‘More than a house for books’ Episode 2: Libraries as a social enabler Transcript Presenter: Jonathan Hart Discussion panel: Tracy Ann Oberman - Actress and writer. Krystal Vittles - Libraries Innovation and Development manager, Suffolk Libraries. Sarah Mears - Library Services Manager, Essex County Council. Former chair of the Association of Senior Children's and Education Librarians. Owen Hutchings - Arts and Libraries Officer, St. Helens Council.

Produced, recorded and transcribed by The Podcast Company

MUSIC INTRO: Voice 1: It's a good place to be, especially if everything's hectic at home. Just come to the library, sit down on the comfy chairs, and do your education. Voice 2: They’re actually in a communal space with other people and libraries have really embraced that, are looking at a range of activities that can support lonely people and people who feel isolated. Voice 3: Things that might seem intimidating like Shakespeare, if it's done in a library, it can become much more accessible. I think libraries are hugely important. Voice 4: That experience was really profound for those people that took part. All the people that engaged in the process had an increased sense of worth and increased sense of well-being. Voice 5: A library's a safe space for the community to meet up with your friends, to meet new people, and to chill. Jonathan Hart: Welcome to the latest episode of More Than a House for Books. A three-part series brought to you with Arts Council England, highlighting the positive impact libraries have on the community. I'm Jonathan Hart. During this series, we focus on three themes. The formative years and the impact libraries have on young people, the library as an enabler and how facilities enhance lives, and digital - examining how technology is benefiting libraries and communities. Announcer: More Than a House for Books brought to you by Arts Council England. Jonathan: And today we're joined on our panel by some distinguished guests who know a lot about libraries. Joining us from Suffolk, Krystal Vittles who is Libraries Innovation and Development manager for Suffolk Libraries. Krystal Vittles: Hello. Jonathan Hart: Sarah Mears is Library Services manager at Essex County Council and a former chair of the Association of Senior Children's & Education Librarians. Sarah Mears: Hello. Jonathan: Owen Hutchings is Arts in Libraries officer at St. Helens Council. Owen Hutchings: Hello. Jonathan: Actress and writer Tracy-Ann Oberman joins us again. Best known for EastEnders, Doctor Who. Tracy-Ann's also an accomplished writer, having written a number of plays for BBC Radio Four, currently in the West End as well. So, she's a busy lady. Most importantly though, Tracy-Ann loves books and libraries. Is that right? Tracy-Ann Oberman: That is right! Hello. Jonathan: Sarah, if we could start with you. Libraries can play a huge role in enhancing lives. Enabling access for all and helping people find new interests and new skills. I'm sure you've got plenty of examples. Sarah: The first thing is that libraries have books. People find new interests just by browsing shelves or thinking, "I really like to find out a bit more about." Going into the library, finding a book that actually sparks their interest and then that takes them on a journey but libraries offer much more than that. Libraries offer online learning. Those sort of taster sessions that just help people find their way into new hobbies, new skills, photography, new languages etc. In libraries as well, there are lots of activities that people do that actually help them find new skills. Arts activities for example. We have artists coming into libraries, allowing people to try out new art forms, new techniques, experiment with things they may have been interested in but never had the chance to try. Also, there are digital skills. Digital activities in libraries help people really build the digital skills and learn about how to do things they may not have been able to do before. Jonathan: Krystal, can you give us some examples that you've experienced where you are? Krystal: Absolutely. Give me half a chance, I'll just talk for days on end about what libraries can offer. It's two fold really because what libraries do, they pick up that person in the community who needs additional help. Alongside that, what libraries can also do is move people on in their lives. As an example, in Suffolk, we are most of the way through an Arts Council funded project which is live captured screenings of high quality theatre productions, etc. We had created mini-theatres/mini-cinemas in some of our libraries to show these and bring new experiences to communities who, A, have never had that before, or B, cannot afford to go down to London or somewhere big to experience that. The impact of that is phenomenal. The kind of feedback we get from people is, "I would never be able to afford this. I never would have thought of going to something like this." It's opened up a whole new world to me. Jonathan: Owen, much of your work focuses on delivering arts initiatives in libraries. Owen: Yes, absolutely. My role in the work that we do in St. Helens is essentially around turning our library spaces, all of our library spaces, all 13 of them that we have in St. Helens into spaces for performances, and for events, and for workshops, and for exhibitions. Some specific examples have included things like a gallery called Tight Modern, which is basically a miniature version of Tate Modern that can fit inside a library space. It's basically the size of a shed with 60 small works that hang with the inside of that that piece of work but it also had performances from new and emerging artists right through to people like the Royal Exchange, and great theatre companies like 20 Stories High, and Cardboard Citizens, as well as comedians and different people. The work that we try and do is around that opportunity to enable people to come and see the work that we do in St. Helens. The performances that we show enable people who might be afraid to go and see something in a gallery or you know in a theatre, because they might not know what is behind those doors. They might be afraid of what the etiquette is in a gallery or what you can or can't do in a theatre space but people, for most of their lives or at some point in their lives, has been inside a library, and understand the etiquette that goes on in a library. So, it takes away a barrier for people especially some of the people in the communities that we have in St. Helens that are maybe more deprived or don't have that money or the opportunity. Like Krystal said before, to get down to London, or to get to Liverpool, or to get to big venues that produce high-quality theatre, and go and see something in a space, in non-threatening, non-judgmental way. Jonathan: Tracy-Ann, as an actor and writer, you're obviously very aware of how the arts can enhance lives. The fact that libraries are at the heart of arts within communities is pretty vital, isn't it? Tracy-Ann: Yes, because I think it's the first introduction to books and choice of books that young people have. The art of storytelling, it's the realisation that there are so many different types of stories. I think particularly, as Owen says that once you start to bring creative arts into a library, it could be the first time you see a theatrical performance, things that might seem intimidating, like Shakespeare. If it's done in a library, it can become much more accessible. I think libraries are hugely important. Jonathan: Libraries play a very big part in combating social isolation for both older and younger people. Sarah: Loneliness is such a big issue and big concern for our society. Having a local library means there's this place that people can go. Anything that wants to engage anyone, they're actually in a communal space with other people. Libraries have really embraced that, are looking at a range of activities that can support lonely people and people who feel isolated.

