Hertfordshire Libraries, Heritage and the Arts - Hertfordshire County ...

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Section 4 - Library Stock and Reader Development“Reading is a private invisible activity andreaders seldom gather in the same place atthe same time. It is easy to underestimatethe place that reading has in our lives.Reading as a leisure activity is morepopular than gardening, DIY, spectatorsports events and visiting the cinema”(Social Trends)Publishers and the national media realisethe importance of this new audience forbooks evidenced by the popularity of TVbook slots, and the role libraries have toplay. As a result, libraries now have accessto major media promotions such as theBBC’s “Who do you think you are” andITV’s “Richard and Judy’s Summer Reads”,both of which are supported with displaysand multiple copies of titles. These provevery popular with the public.• “One Book for Stevenage” where thelibrary service works in partnership withStevenage Borough Council, StevenageCollege and the local Bookshop.Everyone in the town is encouraged toread the same book. The libraryprovides a focal point for this importantinitiative and staff are instrumental inselecting a title which will appeal to awide range of people. Multiple copies ofthe book are available for loan andsupporting events take place in thelibrary.• A talk to an capacity audience “Stepback in Time” took place atBorehamwood library in partnership withthe museum service to celebrate 50years of Borehamwood.• Author Kate McMahon spoke to anenthusiastic audience of 80 at WatfordCentral Library about her writing.ICT has created a whole new world ofopportunity for books and readerdevelopment, bringing together twoapparently competing areas of the service.Publishers and organisations whoadminister prizes such as the Man Bookerand the Orange prize now see the benefitsof involving libraries. Libraries supportthese promotions with displays of stock.Some of the reading groups who meet inlibraries shadow national prizes, resulting insome heated discussion and impassionedrecommendation.“Reader development starts with a respectfor the individual reading experience. Eachreader is the judge of their own best book.Reader development seeks to encouragepeople to try something different or new tothem – it’s about stretching boundaries andopening up possibilities”(Opening the Book)Events in libraries are wide ranging. Recentexamples include:Using computers in libraries, everyone inHertfordshire can access reading web sitesand participate in online activities such aslive author chats for World Book Day oronline voting for book promotions.Challenges for 2007• The Books and Reading pages on theHertsDirect web site will be developedfurther, building on the work carried outin 2006 to significantly improve the site.• A new e-newsletter, focussing on booksand reading, will be launched during2007. Taking advantage of new emailmarketing methods it will highlight titlesand services to users in a lively, populare-magazine format.• Hidden Histories, a lottery fundedinitiative to mark the bi-centenary of theact to abolish the slave trade will besupported by libraries. Activities will takeplace in October to tie in with BlackHistory month.17
Section 5 - Equalities and Social Inclusion in Service DeliveryEqualities and social inclusion inservice deliveryDeveloping a socially inclusive service isseen as the responsibility of all staff inlibraries. It is not an ‘add on’ to be deliveredby specialist staff to disadvantaged groups.Libraries are unique in that the resourcesavailable can be used by anyone - staffensure that they are the right resources andthat people know that they are theirs to use.A high priority is placed on equalitiestraining for staff. A range of training courseshave been developed, including PuttingPeople First, diversity awareness, gay andlesbian awareness, visual impairment,hearing impairment, mental healthawareness, adaptive technology andcommunity language softwareTo help with service planning, the servicecarries out community profiling andmapping exercises to ensure that resourcesare targeted appropriately. The EqualitiesAction Plan also aids service delivery.Hertfordshire was one of the first libraryauthorities, and the first department inHCC, to conduct access audits on allbuildings. As a result a comprehensiveprogramme of improvements has beendeveloped to make libraries as accessibleas possible. Some of the improvementsinclude ramps, automatic doors, lifts,improved guiding, adjustable height studytables and hearing loops at enquiry desks.To meet the needs of all members of thecommunity the library service provides:• A wide range of stock in differentlanguages tailored to the communityserved eg Hemel Hempstead Libraryhas a collection of books in Urdu.• A wide range of stock in differentformats, eg large print, spoken word.• Targeted collections of stock, eg blackand Asian writing in English, ESOL.• Community language softwareappropriate for the communities served.• Adaptive technology ICT hardware, eglarge screens, mice, keyboards.• Screen reading and magnificationsoftware for visually impaired people.• Translated leaflets and forms• Access to Language Line, a translationservice to help staff deal with users.A package of exemptions and concessionsexists to ensure that users are not excludedfrom using the library service because theyare unable to pay the charges.Equalities Facts and Figures• 844 Cassettes for Blind People Servicecustomers.• 864 Home Library Service customers.• 10 mobile libraries serving 360 stops• 3 Community Services Mobile librariesserving 229 stops.• 220 Centres receiving a depositcollection of books.Cassettes for Blind People ServiceThe service completed a major automationproject to increase efficiency. This hasresulted in a 50% reduction in the timetaken to deal with incoming post. In 2006-07 issues have also increased by 8%.18
Page 2 and 3: ContentsPageLibraries for the 21st
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Page 24 and 25: Section 6 - Heritage and Artsand is
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