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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 November 27, 2007 9:27 PM
Comments
Thank you for such a positive article on PPI with libraries - and not falling into the usual trap of bleating about our fate. We need to invest, but maybe more importantly, also use innovation, and realise that we need to match the alternatives (Google, Amazon etc).
Posted by: Peter at December 2, 2007 9:07 PM