Reading groups are amazing because people have to read the books, it gives them something to talk about. When they get together, they get to know other people. There are read aloud groups, there are poetry groups, and things like knit and natter groups that are really popular in libraries at the moment. For younger people, things like rhyme times. I've been doing some work on rhyme times recently and just hearing what mums say, new moms, who’ve suddenly got a baby. They actually feel very isolated from the friends they had before, coming to the library, meet other moms, talk about babies, but also, can have cup of tea and talk about other parts of their world, get to know other people. Really important. The library is a free space where people can just come and be, don't have to spend any money or don't have to stay there for a certain amount of time. It's a really important way of doing that within a very local community, so people can get to it as well, which is really important. Jonathan: Well following on from that, we're shortly going to hear about a project specifically for young parents in Islington. We went to visit Central Library Islington to hear about that as well as their annual Word Festival. [music] Tony: My name's Tony Brown. I'm the Stock and Reader Development Manager for Islington Libraries, and the project manager for the Word Festival. The festival is a unique month-long celebration, which happens every June of many different activities and events and commission projects, which happen across the borough with people of all ages. Celebrating enjoyment in reading, writing, and freedom of expression. The funding for the festival comes from Arts Council England libraries fund. The primary focus of the Word Festival is to demonstrate how reading for pleasure has a positive impact on people's health and well-being. We focus specifically on mental health and with three target groups, children and families, young people, and older people with the onset of dementia. It isn't just about putting on events and projects in libraries, we reach out across the borough and use different venues to get to the widest audience we possibly can. As part of the project, we worked with Artangel who with older men at St. Luke's Day Centre explored the issues around dementia and forgetfulness. We're particularly proud to be working with All Change, the arts organization and their Inspire! Young Parents project, which is a creative learning project for teenage parents. They have had the opportunity to work with artists and poets during the Word Festival, to develop their own storytime books.

