1 ukoln is supported by: uk public libraries in the 21st century penny garrod, ukoln, university of...
TRANSCRIPT
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UKOLN is supported by:
UK Public Libraries in the 21st century
Penny Garrod, UKOLN, University of Bath
www.bath.ac.uk
a centre of expertise in digital information management
www.ukoln.ac.uk
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Today’s session1. Introductions
2. Brainstorming exercise (not quite ‘trivial pursuit’)
3. Public libraries: political and cultural context
4. Libraries in transition: traditional versus innovative services
5. New electronic services: a few examples
6. Staff issues
7. Conclusions and final discussion.
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Key facts
• 60 per cent of people hold a public library ticket• Around 400 million visits to public libraries every
year; 10 million people make a visit to a public library at least once a fortnight from Dept Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS):
www.culture.gov.uk
• Lottery-funded People’s Network project -computers and Internet access in public libraries
• Feb 2003:Dept Culture, Media and Sport publish Framework for the Future – Government’s 10 year plan for public libraries
• The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA): created by DCMS in 1999. National development agency for museums, libraries and archives in England
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The legal frameworkPublic Libraries and Museums Act 1964Public library service provided by local authorities in England and Wales under superintendence of theSecretary of State Library authorities have a duty to provide:
• “a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring thereof”
• “an adequate stock of books and other printed matter and media and encouraging adults and children to make full use of the library service”
• “to allow access to their libraries to all comers, and their obligation to lend only to those who live or work or study full-time in their areas”
Local authorities must comply with:• Disability Discrimination Act 1995• Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001• Freedom of Information Act 2000 – comes into force Jan 2005
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The political framework
DCMS
MLA
Regional agencies e.g.SWMLAC; SEMLAC; LLDA etc.
Secretary of State oversees delivery of public library service by local library authorities under terms of Public Libraries and Museums Act, 1964
Local government
Unitary authorities; County & Borough Councils
Library authorities
149 separate authorities in England operating over 3000 central & branch libraries + 500 mobile libraries
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Who’s Who in Public Libraries
Rt Hon Lord McIntosh of Haringey. Minister for Media and Heritage. Responsible for:
• broadcasting; • press and censorship• Gambling• Libraries and archives (and other odds and ends)
But note: Estelle Morris is Minister for the Arts: responsible for: Museums and Galleries; the Arts (including ‘Culture Online’); National Lottery; Social Policy (including training and education)
Therefore: responsibility split between two ministers - although MLA is the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives.
ODPM responsible for funding public libraries; DCMS responsible for policy – further fragmentation
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Framework for the Future
Report published by DCMS, Feb 2003:• Sets out the government’s vision for public
library service based on extensive consultation with key stakeholders
• Three key areas of activity outlined:1. Promotion of reading and informal learning2. Access to digital skills and services including
e-government 3. Measures to tackle social exclusion, build
community identity and develop citizenship
http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications/archive_2003/framework_future.htm
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Organisations working with public library sector
• Learndirect: access to (and provision) of courses
• UK online – government digital skills programme- 3000 centres are based in public libraries (6000 overall)
• British Library -British Library Co-operation and Partnership Programme: (CPP)
• Laser Foundation – funding for projects; commissions reports
• CILIP - Public Libraries Group• The Reading Agency – promotes reading and
reader development activities• LISU – statistics unit based at Loughborough
University
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Towards the hybrid libraryDigital library
Egovernment agenda - digital skills + 24/7 access
Web sites; portals; Virtual Reference; Community Information; e-content e.g. online reference; e-books and e-audio
Mobile technologies: Wi-Fi; remote access; enabling access via members own equipment
Traditional library
Social inclusion agenda -Library as community centre
Books, magazines, newpapers, CDs, DVDs, VHS etc.
Café/retail outlet
reading activities; IT sessions; zones for kids
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Reinventing the public libraryNew building or complete ‘makeover’ of oldBuilding. creating multi-purpose centres e.g.• ‘Idea stores’ in London: café; kids ‘zone’• ‘Discovery centres’ in Hampshire -similar • Birmingham -new city centre library in progress• Bournemouth - ‘state of the art’ library• Public and local college library partnershipsOngoing debates: - Bookstock versus ICT: criticised for poor bookstock. - Are budgets being channelled into ICT to detriment of bookstock?- What is purpose of public library today? Who are
they for?
