Society of Chief Librarians http://goscl.com Leading and managing public libraries Thu, 29 Sep 2016 14:29:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Melanie Graaf on BBC Radio Bookclub http://goscl.com/melanie-graaf-on-bbc-radio-bookclub/ http://goscl.com/melanie-graaf-on-bbc-radio-bookclub/#respond Mon, 26 Sep 2016 09:05:24 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2895 This blog originally appeared on Time to Read, Northwest Libraries’ Reader Development Partnership. 

When I was asked if I’d like to take part in Becky Want’s BBC Manchester Radio Book Club with Danny Middleton from Manchester Central Library, I had no idea what to expect. We would be representing Greater Manchester Libraries but it was a great opportunity to promote libraries and of course, talk about books.

We were both invited to have a look behind the scene at Media City, We met the producer Helen and Becky and the lunch-timers. It was a fabulous afternoon. We were both impressed by the BBC Radio set up. Helen gave us a tour and we had a chat with the lunch-timers. Becky was busy presenting her show; but we did get to say hello.

We went back to Media City on the 1st July to launch “Career of Evil” by Robert Galbraith. Danny and I were feeling pretty nervous. We introduced ourselves to our radio audience. Becky highlighted that people could go into their local library in the Greater Manchester area and borrow copies of the titles we would be reading.

Danny promoted Manchester Library and mentioned the Teenage Take-Over Day going on that weekend. I spoke about Bolton Libraries and Museums, services and events. At the end of July, I was back at the studio. Helen had sent me the agenda. I was going to set the scene; talk about the author and give an overview of the book and how people have reviewed it.

Thankfully, I’d read the book and done my research, as Helen understandably wanted it to flow like a conversation; so notes confiscated at the door! In the second half of the show, the book clubbers reviewed “Career of Evil” with mixed thoughts. Becky was taking questions that people had tweeted and rang in with. When you are on radio you have to get used to looking for the red light; it means you’re on air. It feels really strange to hear yourself, when you play the show back.

It’s been a wonderful experience for us; we look forward to reading and encouraging our readers to borrow the books from our Greater Manchester Libraries and also local libraries in the North West.

The books we are reading until the end of 2016 are –

The Trouble with Goats and Sheep – Joanna Cannon (Aug)

The Couple Next Door – Shari Le Pena (Sept)

Moving – Jenny Eclair (Oct)

Finding Tipperary Mary – Phyllis Whitsell (Nov)

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry – Rachel Joyce (Dec)

Tune in and listen to us!

 

Melanie Graaf is Collections Access Officer at Bolton Libraries and Museum Services

Melanie enjoys reading crime, contemporary and classic fiction, and would like to try reading science fiction. 

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Suffolk Libraries “Shelf Help” Video http://goscl.com/suffolk-libraries-shelf-help-video/ http://goscl.com/suffolk-libraries-shelf-help-video/#respond Wed, 14 Sep 2016 12:09:50 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2789 Suffolk Libraries wanted to create a fun and engaging way to reach young people on social media, and offer crucial information about Reading Well for Young People. Reading Well Books on Prescription (RWBOP) is delivered by libraries in partnership with The Reading Agency, and is a hugely successful programme that everyone is very proud of. More about it here.

Suffolk Libraries wrote a great blog about how they produced and directed the film here.

What we love about this is how libraries are embracing digital, creative and popular culture to literally bounce the words and ideas off the page and in front of young people’s faces. And there has been a great response to the film on social media.

Suffolk Libraries shared their new cinematic skills with children as young at 7 across the county at ImagiNation sessions, and this is just the beginning.

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/COtyp-l2iVo” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

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Digital Learning Full Speed Ahead http://goscl.com/digital-learning-full-speed-ahead/ http://goscl.com/digital-learning-full-speed-ahead/#respond Mon, 12 Sep 2016 06:09:32 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2779 Julie Griffiths, SCL Learning Offer Lead 

What a busy few months! A lot has happened since I took on the role of lead for the Universal Learning Offer in June this year.

