The RNIB Library: Removing Barriers

ISSUE10

Spring2016

CONTENTS (Click to Jump to page) Editorial Page 1 Editorial By Jon Davis, PMLG Vice-Chair. Page 2 The RNIB Library: Removing Barriers By Mark McCree Dear Members, Page 5 1001 Libraries to see before you die! Firstly, may I offer thanks from us all to Editorial Team Member Emily Page 6 PMLG British Library Tour Clark. As many of you will know, from time to time members of By Stella Chevalier Committees and other workgroups are distracted by other things, Page 8 Greening The Shelves whether it be in their ‘day jobs,’ or their personal lives. When this By Jake Hearn happens, we hope other team members rally round and carry on. Page 10 Libraries Extra - 'Open when we're Closed' Well, Issue 10 of ACCESS is almost a solo effort – both Paul Tovell By Sally McMahon and myself have been dealing with upheavals in our work circumstances, with the result that Emily has single-handedly chased Page 14 Peterborough's new technology authors, edited submissions, collected photographs, references, etc., By Lisa Roberts and uploaded the whole lot to our shared drive for me simply to Page 16 Tinder: Supporting Libraries Delivering Digital paginate and publish – top work Emily! By Luke Wilson (Continued on next page) Page 19 PMLG Awards 2016

Page 20 Studio 12 By Claire Duffield Don’t forget PMLG Teachmeet 2016 – Click Here! Page 23 Children's Poetry Identity Crisis

By Chrissie Gittins

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 1 Editorial (continued) In this issue, we begin a series of articles examining The RNIB Library: alternative service delivery models with two examples of the ‘Open Library’ system, in Brighton and Peterborough. We are in no way advocating any particular model for Library Removing Barriers service delivery, but we have become increasingly aware, with so many new models promoted and in such a short timeframe, that many myths and misconceptions have developed around them. We hope to provide factual, realistic explanations from people with actual experience “at the coal face.” Mark is the Senior Manager for Library and Heritage Services at The Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Contact details can be found at the end of the article. PMLG’s activities include specially-commissioned guided visits, such as our recent British Library tour, highlighted by Introduction Stella Chevalier; promoting wider knowledge, a task Every 15 minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. willingly undertaken by Mark McCree and Luke Wilson, The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is there for eloquently explaining the work of the RNIB Library and the everyone affected by sight loss - that's almost 2 million people in Tinder Foundation respectively; and sharing best practice, the UK. demonstrated in this issue by Jake Hearn and Claire Duffield, library professionals with an enthusiastic approach Reading is generally 'top of the list' of things that people want to to their specialisms. continue doing when they first lose their sight. Research (LISU, 2013) has shown that 95 per cent of blind or partially sighted Finally, we have a reminder from Chrissie Gittins that (BPS) people read for pleasure more than once a week, yet children’s literature is more than just prose . . But why has availability of accessible formats is very limited. poetry slipped out of public consciousness recently? RNIB Library is the largest of its kind in Europe, with over 60,000 We hope you enjoy the Summer – don’t forget to look out for items in the collection. It provides a unique service; lending us in Brighton at CILIP Conference 2016! accessible print and audio books to blind and partially sighted people across the UK.

Regards, The library was recently shortlisted for Library of the Year at the prestigious British Book Industry Awards 2016, and this article Jon outlines what the library does and how public libraries can help us do it!

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 2 What can you borrow? Talking Books are available in 3 different formats: DAISY CD, USB, or digital download (RNIB Overdrive). Talking Books on CD or USB stick are produced for individual customers and are sent, free of charge (through Articles for the Blind) to people’s homes as a next day delivery service. Customers can choose their own books from almost 25,000 titles, all unabridged, quality- recorded, and the collection is growing all the time.

RNIB Library is the only lending institution of braille and Giant Print in the UK. The library has more than 21,000 braille titles, and 6,000 Giant Print (24 point, bold). These books are sent out on a similar basis to Talking Books (free-post/next day delivery) and are delivered in bespoke canvas bags; they can be borrowed for 3 months at a time.

Free to access All the printed material (Braille, Giant Print, Music) is stored in the To mark the 80th anniversary of Talking Books in November library in Peterborough, from where it is dispatched across the 2015, RNIB removed subscription charges to this flagship UK and worldwide. The Talking Books are kept electronically service, making the entire RNIB Library offer (Braille, Giant rather than on shelves, and are produced, bespoke, for each Print, Music, Talking Books and more) free to access. customer. We recycle or re-use the CDs and USB sticks and, as Against the backdrop of the prevailing economic climate and you can imagine, we get through a lot. RNIB Library sends out legal requirements across public library services, the core some 10,000 Print Books and over 100,000 Audio/Talking Books aim of this decision was to remove a key barrier to reading every month! and to encourage more BPS people to use the service (and they are!) How can people join the library? Eligible people can join the Talking Books service online, via the Since the announcement, on average, over 200 customers RNIB online shop (www.rnib.org.uk/reading-and-learning). have joined the library each week. Total Library customer Alternatively, a downloadable registration form is available from numbers rose 35% in 2015/16, from just over 26,000 in April www.rniblibrary.com; or they can join via the Helpline: 0303 123 2015 to over 35,000 by the end of the year. Within this huge 9999 – it doesn’t take very long! increase, users of the digital download service (RNIB