Hannah: “When I am read, I am Postman Pat's van driving through the street. The autumn leaves, the swish to the ground a packet of Pom-Bear sitting on the shelf”. I'm Hannah. I am a young parent who participated in the inspire project. We launched a book called Once Upon a Rhyme... We designed it with the other young parents in the group, the children, and a few artists. The outcome of it has been amazing. My son loves to this book at night time, daytime. He took it to school to show off to his teachers and his friends and it's just such a proud thing to keep for the rest of our lives, to look back on, and to say that we did this. The rainbow and the beautiful sky, the rides my mum puts me on the fun fair, the patterned bed cover that keeps me warm in the night. I am the world. Jessie: I'm Jessie, I was also a participant at Inspire! Young Parents group. For me, the book brought out my creativity. I used to always draw, and stopped drawing, and now I've started drawing again. I draw with Emily all the time and we make up stories. Very proud to see that my story is in the book. There are inspirational quotes using the letters of the children. For example, my daughter's name is Emily Rose. We created them, "Enjoy moments in little years, reach out for the stars, Emily." Every young mum did one of those for their children and it's spread out throughout the book. Hannah: This book relates to all of our lives, written based on our lifestyles, parenthood. To be put onto a project like this, it didn't really appeal to me at first but once I was into it and once I saw this book progressing, it was amazing and I will keep this book forever. Jessie: I'm really proud that the book is in the library because libraries are very important, I think, for children, have got all kinds of stories in the library about life. It's in the library for everyone to look at. I think it's amazing. Hannah: It's a good place to be especially if everything's hectic at home and whatnot, just come to the library, sit down on the comfy chairs and do your education. Jessie: Library is a safe space for the community to meet up with your friends, to meet new people, do homework and to chill. [music] Tony: Inspire! Young Parents is just one of many projects that have taken place over the last five years. I haven't got time today to talk about all of the others but in particular, we pride that we've worked with Key Changes who use music to promote positive mental health among young people. Also, Cardboard Citizens working with Islington's young homeless people to write and perform their own piece of theatre. We're particularly pleased that the Word Festival has enabled the library service to reach out to residents across the borough, not only within our own buildings but in venues across Islington. We're particularly excited that we should be looking forward to more Word Festivals in the future. Jonathan: Well, some really positive examples there as to how a library can act as an enabler. What we heard there about Islington's work with young parents and enabling mental well-being. A lot of your work is also focused around mental illness. Owen: There's a lot of research that suggests that people that engage in the arts can have their health increased by taking part. We've done a number of projects and I'll give you two examples. The first, a project that was developed by a great organization called The Comedy Trust. They took a group of about 30 people on a journey where they were suffering from mild to moderate mental health issues, anxiety, that type of thing. It enabled them to become performers and create their own stand-up routine, or their own skits, or their own improvised theatre experience. Tracy will know those of us that take part in the arts in some way, shape, or form, that's scary enough but actually, comedy is the most scariest type of art form there is because you're on your own, you're there. There's no one to fall back on if anything goes wrong. That experience was really profound for those people that took part and all the people that engaged in that process had an increased sense of worth and an increased sense of well-being. The second project is a project we'd like to call arts and prescription. That essentially is where if you are, again, suffering from mild to moderate mental health issues, you could go to your GP or your health professional and get a referral through our arts on prescription scheme. So instead of getting your prescription for anti-depressants or counselling or talking therapies, you could be prescribed onto this scheme where you engage and take part in visual arts workshops. Over a period of time, the majority of people that took part in the program found their health needs and their mental health improving. We did what's called a social return on investment analysis at the end of this work as well and researched and found out that for every pound we put in, the buffer got £11.22 back in terms of investment and in terms of people lets go and see their GP less. I think that that's really important, that point about the library being an enabler is what we're doing in these times where we have seen social service budgets reduced, that libraries can play a vital role in increasing health and well-being amongst the population. Krystal: Just to completely echo what Owen was saying and how important it is. I know that a lot of people they can get quite bogged down in the therapeutic side of ensuring people are well, but actually the arts, they're incredibly important. For example, if I was depressed, it's not just about the therapeutic intervention but also adding things to people's lives, and bringing joy, bringing some delight, bringing something new, and I think that's exactly what Owen was describing. Jonathan: Tracy-Ann, I know you're a voracious reader, how important have books and libraries been in your life both as an actor and as a writer? Tracy-Ann: I think reading is the key to everything. I think once you enjoy reading and loving reading, what do they say? You don't need to travel out of your own room or your own library because the book will take you everywhere. If you don't read, you don't travel and you don't experience different things. I think reading was the key to everything for me to understanding how to write, how to story tell, to understand dialogue, to understand how to approach characters when I'm acting. T he library was always a very safe and embracing and special place. Every library still feels that way to me. I love any library. They are just very magical and special places. I think everything that I'm hearing today has made me feel very excited because I hadn't appreciated just how they were expanding as community assets, they should be cherished. I think the library for me was where I would go to study. I don't think I would have passed my A levels and done as well as I did, if it hadn't been for the library. There was a lot of support there from the librarian. This is back in the day where you could always ask the librarian anything, and I can only imagine how that's expanded now. In those days before you could at the touch of a fingertip find anything, just to know a librarian was there to help you find the book you needed, the quote you wanted, the resource you wanted, that was like having your own teacher. Also, the sense that you were with other students. You’d all cart down with your books and see there was a sense of community in studying together. I remember always meeting kids from other schools. I loved that because it was like we were going through the O level, A level experience together. You'd be supporting each other and you'd meet kids that you would never normally meet from different schools. I think that's wonderful and now as a mum, I see how my daughter's enjoying the library experience and the library at her school, and that also feels like the magic space for kids. Jonathan: Big thumbs up for librarians there Sarah from Tracy-Ann, which I'm sure you're very pleased to hear about. Sarah: I am. Jonathan: Library staff are really at the heart of this idea of being an enabler, that also will boost the relationship between staff and local community whether young or old.