Planning for the second Cracking the Code event is well underway, taking place this time in Manchester in November. Tickets sold out in 2 weeks demonstrating a continuing passion among library staff to develop new skills and confidence around technology, coding and digital making. The event will involve a variety of partners including the BBC, Code Club and CoderDojo, alongside a number of library services sharing their experiences and offering practical support to those attending. This time we’re also adding a ‘Maker Taster’, an opportunity for some hands-on tinkering and making in between sessions. I can’t wait! It’s going to be a great day.

The number of Code Clubs in libraries has risen to 261; 191 of these clubs registering since the Cracking the Code event in London earlier this year. I am continuing to develop the partnership SCL has with Code Club and to explore new opportunities with them and with CoderDojo.

As head of libraries in Halton it’s exciting to see the Learning Offer in action. The Digital Development Officer here attended Cracking the Code in London and has since set up Code Clubs in our libraries, delivered sessions using CodeBugs & Electro Dough, with Halloween themed Minecraft and virtual reality activities coming soon. We’ve had really good feedback following all of our digital activities and our staff have embraced learning new skills with enthusiasm.

SCL is committed to delivering a cohesive set of offers and as such the Learning Offer continues to evolve. Focus has been on supporting library services and staff to deliver activities that support the STEM agenda and this will continue. Digital skills development is an ongoing need and public libraries are well-positioned venues for informal learning opportunities. I continue to work with partners to ensure the role public libraries can play is nurtured and developed.

We have some great things in the pipeline. Next up is the start of a project to develop a new stretch element to the offer around family / intergenerational learning. Research will take place this year with the aim that the project will be delivered in 2017. Busy and exciting times ahead!

@nwjg

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Why reading is at the heart of our Universal Offers? http://goscl.com/why-reading-is-at-the-heart-of-our-universal-offers/ http://goscl.com/why-reading-is-at-the-heart-of-our-universal-offers/#respond Thu, 25 Aug 2016 09:06:41 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2766 By Mark Freeman, Stockton Borough Libraries

For all of us who work in libraries, the love of reading and the desire to share that with other people probably explains why we are here.  Certainly, for me, being a librarian and being part of the Universal Reading Offer allows me to do what I’ve always enjoyed doing – sharing that unique thing about reading in that it opens up the world to anyone.  Although the ways in which people engage with reading have expanded, the experience of sharing that love of other people’s thoughts and imaginations has not changed in the 40 years since I first stood behind a public library counter.  Reading is still a key skill and a key factor in maintaining wellbeing and our Offer is the very heart of our public library service.

As a “Chief Librarian” nothing gives me greater pleasure than rediscovering that relationship between people when they share something they have read and enjoyed – and that’s especially so with children and young people who, in my experience, still love the sensation of reading someone else’s thoughts and imaginative experiences.  Each year I am delighted to stand in front of a room full of excited young people at our annual Stockton Children’s Book of the Year Award – around 25 schools take part in this event which sees them choose their own winner from a shortlist of authors.  They read all the books, write reviews and meet the authors before selecting their favourite. In October we will launch our quest to find the 21st winner at a special family reading day event in Stockton High St.

The Universal Reading Offer gives us the framework for all of this to happen and allows us both to concentrate on specific nationally agreed moments during the year, as well as providing us the freedom to keep delivering other exciting reading activities whenever we can. All of the festivals, book launches, talks, author visits can be directly related to the Offer and provide the stimulus for people to learn, but more importantly to enjoy their reading experience.

This year has already been truly inspirational and with our partnership with the BBC and the Reading Agency, we have already commemorated the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in a spectacular style across the country.  Shakespeare Selfie Day was enormously popular and here in Stockton we spent the day with special guest “William Shakespeare” and his lovely assistant “Ophelia” alongside a number of smaller “guests” created by our Museum Volunteers.  Our photographs joined those of the over 120 library services who really took the day to heart and tweeted to the world.

