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Tuesday 18 May 2010 3:23:07 pm
Review logistical support for libraries
Highland libraries are supported by a central unit that manages the mobile libraries, orders and administers library stock (books and other catalogue material), provides IT support catalogue services to local libraries. It ensures best value through economies of scale and costs £1.278M. Can we reduce this support? We would like your views on whether we could introduce charges for requests or reduce the frequency of mobile library visits to very rural communities?
Current Budget (£m) 1.278
Indicative Saving (£m) 0.100
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Ian Wallace
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Wednesday 19 May 2010 11:56:18 pm
Extension of Library services
I was impressed with a village in England where a mobile library van which visited a village every 2 weeks was replaced by the library providing books which were put into the local village hall in lockable shelving. Members of the local community provided the staff for the library. A computer was provided which enabled the volunteers to contact a librarian when specialist information was needed. When we visited the library was open three mornings and three afternoons.
The local people have donated more books to their library than were provided by the library service in the first place.
There were plans to open the hall for an after school homework club where young people could access the books and computer. Applications have been made for funds to pay a worker for this club.
The library had newspapers delivered and a number of older people came along to meet each other. Plans were being made to see if meals on wheels could be delivered to the hall and a rotor of local people would pick up older people and bring them to the school for lunch.
The key to making this work was a willingness of professionals from different professions to work together and having a local group that would takle on the management and coordination of the project. In this case it was the Parish council. (They have an advantage that the Parish Councils can levey a precept to part fund the project)
Ian
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M Gowans
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Thursday 20 May 2010 9:16:05 pm
Librarianship is a Profession
Librarians cannot be replaced by volunteers, no matter how willing or enthusiastic they might be. Librarianship is a profession, like Medicine or Engineering and requires substantial training at undergraduate / postgraduate level. I am a Chartered Librarian myself and it took 6 years of study (2 postgraduate) as well as a 2 year qualification period to attain that title. No council would entertain the idea of recruiting enthusiastic volunteers to build bridges or roads; no health trust would engage volunteers to perform medical procedures. Any community that finds it acceptable to replace their professional staff with volunteers is getting no less than a second-class service. I for one, value the literacy of my community and the free access to knowledge and ideas far more than that.
At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better.
- Barack Obama
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gerry mcgregor
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Friday 21 May 2010 4:03:08 pm
Wick Library
I find it astounding that you are even considering closing Wick Library. We have just moved to the area and one of the attractions was the number of facilities near at hand, one of which was the library, museum and gallery.
It is essential that these remote libraries are kept open. What would it say to people wanting to move to the area that the council think that Wick is so unimportant that it does not met the requirements of having its own library?
The town has a downbeat look with so many empty shops on bridge street and the high street. What it need is money spent on it, not having essential facilities withdrawn.
What does it say to parents of young families, 'your child's education is not important in Wick?' As i child I spent many hours in the library in Sunderland. This has given me a love of book and a love of learning. Would it of been so strong if I did not have the library to go to?
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Jane Dewar
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Sunday 23 May 2010 5:19:42 pm
With What Effect on Quality of Service?
It's not clear how the 10% saving would be acheived.Will jobs be lost ?Without detailed knowledge of where the axe will fall(iLSU is after all the "engine room" of Highland Libraries) it is difficult to make any comment.Perhaps if the staff at LSU and indeed throughout the Highland Library Services had not been debarred from making public comment about the budget consultation exercise,the public would be in a better position to judge what impact the cut would have. and what might be the best way forward
I am aware that LSU deal with requests and administer the multiple copy collection for the 100 Reading Groups throughout the Highlands.How will these services be affected?
As for reducing mobile library services to the most rural communities,that is a "no-brainer"-the vagaries and cost of public transport to the nearest library facility will simply add yet another dimension to the social isolation of the most vulnerable Highlanders.
However,I would agree with the imposition of charges for requests and reservations.
Jane Dewar
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Carol Hart
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Monday 24 May 2010 11:19:48 am
Logistical support for Highland Libraries
Given the workload pressures on library staff, there is a need for a centralised support service such as the Library Support Unit. Single-staffed libraries cannot cope with all the background tasks needed to support their work, e.g. ordering new books, dealing with technical issues, statistics handling/reporting, supporting reading groups with multiple copies, delivery of materials, etc. If the Council goes through with reducing opening hours for the libraries which remain, then pressure on existing staff would increase, giving them less time to help customers. LSU provides excellent, specialised, professionally qualified librarian support and advice to the libraries. You would have to increase staffing in the 'branch' libraries to cope with the workload if these tasks were removed from LSU.