Overdrive) quadrupled during this period.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 3 New joiners do not need to be registered blind. RNIB Library operates a self declaration policy and people simply sign a Help us, help you declaration form around eligibility/terms and conditions. Working with local authorities and societies is critical to the Basically, it is open to people who live in the UK and are unable success of RNIB Library. Many people find our services through to comfortably read standard print with spectacles. To note, as their local library or support organisations; and having a trusted well as BPS people, the library also welcomes people who contact on the doorstep, so to speak, is vitally important. have print impairment; and any new joiners who are under 16 years of age require a guarantor. RNIB Library has partnership agreements in place with many library authorities across the UK, and will always help support People can have 6 books at a time and if they prefer not to local libraries in providing services or specific titles to blind and choose their own, the library computer system can choose titles partially sighted library members. for them, using a profile. Success for RNIB Library means greater numbers of blind and Online catalogue partially sighted people reading, and removing the barriers that The Library has an accessible online catalogue still exist. Please be part of our success story, by helping us to (www.rniblibrary.com – launched in April 2015), where raise the profile of reading, and signposting RNIB’s services in this customers or local library staff can search all the collections. area.

Enabling BPS people to lead more independent lives is a core Contact details RNIB strategic aim, and customers can login and add books to Mark McCree their ‘wish-lists’, set up personal search profiles, check their Senior Manager: Library and Heritage Services current loans etc. The online catalogue also has additional content, such as book reviews, a targeted kids/teens section, t: 01733 375461 and real-time ‘new books’ lists. m: 07789 774850. Staff and volunteer support e: [email protected] or [email protected] Users of the library are very well supported. As well as RNIB’s

Helpline, which provides frontline support for hundreds of BPS More information is available at: people every day, there is a specialist Library team who field www.rnib.org.uk/books (main site) enquiries and a team that support customers with technology www.rniblibrary.com (library catalogue) problems Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rniblibrary RNIB also have lots of volunteers (>700 UK-wide) who visit customers in their homes and help them use their talking book players, or choose their next title, or assist in accessing library services etc.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 4 1001 Libraries to see before you die Another in our series – This time, The Library of The Parliament of Canada, in Ottowa. The two views below show the inside, (left,) and the outside – I’m not sure which is the most spectacular! The website for you to send your own suggestions can be found here: http://1001libraries.wordpress.com/

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 5 Tour of the British Library: CILIP tour organised by PMLG By Stella Chevalier Member of PMLG Committee On Monday 15th February, along with 15 other CILIP Facing Sir Hans Sloane’s Bust, behind glass is the beautiful members, I joined the PMLG organised tour of the British ‘King’s Library’, the personal library of King George III. This was Library. given to the British Library on his death with the stipulation that his Led by one of the Front-of-House Team, Kevin Mehmet MBE, collection must be used and on display to the public. Its location at our group tour started at the busts of the founding fathers of the the heart of the British Library, covering six floors, is very British Library, including Sir Hans Sloane, the benefactor who impressive. On average, 30 books from The King’s Library are gave the British library its first donation of books. This collection requested by readers every day. To access this collection, staff has now grown to over 350,000 manuscripts in a collection of are required to enter The King’s Library and roll the shelves away over 170 million items which continues to grow at a rate of 12 from the glass windows that display the beautiful spines, to access km of linear shelving every year, as the British Library is given a the books, before rolling the shelves back into position and copy of everything published in Great Britain. securing this unique and priceless collection.

Books are stored in four of the six subterranean floors. The other two floors are concerned with maintenance of the building, including temperature regulation for the book floors at around 17 οC: optimum book preservation temperature. Approximately 100 staff work down here, sorting book requests for the eleven reading rooms that cover the six ground level floors. Books are transported in trays along a 1.25 mile book conveyor system PMLG Group tour that connects to the reading rooms: reflected in the glass of The Part of the 1.25-mile King’s Library. book conveyor © Stella Chevalier system. King George III’s collection includes books from other countries, © Stella Chevalier and Sir Anthony Panizzi (Principal Librarian of the British Museum from 1856 to 1866) carried on this pattern of collection, which is continued to this day. International books are added to the British Library’s collection for a comprehensive collection of contemporary global materials.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 6 Over 100 curators spend £1.6 million in the acquisition of books to promote and develop the collection of foreign books, which makes the British Library not only the most comprehensive library in Britain, but reputed to be one of the best in the world.

Other collections kept at the British Library include the National Philatelic Collection, of which the Tapling Collection and a further 50 complete stamp collections remain as they were in their original archive context.