The Summer Reading Challenge has certainly inspired children and young people across the UK to get involved in a Big Friendly Read which quickly “sold out” here in Stockton.  We added many other activities to the basic scheme this year – one of the most successful being a film workshop from which I think we may have discovered some new “stars” who created their very own version of the BFG!

As we work towards the BBC’s #LovetoRead weekend in November, we’ll be busy with several different events which will help us to prepare.  Our Family Book and Reading Festival in October will provide a High Street based event featuring market stalls, storytelling, author visits and reading trails across the Town Centre.  This will also launch our Children’s Book of the Year award for 2017.  The #LovetoRead weekend will provide us with the opportunity to really promote reading as well as launch the Northern Children’s Book Festival which begins that week.  We always take an active role in both the fortnight of author visits and the public Gala Day later in November so the timing is ideal.

Reading is, for me, the core offer – without reading the others would not function and so it’s important for us to keep this in mind and to work together to develop those skills in everyone we engage with, young or old, and from whatever background.   We have to keep in mind what we want from our Reading Offer and this will give us the direction for our activities – reading is power and libraries give people power.  With the right encouragement we can help achieve:

  • A literate and confident society
  • Communities which are resilient, empowered and prosperous
  • Families that are connected, healthy and happy
  • Individuals that are confident, independent and engaged
  • Individuals with amazing imaginations, empathy and understanding of others
  • Children who read for pleasure!

We #lovetoread and we have the power to get others to #lovetoread!

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Producing a BBC Radio and Public Library Book Club Programme http://goscl.com/producing-a-bbc-radio-and-public-library-book-club-programme/ http://goscl.com/producing-a-bbc-radio-and-public-library-book-club-programme/#respond Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:38:43 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2753 Experience from West and East Sussex, and Surrey
Lesley Sim, West Sussex Libraries

We are working with BBC Sussex and Surrey on a monthly Book programme. We are working collaboratively across three library authorities—East and West Sussex and Surrey—to share the commitment and agree on titles that 1) fit the local BBC Sussex and Surrey demographic and 2) that we can ensure we all have plenty of copies of. There has been a lot of behind the scenes work in choosing the titles and ensuring we are able to meet demand for the books.

The first programme was aired on the afternoon of the 6th July and featured as the first book “In a Dark, Dark Wood” by Ruth Ware. The book was introduced on air by West Sussex librarian Lindsay Powers.

The second programme aired on 3 August and was a discussion of readers’ responses to the book. The programme also introduced the next book, “A game for all the family” by Sophie Hannah. One of the other participating authorities will choose and introduce the September book. This sharing makes the commitment manageable.

Our contact at BBC Sussex and Surrey is Olivia Sopel and she contacted me as SCL SE Chair. I then got the other two authorities involved and passed the work to our Community Librarians (who also do Reader development). Jackie Manners (West Sussex) has been coordinating across the 3 authorities. I know I also had an enquiry about the Oxford library contact.

The future of this will depend on how the listeners take to it, and this will definitely evolve as listeners suggest titles. From the library side we will make sure we have copies of the books and the staff able to champion them. This is a great way to get staff involved and expand the library’s reach beyond the doors of the library.

Our West Sussex borrowing records show that the programme prompted an additional round of requests and all of our audio copies have been borrowed since the programme (we also tried to make sure we have copies of the title in multiple formats)

We are delighted to be working with the local BBC radio station to promote reading for pleasure and are looking forward to seeing how the partnership develops.

The programme can be heard here. The book club section starts at 2:11 in the programme.

More about the BBC/Public Libraries partnership.

 

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BBC Local Radio books in library partnership http://goscl.com/bbc-local-radio-books-in-library-partnership/ http://goscl.com/bbc-local-radio-books-in-library-partnership/#respond Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:27:00 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2705 BBC Local Radio stations are encouraging their listeners to get reading as part of a major new partnership with the country’s public libraries.

All 37 BBC Local Radio stations in England, and two BBC Local Radio stations on the Channel Islands, are teaming up with libraries in their areas and launching a new “Book of the Month” slot.
Each month a different book will be selected and listeners will be encouraged to borrow it from their local library, read it and then join in on air discussions about it on their local radio station.