Sarah: I think so. If you ever travelled in a taxi or you're talking to someone outside of libraries, and you say you work for libraries, people always talk about "my library." Even if people actually haven't visited the library for a long time, they do seem to take possession of their library, very much see it as theirs within the community. As library staff, our responsibility is to engage with communities and to ensure that we're actually doing what they want. You hand over the space to communities so they can shape them in the way that's important to them. I think that's how libraries will actually grow if they are engaging with communities, and communities are sharing what they want from their library and then participating in making it happen. Jonathan: Krystal. Krystal: I cannot stress enough time and time again that the magic to libraries is people. We've got space, we've got facilities, we've got assets. If you don't have staff, trained, professional, qualified, whatever, those kind of staff in your library, the experience you're going to get, it's not going to be as quality. I truly believe that. I think that's especially true in Suffolk over the last five years, where we've invested a lot of money and time in our staff, and enabled them actually to become the centre of their communities. That's where the magic is. Owen: I'd like to just pick up on that point as well because a lot of the work that we've been doing in St. Helens is around enabling the staff. The Arts Council taking over the running of the libraries has given us a great opportunity in St. Helens to create our Cultural Hubs, Arts in Libraries program. Actually, the key to all of this is about enabling the staff to feel they have responsibility and power to be able to programme the right kind of theatre, and the right kind of performances, and the right kind of exhibitions or events within the space. So we think that that's really important and something that moving forward is going to become important as well. Jonathan: And Sarah, I think one of the most important points to make is that library spaces are being used in innovative, new and let's say non-traditional ways, that many people might not associate with the library. Sarah: Yes, I feel that's true and one of the exciting things that's happening at the moment, the whole makerspace movement, and how libraries are developing maker spaces. Even very small libraries are beginning to look at maker spaces. Maker spaces are places where people can go and try out things like 3D printers, maybe even sewing machines. It supports a whole maker movement. It's about building skills, creating things themselves, and possibly even developing things that will start a new business and link to maker spaces.

There are business incubation spaces that are growing in libraries, things like the workery movement there. People can actually come into the libraries, rent space, develop their own start-up businesses. It's about supporting the local economy in a big way and libraries are great for that because they are so local. Owen: What we’ve done In St. Helens and on a very simplistic level is give people the opportunity to have a little bit of space. We don't charge people for coming in, using the rooms if the library is open and if people can get access to it and there's not other stuff going on. We've had a number of great results as a consequence, we've got theatre companies emerging from St. Helens, we've given dance artists the opportunity to create new work. On a very simplistic level, that's something that's easily replicable around the country. Then as a consequence of that type of work, you can build in agreements where those artists will come and perform something for you as part of their programme. It's about working and bringing people in from different organizations. We've done a lot of work, we have a company from Liverpool called Hope Street, who have worked with a number of artists from St. Helens, to be able to encourage them to think differently about the way that you can use spaces because the one thing that we don't have is a theatre space or an exhibition space. How do you utilize the library space to be an exhibition space? Because it isn't about putting art on the wall because we haven't got that wall space to be able to do that. It's about professional development but also, giving artists the opportunity to fail and create new theatre and visual art in traditional spaces. Jonathan: So the point is that library spaces are there to innovate. Many people listening to this podcast might not necessarily realize, they might not associate that sort of innovation, that use of a library space with a library. Owen: Libraries are there and libraries are spaces that are there to be used by the community. I would encourage artists, wherever they are around the country to just touch base with their local library authority. Whether it's up in St. Helens where we have Arts Council funding for our work or somewhere that doesn't necessarily have that opportunity, might not have that money, but libraries are always interested in hearing about new ideas and new performances and new things that can animate their spaces whether that's a library in Manchester, in Liverpool or a library that is in the middle of Outer Hebrides. They want to be able to offer something new to the community and I think artists have a great role to play within that environment. Jonathan: It's been a very interesting discussion. I'd like to thank all of our guests Sarah Mears. Sarah: Thank you.

Jonathan: Owen Hutchings. Owen: Thank you. Jonathan: Krystal Vittles. Krystal: Thank you. Jonathan: And Tracy-Ann Oberman. Tracy: Thank you, it's been a really interesting debate. I'm really pleased to be part of it. [music] Jonathan: And our thanks to everyone who's contributed to this podcast. If you'd like to know more about the work Arts Council England is doing with libraries, visit artscouncil.org.uk/libraries. Announcer: More Than a House For Books, was brought to you by Arts Council England and produced by The Podcast Company.

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