Our tour ended with a visit to the permanent exhibition ‘Treasures of the British Library’, located in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery. Treasures on display included the Magna Carta, Beowulf, the Codex Sinaiticus and Shakespeare’s first folio. A small percentage of the British Library collection is marked as ©British Library ‘restricted’, which means it is too rare or delicate to be issued to the public. Being a public access library, it is important that these documents can be accessed by the public, thus many of these documents have been digitised to a high quality of between 40 – 65 million pixels and are available to view with additional online magnifying glasses via touchscreens situated around the gallery and online through the British Library’s virtual books pages. The British Library has around 7,000 general visitors a day, of which around 1,000 are readers (registered users) and around 38% are overseas visitors. 1.2 million readers passes have been issued since The British Library opened at its Euston Road home in 1997, and every day another 200 people register (including pass renewals) and receive their reader’s pass (which lasts between 1-3 years depending on the reader’s requirements). ©British Library

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 7 Greening The Shelves In the eleven reading rooms there are a total of 1,200 spaces available for readers (only readers using British Library material The New Nature Writing and Eco-Reading are allowed in the reading rooms), which can be full to capacity within 2 hours of opening during the examination season. A further 150 student spaces have been made available in the public floor space next to The King’s Library to cater for the increasing number of students looking for study space. By Jake Hearn (Essex Library Service)

With a range of exhibitions and events, the British Library Back in March, many libraries (and bookshops) across Essex demonstrates why it is one of the top libraries in the world. It was celebrated the Essex Book Festival by hosting talks and events a treasure and a treat to visit. Thanks to PMLG and Kevin featuring well-loved and admired writers and artists, as well as Mehmet for this thought provoking and highly enjoyable tour. newly emerging talent. In previous years West Mersea library, located on a small island just off the Essex Coast, has often taken Stella has worked in public libraries for a decade, currently working as part and featured a guest author. This year we were unable to a librarian at the London Borough of Sutton and Old Palace of John host, however, undeterred, we decided to celebrate the Essex Whitgift School. As a qualified teacher and librarian, her passions Book Festival in our own way: by promoting the current vogue for include reader development and lifelong learning. contemporary nature writing. We set up several displays featuring various books and publications on the topic of nature, landscape and the ‘wild’ and collaborated closely with those involved with the Thwaites Wainwright nature writing prize. The content of this article is an exploration of three award-winning works of ground- breaking nature writing.

In 2008, Granta Magazine published a new anthology entitled ‘The New Nature Writing’ which sought to define and understand the contemporary nature writing genre. The anthology illustrates the evolution of the old (and somewhat archaic) nature writing tradition that originated around the turn of the eighteenth century. Since its official inception in 2008, the genre has undergone enormous changes as a result of writers such as Robert MacFarlane, Kathleen Jamie and, more recently, Helen MacDonald publishing ground breaking works of creative non- Aerial view of British Library, with St Pancras in the background. ©British Library fiction that have raised (and changed) the proverbial bar.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 8 These writers each question Contrarily, Robert MacFarlane’s ‘The Wild Places’ (2007) what we understand by terms argues that the spatial areas we regard as ‘wild’ and ‘natural’ such as ‘wild’ and ‘natural’ are very much distinct and separate from our towns, villages and how, as the New Nature and anthropocentric lives. His philosophy derives from the Writing tradition continues to traditional eighteenth century ideology that nature exists within change, we, in our own the realms of mountains, uninhabited forests and isolated separate lives, connect with moorlands. His book is an exploration of all that we have come the natural world: are the to know and define as ‘wild’, including the furthest reaches off domestic and the wild so the Irish Coast and places closer to home, such as Orford Ness. separate and distinct from one MacFarlane’s book explores the story of landscape: how we as another as we are often led to a species have left our mark on its face and have changed and believe? If so, how can we been influenced by its enormity, power and beauty. His book, change this? far from being a simple beach-read, tells the story of one man’s own experience of walking the earth’s skin (often alone) and his Kathleen Jamie’s ‘Findings’, encounter with nature, up close and personal. Both Jamie’s and published in 2005, remains to Macfarlane’s books are akin to one another in their ground- this day a pioneering work in breaking exploration of space, place and landscape; yet both the field of nature writing. are located at opposite ends of the spectrum in their treatment and understanding of this exploration.