The BBC has teamed up with the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) to run the scheme.
The aim is to get people reading, encourage people to talk about books and draw people to use their local library service more. Public libraries have a wealth of resources and activities including reading groups, challenges, promotions and author events.
This new partnership will also see BBC stations broadcasting from libraries, joint story-writing competitions and story-telling events.

David Holdsworth, controller of BBC English Regions, said: “This is an exciting new partnership for BBC Local Radio, which I hope our listeners will enjoy being part of.  “We want them to get involved by reading along with us and then, most importantly, telling us what they think about the books.
“I hope eventually BBC Local Radio will have one of the biggest book clubs in the country.”

Neil MacInnes, President of SCL, said: “We are really pleased to be working with BBC Local Radio. We hope this will encourage people to read more and talk about books more.
“Libraries provide information that enables people to change their lives: improve health, find a job, upgrade skills, learn a new language, travel, learn a new skill, share in the digital world, open a business and succeed in education.
“We hope this will encourage more people to come to their libraries and see the range of services they offer such as digital access and information about health and financial issues.”

BBC Local Radio stations are starting their “book clubs” over the next few weeks. Library staff from each station’s area will pick the Book of the Month and make sure their libraries are stocked with enough copies of the book for people to borrow.
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40 Days On: Neil MacInnes on first month as SCL President http://goscl.com/40-days-on-neil-macinnes-on-first-month-as-scl-president/ http://goscl.com/40-days-on-neil-macinnes-on-first-month-as-scl-president/#respond Fri, 29 Jul 2016 07:47:56 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2698 Last week Manchester Central Library hosted the latest Libraries Taskforce meeting. It was my first meeting and it was good to engage with a number of people in one room, passionate and ambitious about the present and future of libraries and the public library offer, challenging ideas and ideals and mapping a way forward to ensure libraries continue to serve the needs of their communities. And during breaks in the meeting having those ideas reinforced by the looks of concentration and delight on faces of Manchester schoolchildren on end of year trips, borrowing books for the #BigFriendlyRead, and exploring the current exhibits, archives and special collections – year 3 children accessing our Shakespeare Second Folio and the original charter which established Manchester. This led me to reflect on how libraries across the country would at the same moment be similarly energised with activity that both engaged and developed their communities and on how this work was of increasing importance and national significance.

It has been a busy first month as President of SCL, a role I assumed from Ciara Eastell on 9 June at #SCLHorizons. The SCL Presidency lasts two years, however there’s a lot to be done. We had a Universal Offers Leads meeting last week to map out our action plan, supported by Arts Council England over the next two years and I am keen to improve SCL’s advocacy role on order to share some of the excellent things that are happening in libraries across the country. There is a need to showcase the public library offer and the need for leadership, innovation and partnerships to promote the wider role that public libraries can play to support the growth, reform and the place agenda. I’m planning to visit regional SCL groups over the next two years, and we have established a core SCL Executive group to help push forward all of the work that SCL does.

We are poised to support the imminent publication of Libraries Deliver- Ambition for English public libraries. We welcome the new Libraries Minister following recent changes in government. We look forward to meeting with him to discuss the importance of public libraries and the critical role they play in modern society.

SCL continues to work hard to make sure public libraries are recognised as a key critical resource in enabling the delivery of Assisted Digital and library staff have been supporting our residents to go on-line and access the wealth of digital resources that the Internet brings for more than a decade now. The recent success of SCL being awarded and accepted on to a government framework which will enable us to bid for Government tenders in assisted digital and digital inclusion is a really exciting opportunity for public libraries.

We have confirmed the new Universal Offer leads who are bringing dynamic ideas to the offers and I would like to thank those leads who are standing down for all their hard work. Universal Offer leads will be providing an update on activity following on from our very successful roadshows attended by over 600 library staff.

