Community Library Information Day

Throughout the case studies that my colleague Anton related, the tips I noted were:
• Co-location could increase football and efficiencies, eg part of a heritage centre
• Diversifying activities and income is KEY (mix of contracts, grants, fundraising, direct selling, hire of space). There are great examples in the network of all of these.
• The support of the Local Authority, and Parish Council can be critical
• community cafes are rarely viable without subsidy and professional advice is recommended if looking to set one up. (unless you link them to training people)

The national speakers who came to Wakefield were truly inspirational:

Mike McCusker of FRESH HORIZONS explained how they run their library from a SureStart centre, on a contract from the Local authority. But most importantly, how their staff and activities are multi-faceted – they operate the library, bookings for room hire, a credit union branch, medicine collections… His question to all the groups was: “when people are in building, what else can they get access to?” in order to increase footfall.

Darren Tayler of ECOCOMPUTER SYSTEMS have reopened 3 libraries in 2 weeks in London! They use IT training and computer recycling for income Selling books online is their top tip: BOOKS ARE SAVING LIBRARIES. Another is to link to a housing association (they rent space and buy computers from them.) Visitor figures are higher because of more activities in there.

OPEN CINEMA explained how Libraries can be the new local cinemas! They give help for running local film clubs, and filmmaking programmes including promotional films. The Thompson Roydson foundation have helped them with pro-bono legal support, see www.trust.org/trustlaw for more information.

ST GEORGE'S in Lupset, Wakefield have been a community hub for 15 years. They started as a small community group, and now run a well-being centre, an adult education programme, and childcare facilities. They are 70% self-financing. Their top tips are:
• Having a business plan which is a thought process shared between trustees, managers and staff, and shared with partners
• Knowing your community
• Finding skilled staff and trustees, who are strongly linked
• Developing trust, care, partnerships
• Having a strong organisational framework and policies

• Regarding their Adult Education programme they talked of the importance of having a progression route for all their learners.

Then ECOMODO demonstrated how anything and everything can be lent/borrowed within a community, which libraries can use to lend more than books, and create a following/some income streams.

After some marketing and asset development advice, the delegates were able to network and exchange thoughts on common issues. You can download the publication I reffered to (To Have and to Hold) to the right of this page.

I hope the day was as much of a boost to the delegates as it was for me, looking forward to support them.

Members can access copies of all the presentations via the link to the right of this page. If you're not already a member,

Kind regards,
Sophie Michelena