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New electronic services• Ebooks and e-audio services
– several pilots funded to evaluate viability of ebooks in public libraries
• WiFi ‘hotspots’ in public libraries (10 pilot sites)– pilot announced 16 March 2004. Partnership:MLA, DTI
& The Countryside Agency. Targeting rural communities -libraries often only broadband location.
• Virtual reference services: ‘Answers Now’ –Somerset CC (Australia/NZ/US)and Answers Direct’ in Essex libraries (online & ‘phone)
• Weblog: Gateshead libraries -provide a ‘blog’:• LiveHelp: real time enquiry service – also at
Gateshead libraries see: www.gateshead.gov.uk/libraries
• Mobile technologies: PDAs; MP3 players
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‘LiveHelp’ in Gateshead libraries:
www.gateshead.gov.uk/libraries
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Answers now at Somerset County Council
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Ebook Projects: 2003-2004
1. People’s Network Excellence Fund. 2. Laser Foundation funding
Mixed model approaches: pilot and evaluate various products & delivery models • Co-East + Loughboro Uni + Essex libraries
(Laser Foundation): ebrary (PC-based) + Overdrive.com (12 x HP iPAQ PDAs)
• Blackburn with Darwen: (PN Excellence): 40 Compaq iPAQ PDAs - content from Overdrive.com
• LB Richmond: e-audio + netLibrary + Safari (PC based +Otis MP3 players)
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Co-East/Loughborough University and Essex libraries• PC-based access to e-books + PDAs (HP iPAQ
1910) preloaded with content – lent to readers• Remote users can download content to own
PDAs• eBrary: Coutts/ebrary - ‘general interest
collection’ - 2500 titles• Overdrive:230 titles from ‘Digital Library Reserve’
website: fiction (Palm reader) +non-fiction (Adobe) – some in both formats
Website: http://ebooks.essexcc.gov.ukProject reports: www.bl.uk/concord/laser-reports.html
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OverDrive in Essex Libraries
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Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Services
• PDAs (40 x Compaq IPAQs with MS Pocket PC 2002). Multipurpose devices - able to support
e-audio books (MP3) plus ebooks • DRM restrictions (items cannot be swapped
between devices) so solution = provide themed collections e.g.science fiction; thrillers for each device
• Content: e-audio from Audible.com; ebooks from OverDrive
• Pilot group: young people aged 18-24; senior citizens; mobility impaired; library reading groups and regular and non readers
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London Borough Richmond upon Thames
Model• E-audio books - downloaded on Otis MP3 players• PC-based ebooks (via 150 terminals in 13 branches)Content• netLibrary: >300 non-fiction titles +>3000 out of
copyright titles• Safari Technical: 254 IT & management titles; facility
to swap titles during subscription year; 3 concurrent user licences
• Audible.com (audio books – fiction and non-fiction) Joint collection with Blackburn & Darwen; download titles onto MP3 Players; 2 pilot user groups
www.richmond.gov.uk/libraries/e-books
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Portals to national/local information and resources
SeamlessUK (New Opportunities Fund): http://www.seamless-uk.info/
Example: ‘about Medway’:
Digitisation projects: NOF-digitise programme via EnrichUK gateway http://www.enrichuk.net/
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Staff skills
Official ICT training programme:• ‘Expected’ outcomes’ are skills which
ALL staff must achieve • Advanced (optional) skills include new
roles e.g ‘Net Navigator’; ‘Information Manager’ and ‘Educator’ (5 roles identified)
• Many staff study for ECDL qualification• MLA produce ‘Change management
toolkit’ to guide staff through period of rapid change
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Staff skills – my view• Service planning and building: e-services for the future –
sustainable! (financial and people skills)• Information architecture: organise and present web-based
information so people can use it easily (accessibility/usability; standards etc.)
• metadata – know what it is and how to apply it (cataloguing reinvented for online environment)
• Collection development: dealing with suppliers of electronic materials; negotiating site licenses; budgeting
• Networking/personal skills and qualities:e.g. local councillors; other council depts; consortia; project
partners; other sectors; regional agencies; MLA; local councillors
• Project management skills: spotting funding opportunities and reacting quickly. Delivering results on time.
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Final thoughts….
• Move towards hybrid library model – traditional versus new services. (transitional phase – can be traumatic)
• Can libraries be all things to all people?• Competition: Amazon and online resources +
Google factor? Impact on libraries? • Role of information professional in 21st century
public library• Learning from others – not just libraries and not
just UK - borrow good ideas from others -see JISCmail discussion lists: e.g.
Lis-pub-libs
peoplesnetwork
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Questions?