Her book was the first of its kind to break away from the notion that terms such as ‘nature’ and ‘wild’ could and should This dichotomy between both only be associated with desolate moors, hills and cavernous works posits interesting mountainsides. For Jamie, terms such as ‘wild’ and ‘nature’ viewpoints and food for thought. are something that remains a constant ubiquity; that it is part Seven years after MacFarlane’s and parcel of our world, such as weeds in the pavement ‘The Wild Places’, Helen cracks, the pigeons in our gardens and even the cells and Macdonald published her award follicles which make up our bodily structures as human winning memoir, ‘H is for Hawk’, beings. Her book is written in lucid and contemporary prose (2014) which tells the raw and and the various settings which underpin its structure range searing experience of her losing from her window at the kitchen sink, through which she muses her father back in 2007 as a upon birds in her garden, to her walks around remoter places result of a heart attack. such as the Hebrides and Norway.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 9 Fascinated by Goshawks as a young girl and having watched, Libraries Extra trained and been in close contact with Hawks with her father, ‘Open when we’re Closed!’ Macdonald recounts the story of training Mabel, a female Goshawk, after her father’s sudden death. The relationship with Mabel becomes a coping mechanism through which she is able to channel her emotions, predominantly grief, to deal with this By Sally McMahon tragic loss. Critics have debated whether the book falls within the Head of Libraries & Information Services nature writing genre, but her book encompasses and recalls the Brighton & Hove City Council T.H. White’s 1951 book, ‘The Goshawk’, which Macdonald cites as a strong influence.. Macdonald’s book demonstrates a shift in In Brighton and Hove, we have taken a different approach to the ever-changing genre and highlights the kinship between providing the benefits of the Bibliotheca Open Library system. humanity and its natural environs. We liked what we read about Open Library and went to see it in These three books merely scratch the surface of the new nature action in an authority where it was already in place. We writing genre and a short article is inadequate for me to describe discussed the benefits and opportunities of making many of our their power and poignancy as ground-breaking works of Twenty branch libraries accessible for longer hours on an unstaffed First Century writing. The Essex Book Festival was launched basis, as well as assessing the risks and potentially negative officially at the end of January with a Wild Writing workshop, impacts of this change. And then we decided in typical Brighton hosted at the University of Essex by academic Dr James Canton. and Hove fashion that we wanted more. Throughout the rest of March authors such as Chris McCully, Sanja Bahun, Damian James Le Bas and Louis de Bernières For many years we have developed a culture in the library addressed key topics of interest such as place, space and, service that the public libraries belong to their communities, and specifically, the concept of home and its depiction within the we have been encouraging local groups, schools and other liberal arts, literature and film. organisations to use the libraries out of hours without staff present. The benefits of having a technical solution to enabling For further information regarding these works of literature (or access out of normal opening hours to support this community further recommendations), please contact me via email: engagement were blindingly clear, and the opportunity that it [email protected], or telephone: 01206 383321 presented to enable local individuals to also access libraries out of hours was one we were very keen to take up. Jake is a Library Assistant for Essex Libraries and is involved in planning and organising various library events and book talks. We drew up our wish list, turned it into a specification, and He writes a column for LIFE Magazine and has recently discussed this with our technical and property management completed a Masters Degree in Environmental Literature at the colleagues in the council, and also with existing council University of Essex. He maintain a travel and nature blog titled contractors. We decided to run a pilot in two branch libraries, to ‘Taking a Leaf: www.isaachearn.wordpress.com. see if it would work and what the public reaction would be.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 10 So what did we want in our enhanced approach? We wanted The one disadvantage of developing our own unstaffed library better security and monitoring to protect library users when access solution is that we cannot directly link the access there were no staff there, and we wanted to provide support for control system to the library management system, but we have library users when they needed it. So we asked for: found simple and effective ways to ensure we have the information and control that we need. We have been able to Security: turn the security company access cards into Libraries Extra • Live monitoring of the CCTV cameras by trained security enhanced membership cards, with the relevant barcode and staff at a remote location, in addition to the recording of graphics printed on it, so the library user still only needs one footage card. Only library staff can link the security card number to the • Intercom link from the library to the security staff so that membership data so protecting the user’s personal data. library users could reach security if they had any security or safety concerns • Audio feed into the library from the security staff to make We receive a monthly report on the use of the Libraries Extra announcements to people in the library if needed access cards from the security company, and because we ask • Security operatives to be able to respond quickly in an library users to swipe out as well as swiping in, we are able to emergency (the company have two roving cars in the city to see how long each user was in the library. In the first month respond to problems at any council building) the length of stay was very short – clearly people were just • Security operatives to open up and lock down the libraries at trying it out. Since then, the length of stay has grown. We the beginning and end of each unstaffed day to ensure the have carried out an early survey of Library Extra users and the security of the buildings (many libraries have alarms and results showed that they were doing all the kinds of things that someone needs to check windows etc., have been securely library users normally do, using the computers, borrowing and closed) returning, studying, attending events, meeting people, etc. A • Good management data on the use of the libraries during fuller evaluation of the pilots is taking place shortly involving Libraries Extra qualitative as well as quantitative data assessment.

Support: • Direct telephone link to the Central Library customer support The Libraries Extra membership is offered free of charged as number an enhanced membership facility. We ask to see proof of • All public PCs remotely turned on and off and a level of address and photo ID, neither of which is asked for in ordinary remote IT support library membership, to enhance security and safety • Self-service kiosks working effectively arrangements, and we currently don’t allow children in unless • Clear signs and instructions to library users on how to use accompanied by an adult with Libraries Extra membership. the library effectively when operating under Libraries Extra

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 11 Libraries Extra is an essential part of our modernisation programme, as it will enable us to nearly double the hours libraries are accessible while changing our staffing arrangements so that the overall costs are reduced despite additional security costs. People will have choices – in each area of the city there will be both a staffed and unstaffed library available every day of the week.

We are not pretending that the offer on unstaffed days is the same as a staffed service – of course it is not. Staff provide an essential and highly valued service which no volunteer can replicate. Libraries Extra offers an alternative way to access many of the services that people want: borrowing, use of computers and WiFi, study facilities, somewhere to meet, and opportunities to run activities and events in a safe community space. Staff support will be available remotely via telephone, and we expect to recruit some volunteers to act as ‘expert users’ or ‘library champions’ – there to help people do things for themselves. Using volunteers in this way means we are not dependent on them to open the libraries – they will be accessible regardless of volunteer presence.

