With no libraries, where is the counter to the teaching you describe? It is not an better teaching then libraries situation, but a better teaching and libraries. I'd say the issue lies in teacher training, especially when it comes to the use (or not) of libraries in schools. My partner is a school librarian, and I am a former teacher.
Posted by Perkins at 9:03 AM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2007
Sunday Times
Atticus writes
Labour brought to book over library rebranding
Here is how modern government works. There is no need to tackle a problem: all you have to do is rename it. That’s why ministers are considering a plan to do away with public libraries (very dull, full of books and librarians) and replace them with “living spaces” (very exciting, full of, well, cool stuff).
A report for James Purnell, the culture secretary, and Hazel Blears, the communities secretary, says such a rebranding will make libraries “a safe and neutral community space”.
One senior civil servant was far from convinced. “One day someone will ask the question about whether or not we want libraries to be about books or whether we want them to be about playrooms and nurseries,” she said. Ssshhh, quiet please!
Posted by Perkins at 8:39 PM | Comments (0)
John Passmore Edwards
Dean Evans writes
For the last few years I have been studying the life and work of John Passmore Edwards, the Victorian philanthropist. In just a few years he provided funding for a significant number of public libraries in Cornwall, the county of his birth, and in London, where he prospered as a newspaper proprietor and publisher. Often referred to as the Cornish Carnegie, he had campaigned for the introduction of the Free libraries Acts and then for the adoption of the acts in local areas in the East of London, where he saw the need for education and recreation. Many of his libraries still remain in use. I am compiling a website at www.passmoreedwards.org.uk/, giving the history of these buildings and of the man himself,and would appreciate any contributions from library users or staff in connection with these buildings, especially any news of their current status or threat to their continued existence. Images are especially welcomed.
Posted by Perkins at 6:04 PM | Comments (0)
November 8, 2007
Library layouts and design
A question from an anonymous reader
"Anything to say on "Intelligent" self-issue terminals and the redesign of libraries including downsizing library staff numbers? Any pictures anywhere of how these machines are located, and any comments from staff ( not official spokespeople)?"
Posted by Perkins at 12:33 PM | Comments (1)
November 4, 2007
News from Newington library
from Isobel:
I have been to Newington Library for the first time since it re-opened on 1st November. The first thing that struck me was how few books there are now in the lending library. The choice is now severely curtailed. I asked staff at the desk how many books had been got rid of and they said they were not allowed to tell me. Why on earth not? What breach of national security would it create? Does the Official Secrets Act extend to librarians being able to comment on book stock?I have emailed Councillor Zuleta and hope to hear from her soon.
Oh and in reply to Adrian, why should we want a new library at the Elephant when we have a perfectly good building on the Walworth Road? And talking of good buildings, how about re-opening the Passmore Edwards library on Borough Road.
Posted by Perkins at 5:01 PM | Comments (1)
November 3, 2007
Social inclusion: shame in Dudley
Daniel writes
What a sad world we are living in. All of these libraryies are in deprived areas where they are most needed. How can we expect our children to be literate when penny pinching councils like Dudley put profit before them?
Posted by Perkins at 1:23 PM | Comments (0)
Yobs force library closure in Preston (UK)
From Martyn
Yobs Force Library Closure in Preston (UK)
According to the Lancashire Evening Post (26.10.2007) the Local Authority in Preston has recommended the closure of Savick Library on Friday evenings, because local people are too afraid to visit it after groups of youths made it "too intimidating for large numbers of residents to visit."
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Yobs-force-library-closure.3419531.jp
Peter K is adamant
This can't be allowed to happen. The library authority is wrong in giving in to intimidation; it's up to the police to enforce the existing library bylaws.
Posted by Perkins at 1:15 PM | Comments (0)