County libraries ready to meet the challenges of the future
THE future of Berwick Library is not of doom and gloom, but a positive attitude to meeting challenges and a determination to continue to boost readership, according to the woman in charge.
In an interesting talk to Berwick Probus Club, Diane Wright pointed out that despite libraries being threatened by cuts, Northumberland County Council has retained all of its premises. In the next few weeks, she revealed that visitors to Berwick Library will see a difference in the kind of book stock coming through.
“There is little doubt the government sees libraries as a soft touch and across the country hours are being reduced and volunteers taking over from paid staff,” explained Ms Wright. “That’s the reality.
“The world of publishing is changing, but while the internet is a useful tool, it also provides a challenge and must be used in the right way.
She added: “By working together, libraries have a strong voice and they are fighting against threatened closure for nearly 400 libraries nationwide.
“They have the support of readers, the Women’s Institute had made it their campaign for 2011 and well-known authors and personalities had given their backing.”
In Northumberland, she said volunteers are playing a much bigger part with 186 of them putting in 18,000 hours of service. People aged 18 to 24 are helping younger children with their reading. But Ms Wright believes the 3.4 per cent loss of jobs among paid staff has led to a weakening of professional expertise.
Things are moving forward, however. A modern new library in Newcastle is ‘buzzing’, Ms Wright said. Northumberland County Council has opened a successful new facility and, in November, Wooler will move into the Cheviot Centre to join up with the tourist information centre and open for more hours.
“Over 100 reading groups have been established in the county as well as shadowing groups where children are able to discuss with authors and publishers” added Ms Wright. “Young children are receiving the best value, right down to the grass roots.”
Ms Wright told the club about the introduction of shared intelligence in 2009 which came at a time when there was some concern about Berwick’s future. That was followed by a year-long strategic review involving consultation with readers and staff. Community hubs are being set up to make the best use of limited resources.
New investment in technology is promised and some building work is required, but an updated computer service at Berwick Library is helping staff deal with the new stock of books coming in.
Plans for a Friends of the Library group already has 50 names on the list and more than 200 signed up for a summer reading project and reading challenge. Poets are being catered for, a computer course for beginners was so successful it was over-subscribed, and staff are heavily involved in the ethic of working in partnership.
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