The key to the success of Libraries Extra will be community engagement and partnership working – all people need is a Libraries Extra membership card for seven day week access to a fantastic array of facilities and resources in a safe and secure environment.

Sally has been responsible for Libraries Services in Brighton & Hove since 1998, and also management of the IT services for Libraries and Museums across the city. She is leading for SCL on the development of a Public Library Information Offer, and working with Government Digital Services in the Cabinet Office to support the development of Assisted Digital Services as part of the Government’s digital by default agenda.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 12 ©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 13 Peterborough’s New Technology – keeps libraries open longer By Lisa Roberts Peterborough City Council Users were also asked what factors would encourage more use of the library service, with accessing the library building outside Culture & Leisure normal hours receiving the highest response.

A second consultation, which concluded in March 2015, presented the council’s preferred model for Peterborough’s libraries, Open+. It was approved by the public and members of Fact file the council Project name: Open+ Peterborough Objective: To reduce the cost of Under the new Peterborough’s libraries whilst model, the public maintaining library provision can now access Timescale: 6 months planning – 4 months their libraries for implementation 375 hours per week Cost to authority: £170,000 as opposed to 261 No. employees: 5 under the old Outcomes: All libraries remain open with an extra model, through 114 hours a week, with full council and public Open+ technology - support that is an increase Officer contact email: [email protected] of 114 hours a Peterborough City Council has approved and implemented a new week. The mobile way of delivering library services in Peterborough. It sees all ten library service and libraries stay open and for longer using self-service technology at-home service called Open+, made by the company Bibliotheca. run by volunteers continue without The new model was developed by the city council and Vivacity change. using feedback received during a first round of consultation last summer, where the public identified the following three areas as important: Books on the shelves, Location, and Access to information.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 14 The new model has resulted in a reduction in staffed hours from There was a one-off cost of £170,000 to introduce the technology the 261 to 149. Staffed hours have now been matched, where at all ten libraries, with an ongoing cost of £10,000 per annum. possible, to when activities are taking place such as rhyme time The library service cost £1.52million to deliver before the new and reading groups. model. The service is managed by Peterborough’s independent culture and leisure trust, Vivacity, with the Council remaining as Councillor Lucia Serluca, cabinet member for city centre the library authority. The new model has saved the council management, culture and tourism, said: "I believe that the £305,000 a year and safeguarded Peterborough’s libraries for the model we have implemented offers people an enhanced future. service, without us having to close any of our libraries. At a time when many other councils are having to close libraries, I am delighted that we have managed to develop a service that meets the needs of our residents whilst making the saving that we have to in order to continue meeting the needs of the whole city."

Under the new model, individual libraries would be open for a set number of staffed and self-service hours each week. For example, Central Library, which is was staffed for 40 hours a week, is now open for a total of 55.5 hours - 33 of which are staffed and 22.5 using Open+ and assistants.

Open+ is free to join and existing library members are invited to opt-in. Customers who are Open+ members are able to borrow books and other library materials, use library computers, take part in existing activities such as reading groups, knit and natter, story time and rhyme time and set up new groups to meet within the libraries.

Open+ technology can automatically control and monitor building access, self-service kiosks, public access computers, lighting, alarms, public announcements and customer safety.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 15 Tinder Foundation: Supporting Libraries Delivering Digital

By Luke Wilson

Tinder Foundation is the biggest digital inclusion organisation in the UK, and the organisation behind the Online Centres network. We want to get right into the heart of communities to reach the 12.6 million adults who lack basic digital skills

Libraries already have a very important role across the UK – supporting those who are hardest to reach, and providing long- established, trusted spaces to support more vulnerable members of society. As they increasingly become advocates for digital inclusion, Tinder Foundation and libraries are working together to help those who are socially and digitally excluded.

There are now more than 2,800 library partners in the Online Centres Network, and it’s Tinder Foundation’s aim to support Designed specifically for people with no or low skills, the these local services by helping them to further develop and platform is used by 250,000 people each year to gain basic demonstrate the breadth and depth of their digital inclusion digital skills and use them to improve their lives. It consists of work. step-by-step user-friendly online courses in anything from email to eBay, job-search to online shopping. With improved One of the easiest and most accessible ways in which Tinder abilities, we’ve seen people go on to find work, improve their Foundation supports libraries delivering digital skills is through health and wellbeing, manage their money or communicate Learn My Way - the market leading open learning platform. with relatives.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 16 One of the many things we found out was exactly how stretched staff and resources are at ground level, with funding and support for digital inclusion remaining one of the biggest challenges to successful delivery. One of the benefits of being an active member of the UK online centres network is the additional funding and support available.