Finally, one of the areas we are keen to develop is closer collaboration with our colleagues across the home nations. When Libraries Deliver is published we will see each home nation delivering to a library strategy with many synergies, common areas and opportunities to share and learn from each other with the potential to look at some joint projects and learning. We have in the past twelve months had a number of conversations with the Heads of Public Libraries Scotland and SLIC.

Libraries continue to connect and reach across borders and in this age of instant information and access, public libraries do not operate in isolation. We, as members of the worldwide library community exchange ideas and inspiration for how to best serve library users. Our work with colleagues across Europe as part of the Public Libraries 2020 programme continues to be rewarding and, with a main focus on advocacy, vital for the sector. Public libraries are free, welcoming, and empowering spaces for discovery and debate, accessible to people of all backgrounds and faiths and we will continue to work alongside international colleagues to promote the important role that libraries play in changing lives.

All in all the year in training supporting Ciara as President Elect has held me in good stead but no one should ever underestimate the time which SCL members devote to supporting and promoting the sector in their own time as well as doing their day jobs. I congratulate and thank everyone involved in Team SCL !

@macinnes_neil

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SCL Welcomes New Libraries Minister http://goscl.com/scl-welcomes-new-libraries-minister/ http://goscl.com/scl-welcomes-new-libraries-minister/#respond Wed, 27 Jul 2016 09:37:13 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2693 SCL welcomes the new DCMS ministerial team and looks forward to working with Rob Wilson MP, Minister for Civil Society with policy responsibility for public libraries in England.

SCL President Neil MacInnes said, “We congratulate Rob Wilson on his appointment and look forward to helping shape and support his department’s work to develop sustainable and flourishing public library services across the country. Library staff work hard every day helping people access the information and resources they need to improve their lives.”

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Arts Council England Invests in Universal Reading and Health Offers http://goscl.com/arts-council-england-invests-in-universal-reading-and-health-offers/ http://goscl.com/arts-council-england-invests-in-universal-reading-and-health-offers/#respond Tue, 19 Jul 2016 07:22:27 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2691 Joint statement from The Reading Agency and the Society of Chief Librarians

We are delighted that Arts Council England (ACE) has invested in our shared Universal Reading and Health Offers. This investment demonstrates the level of commitment and passion that ACE has for public library development, in particular the important work that library staff do to inspire readers of all ages and encourage people to understand and manage their own health and well being.

The Society of Chief Librarians and The Reading Agency will continue to work with library staff to ensure that the Universal Health and Reading Offers are making a positive impact in libraries. We have ambitious plans to build on the work we are currently doing with the Universal Offers: develop a training and best practice resource for the Reading Offer, which will give more support to frontline staff and offer communities more reader development opportunities, and develop a new Reading Well Books on prescription scheme for long term conditions as well as a health and wellbeing strand for the Children’s Promise led by ASCEL. We are also delighted that the Wellcome Trust has agreed to co-fund the health offer with ACE.

This work is possible thanks to the commitment of library staff and the partnership between our organisations and ACE.

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The Lost Boys: Save the Children report http://goscl.com/the-lost-boys-save-the-children-report/ http://goscl.com/the-lost-boys-save-the-children-report/#respond Mon, 18 Jul 2016 12:36:45 +0000 http://goscl.com/?p=2686 Today Save the Children launched a report which details how boys are nearly twice as likely to fall behind at the time they start school. The research shows that boys are behind their female peers in every single local authority in England, but higher gender gaps are associated with higher levels of deprivation. It also identifies that high quality pre-school provision can help close the gender gap.

Public Libraries are crucially important in supporting all children to reach their potential. It is vital that children in the early years have free access to a wide range of books to build their confidence to engage with books and early literacy. Young children who visit public libraries are exposed to a huge variety of books and a range of reading experiences and choices.

Children need to be able to choose the books they are interested in, including stories and rhymes but also non-fiction. Libraries also offer rhyme time sessions which help to build language and communication skills and also support children’s concentration and focus through physical actions.

The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) and the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) welcome this report and encourage all those working with young children and their families to support them to visit their libraries to ensure that boys and girls benefit from the wealth of opportunities they will discover.

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