Not that I'm biased, but I used to work in LSU, so I know exactly the level of support they provide to the libraries, and how much it is needed.
I agree however, that a small charge could be introduced for requests - this is common practice in many libraries in the UK. I do not agree with the idea of a library subscription - that goes against the very idea of a free public library service.
Carol Hart
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cindie Reiter
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Monday 24 May 2010 12:22:14 pm
Library Support Services
Like many of the people above, I think that logistical support for libraries is essential. I was a front-line member of staff for a number of years and really only noticed the Library Support Unit when something went wrong. It essential to have that sort of professional support available to front line staff, especially in an area the size of the Highlands. In other areas staff have regular training sessions and see professional staff of a daily/weekly basis. That is just not possible in Highland, especially as support to frontline libraries has already been reduced.
Library support unit not only deals with the circulation of books - which is vital, but so many other support issues too. If books are not circulated around Highland, and changed regularly then the stock in each individual library becomes stale and dated, readers stop using libraries, because the books are always the same and once again those in the more rural, more fragile communities are once again disadvantaged. Their a few bookshops outwith Inverness, those that do exist are often quite expensive and many people in rural areas simply do not have Internet access, except at libraries. Small shelves selling used paperbacks in the local shop simply cannot replace a good book service. The chance to borrow from a good selection of books is vital to a very large number of people across the Highland area. Library Support Unit ensures that library users across the area get that good service.
The reason the LSU ICT service recently won an award, and indeed keep winning awards is that the are, quite simply unparalled. I studied at home, both for my first degree and for post grad qualifications, my husband took a post grad qualification at home and both my children have used online services to support their studies. Without the online resources that Highland Libraries provide our studies would have been much more difficult. Now, as a tutor of vulnerable people, I encourage them to access the online references - for example, the driving licence, which is an excellent support for learners. These resources mean that people in fragile areas are less disadvantaged than otherwise be the case.
Again, as a tutor I like the fact that support for numeracy and literacy is housed alongside library services and that libraries are thus able to be supported to provide the important literature in all their libraries. The statistics for low literacy is that approximately 25% of the adult population of Scotland has a low reading age, this is the same in rural areas as it is across the rest of Scotland, librarians in small communities are at the forefront for literacy support and a range of resources are available in all small communities, thus enabling tutors to use them, to encourage their students to use libraries and to build up relationships with counter staff.
Library Support Unit also supports the bookstart programme. Phenomenal work has been done in staff training and encouragement, so that many small communities now have Rhyme Time and story sessions, again supported by a professional librarian. Not only are these sessions great fun for small children, they are also and aid to community development, bringing young families into libraries and allowing them access to the range of resources that are available to support them.
Library Support Unit offers training for staff in customer support, reader development, children and family support, ICT support and technical support for ICT systems. They ensure that stock is fresh and stimulating and that library support is standardised across the area.
I too would support a small charge for requests but firmly believe that libraries should be free to the user as otherwise we risk disadvantaging those who need their libraries most.
I urge to not cut back library support services any further, they are a hugely valuable, if somewhat undervalued part of the library service.
Cindie Reiter
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M Gowans
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Wednesday 26 May 2010 9:07:20 am
Reduce support?
I don't see how it would be possible to reduce logistical support for libraries any further than it already has been reduced. LSU and the management structure of the library service has been hit by so-called 'efficiency savings' for years now and is only operating on a minimal level of staff, professional or paraprofessional as it is. These individuals do a great job keeping the service afloat and cannot be expected to absorb the workload of yet further cuts to their staffing and the increased responsibilities that come as a result. If Highland is to retain a proper library service, this support for community libraries is essential.
However, I do wonder about the possibility of combining LSU with a facility housing Inverness Library. Perhaps the building at Farraline Park, which was never built to be a library and has significant structural challenges as a result, could be sold and a new facility sought, perhaps under lease, to house Inverness Library and LSU. Another poster commented about the popularity of Borders - perhaps that building could be leased by the council and modified to support both along with meeting room facilities, public toilets, a coffee shop and loads of free parking. These are all things sorely missing from the Farraline Park facility, and housing LSU in the same building would be helpful for deliveries coming and going. Well worth a thought, I think as this community sorely misses Borders and will miss the library in Inverness even more should it close as a result of this consultation.
At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better.
- Barack Obama
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