In 2015-16 we awarded more than £300,000 in funding to 46 library services across 486 individual libraries in England. This included our Libraries Digital Inclusion Fund, which challenged 16 Library Services to use innovative approaches to reach out to new audiences and engage them with digital. Pilot models included: a home access tablet loan scheme; outreach partnerships with Housing Associations and disability groups; and volunteering partnerships with local colleges to offer extra It is critical that libraries are able to demonstrate to their one-to-one support for library service users. The interim report colleagues, to Local Authorities and to other potential funders can be found on our website, with the final report due out in the range of activities they undertake, and the impact digital Summer 2016. inclusion has on service users. One of the abilities of Learn My Way is the facility to collect light-touch management information tracking learner progress. Alongside CaptureIT - Tinder Foundation’s reporting tool for activity undertaken outside of Learn My Way - it’s a key way libraries can monitor and track their performance. Libraries can produce reports, help monitor the development of learners, record and manage the digital activities delivered, and evidence performance.

Back in February, Tinder Foundation and CILIP’s Information Literacy Group, jointly organised two TeachMeet events to benefit individuals working in the library sector who are involved in the field of digital inclusion and its role in digital literacy. Just under 40 delegates attended each event in London and Leeds, and discussed everything from engagement ‘hooks’ to the use of social media and management of volunteers. Read the full report here.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 17 So far in 2016-17 26 library services have secured funding from Tinder Foundation totalling £149,500, including 15 libraries who have secured funding as part of our partnership with Google Digital Garage. The partnership aims to ensure that businesses with the lowest digital skills have access to the resources they need to improve their digital capability. It’s an exciting project that provides the opportunity to boost local economies by helping businesses use digital better. In recent years libraries have been at the forefront of innovative approaches to delivering business support at a local level and contributing to We are encouraging anyone with an interest in libraries and/or local economic growth, such as through the British Library and digital inclusion to join the Hub and start contributing and Arts Council England’s Enterprising Libraries programme. As a sharing so as a network we can support and assist one hub of the community, it is clear that libraries can play an another’s development and impact. essential role in providing support to businesses by helping to develop their digital skills. At Tinder Foundation we believe digital inclusion is part of protecting and future-proofing Britain’s library services. It’s also As part of our wider strategy to address social inequalities an essential part of the community-based network needed to through digital, here at Tinder Foundation, we want to make support the people facing the greatest personal and social sure we’re working with libraries at a local level to help them to challenges in a time of austerity. In the coming months, we plan support local people. We’re particularly keen to make sure that to continue learning about digital inclusion in libraries so we can funding opportunities - like the Google Digital Garage create bespoke support, resources and training for library partnership - are seized upon by the libraries in our network. We services and library staff. We think we can add value to library are working hard to ensure that libraries in our network have services, individual libraries, library staff and users, and we’d access to any funding information and opportunities which we love to talk to you about how. discover or secure. That’s why we’ve got a monthly newsletter If your library wants to find out more about Tinder Foundation, just for library partners, sharing funding alerts and project Learn My Way, our products and services, please contact us at opportunities alongside best practice examples and sector [email protected] or at ukonlinecentres.com/libraries. news.

Luke is a Project Delivery Manager at Tinder Foundation, and is In addition, we’ve also launched the Digital Libraries Hub where currently facilitating the further development of Tinder library staff, volunteers, Heads of Service, and key stakeholders Foundation’s library offer with the aim of establishing Tinder as - plus anyone else interested in digital inclusion in libraries - a default national partner for libraries in delivering digital can connect. It’s already proving to be a popular discussion inclusion and addressing social inequalities through digital. space, with libraries exchanging ideas and experiences on the ground.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 18 PMLG Awards 2016 Nominate your Library Champions!

Nominations are now open for the CILIP Public and Mobile A winner and two runners up for each award will be Library Group’s annual awards, which recognise the selected and receive greater recognition and profile. The outstanding contribution that staff make to their customers, three winners will receive a personal, engraved trophy and the communities they serve and the wider public library sponsored professional development. profession. The awards are: The awards are open to all library authorities in the UK. Public Library Champion of the Year: Recognising the Closing date for nominations is 19th August 2016 achievements of outstanding frontline public library staff To learn more about them and/or nominate someone who make a real difference to people that use their library special visit: www.cilip.org.uk/public-and-mobile-libraries-

Mobile Library Champion of the Year: Recognising the group/awards achievements of outstanding mobile library assistants, Last year’s Public Librarian of the Year, drivers or librarians who make a real difference to the Russell Allen, said: people who use their libraries. “It was an honour and a privilege to be presented with the Public Librarian of Public Librarian of the Year: Recognising the the Year award by the PMLG. On a achievements of outstanding library and information personal level it was very humbling to professionals working in public libraries that make a real be recognised by peers, but on a professional level I was delighted to difference to the communities they serve and the wider accept the award as recognition of all public library profession the hard work my colleagues in West Sussex do every day – as I know they The awards will be presented at the PMLG Teachmeet do up and down the country – to craft 2016. and deliver library services that are relevant, valued and much needed by our communities.”

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 19 ‘STUDIO 12’ Part of Leeds Library and Information Service By Claire Duffield Studio 12 Librarian

Studio12 is part of Leeds Library and Information Service and is based in Leeds Central Library. It is an audio-visual media facility for young people aged 16 – 30 who are living in Leeds, with priority given to people not in education and employment. It has been running for 13 years and was built up, from a few Macs in a small room, to the full media suite it now is.

Participants have access to the full Adobe creative suite, 3D printer, film and audio editing software, sound booth, and photography studio. Due to the fact that most young people can’t afford their own equipment, the Studio represents one of the few spaces where they can have access to the resources and expertise needed to complete a project. The studio is a very We work with colleagues in the Central Library’s Business and appealing place because members can focus solely on IP Centre to support participants through protecting their developing their own projects. The successful completion of product using patents, trademarks, registered designs and digital productions reinforces the idea that they are cultural copyright. producers. Therefore, they define themselves as musicians, Just like the rest of the library service, Studio12 represents a music producers, designers, filmmakers, etc. 'space for imagination’ – a safe environment where young

people are recognised and respected for their projects and Young people can create new digital media by collaborating dreams. It serves as an empowering space that helps to with their peers and develop new skills from industry experts translate ideas, time and energy into video clips, songs, web and professionals through the master class programme. Young pages and social media updates, that help the young people to people can use new technology for their own benefit, for their imagine themselves in a different way. The effectiveness of community or their business with an emphasis given to digital Studio12 lies in the combination of support, infrastructure and a media and entrepreneurial skills. project-centred approach.

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 20 “What I found going to the Studio over the years was that there Studio12 currently has 250 members registered with the studio were some people who came there, hoping to be channelled and interacts with thousands of young people in its outreach into something. But the environment there is if you want to go work. With so much talent passing through, it is important to there, if you want to start doing photos from today, the have links and opportunities to showcase their work. In the past equipment is there, there is someone you can ask; but the half year the studio has worked with: of the work is yourself getting it.” • The West Yorkshire Playhouse Luke, Studio12 Participant • BBC 1xtra • The British Art Show 8 By working with partners we are creating platforms for young people to have their voices heard and their creativity nurtured and explored.

Case Studies

British Art Show 8 Leeds Libraries are tackling the digital divide and Studio12 is working to get more women into tech and digital. The studio partnered with The British Art Show 8 and Together Women to support a group of young women to create spoken word pieces looking at their identity and culture inspired by the art show. The group used Art Library resources to influence a photography workshop, creating images personal to them. See more at: http://britishartshow8.com/blog/film-young-people-remix-british- art-show-8-leeds-1751

“Thanks very much, it was really, really good and it’s an opportunity we have never seen anywhere… I should thank everyone. I spoke to the mothers earlier... they were so happy and some said for the first time they heard their girls talking and the words were coming from the heart and they have never heard that before and the feeling was very good and they would like them to keep on doing it, thank you very much” Sada, Women Together Director

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 21 1xtra- Words First Words First with BBC Radio 1Xtra and Roundhouse seeks to find the hottest and freshest spoken word talent from across the country supported by Arts Council England. Studio12 was chosen to host workshops in Leeds in October 2015. 62 young people applied from across the region and 13 young people were selected to attend the workshop. The week-long workshop covered spoken word and performance and was led by Khadijah Ibrahiim from Leeds Young Authors and Testament, writer and world record holding beatboxer. Visiting artists included Saju Ahmed, Zodwa Nyoni and DJ Target from BBC 1Xtra. We used poetry books from the library to inspire the participants. The theme was ‘Future Self’ with the young people creating poems on empowerment, growing older, relationships to family members, sci-fi and fantasy. “Just a big Thank you to every single one of you, throughout the For some of the young people this would be the first time whole process you have been amazing! I’ve loved every performing in front of a live audience. The event took place on moment with you guys, can't wait for any other projects you all National Poetry Day 2015 in front of a live audience of 90 have in mind, just a huge Thank You and major Respek!” people and was broadcast from Leeds Central Library on Denmarc Creary, Words First Participant 1Xtra’s DJ Target’s radio programme to millions of people. ______

One of the participants, Asma Elbadawi will now perform at the Leeds Library and Information Service will continue to use Roundhouse in London in June 2016, with the likes of Kate Studio12 to further develop new ways of working with young Tempest. people. We will use library resources and collections to inspire and inform creative thinking and continue to mentor existing and The week concluded with Denmarc Creary being selected and new members, providing a sustainable creative future for the mentored by Studio12 and Leeds Young Authors to perform at young people of Leeds. the 1Xtra Live event at the Leeds Arena to 10,000 people and broadcast live on TV. If you would like further information please contact: [email protected]

From what I understand, books arrive at libraries from suppliers pre-classified, shelf-ready with spine labels and dust jackets, carrying the J821.008 Dewey classification for literature. But there is nothing to stop librarians shelving poetry wherever they want. Would it encourage children to read poetry if it were attractively presented, in a separate section, with its own sign? I By Chrissie Gittins know of one school librarian who shelves children’s poets alphabetically alongside children’s fiction writers, so that students are more likely to pick out poetry books and take a I’m a freelance writer – I write poetry for children and adults, look. short fiction and radio drama. I attend Children’s Poetry Summit meetings every few months in London; we are a group of poets, It’s also possible to ask your library supplier to label and colour publishers, librarians, educationalists and other interested code children’s poetry differently. I’ve spoken to one of the main parties who are trying to raise the profile of children’s poetry. suppliers and they would be more than happy to do this if asked; I’m assuming that other suppliers would too. One of my joys is to visit schools and to see children responding to my poems. After a recent visit a teacher wrote, ‘The children Another way that poetry books can swim into consciousness is were entranced, as well as amused by her more hilarious through prizes. The Carnegie Prize is open to collections of poems, the younger children giggling uncontrollably at times!’ poems. Sadly, these are the statistics for nominations of single This is, of course, very gratifying to me, and there is no doubt author poetry collections over the last few years: that children love poetry when they hear and read it. But what happens when children/parents go looking for poetry in their 2015 - 0 poetry collections out of 91 nominations local library? Or, more worryingly, what if a child/parent isn’t 2014 - 0 poetry collections out of 77 nominations familiar with poetry and doesn’t know it’s there? 2013 - 1 poetry collection out of 68 nominations 2012 - 1 poetry collection out of 52 nominations More often than not I have to look very hard for children’s poetry 2011 - 1 poetry collection out of 60 nominations in public libraries. It is usually shelved under non-fiction. Signs for fiction proliferate, but I’ve very rarely seen a sign for poetry. (I haven’t included verse novels here as they do get nominated, What does this say about the way that libraries value poetry and shortlisted - possibly because they are nearer to novels in compared to fiction? their sustained narratives than poetry.)

©PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 23 I’m baffled by these statistics given that poetry is a significant There are two anthologies which provide a poem for every day part of literature, and any CILIP Member can nominate a book. of the year (Read Me 1, and Read Me 2, edited by Gaby Why isn’t poetry being submitted? Various reasons have been Morgan, published by Macmillan). If you want to respond to the suggested - a perception that the award is for fiction only, a seasons, to celebrations, to sporting events, to an emotion, possible lack of confidence in reading and having opinions travel, food, relatives etc., the anthology The Poetry Store about poetry, a lack of promotion of poetry collections by edited by Paul Cookson (Macmillan) covers these and many publishers, and possibly that poetry just isn’t uppermost in more. Another route to finding poems is through the search people’s minds when they think about which books to submit. facility on the Poetry Library’s website where you can search by Also, poetry requires a different quality and rhythm of reading ‘Word’, ‘Book theme’, ‘Author’ or ‘Title’ from the drop down from fiction – a gear change to a slower, more ruminative menu. approach, with short bursts of concentration. Though shorter, http://p10311uk.eos- poetry still takes time to absorb. Maybe its shortness works intl.eu/P10311UK/OPAC/Search/AdvancedSearch.aspx against it and it doesn’t appear to have the weight of a novel. (I should say here that I’m aware that non-fiction books and I hope you agree that Children deserve to know poetry, and to graphic novels are also eligible for the Carnegie, but as it’s have the opportunity to make it part of their lives. Most of all, I mostly fiction which is submitted I’m using it as a comparison). hope you have fun with it.

You will have your own take on why poetry isn’t submitted to the Chrissie Gittins was born in Lancashire and lives in London. Her Carnegie, and why it generally has a low profile, but can I first three children’s poetry collections (Now You See Me, Now please issue a rallying cry for poetry? For shelves brimming with You … , I Don’t Want an Avocado for an Uncle and The new and classic collections, and for stock which represents the Humpback’s Wail) were all Poetry Book Society Choices, and entire body of work by individual poets. Invariably when I visit two were shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Award. Her new and schools, children can name numerous fiction writers but are collected children’s poems Stars in Jars (Bloomsbury) is a hesitant about poets and need to be encouraged to name one Scottish Poetry Library recommendation. Her new collection or two. Adder, Bluebell, Lobster will be published by Otter-Barry Books

in August. It takes 40 of the 110 nature words deleted from the I’m sure many of you already do, but can I suggest inviting Oxford Junior Dictionary as titles. She features on the Poetry poets to read in libraries, and including poetry in your book Archive, and her poems have been animated for Cbeebies and sessions. You might like to make displays of poetry books with included in many anthologies. She visits schools, libraries and objects which are pertinent to the collections. You could display book festivals across the UK and has read her poems in a poem of your choice on a huge piece of paper and ask Shetland, West Cork, Bangkok and New York. Chrissie is children to make comments on post-it notes, or invite them to involved in campaigning for libraries. illustrate the poem. Once they become engaged with poetry www.chrissiegittins.co.uk they might like to bring in a poem of their choice to be displayed.

PMLG Committee Members 2016

Chair: Jacquie Widdowson Vice-Chair: Jon Davis Treasurer: Mike Brook Hon. Secretary: Sue Cook Membership Sec: Emily Clark Editorial Team: Paul Tovell Emily Clark Journal Publisher: Jon Davis Events: Julia Shepherd Committee Members: Stella Chevalier Sue Lawson Saran Pope

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PMLG ACCESS - Issue 10 - Spring 2016 26