Report by Nicola Baker
Localities Manager, Essex CC Libraries
Background
This project had its origins in an informal approach from Essex's Traveller Education Service back in 2000.
TES were keen to explore ways of providing better access to books for children on Traveller sites in Essex, whilst remaining true to their policy of encouraging travellers to access mainstream services rather than to provide specialist services solely for this client group.
A mobile library service seemed to fit the bill, since the aim of this service across the county is straightforward – to provide access to a full range of library services for customers who find it difficult to access library buildings, whether because of transport difficulties, age or infirmity, cultural barriers or any other reason. Essentially this meant that the provision of a mobile library stop on a traveller site would be no different to any other stop – we aim to go where our customers need us!
So, what steps did we need to take to get this project up and running? The steps were essentially few in number, but significant in complexity. We needed to identify appropriate sites, establish a relationship with the site managers, identify the right mobile library staff and provide training, identify and purchase suitable bookstock and review our mobile library timetable to find the best stopping time.
The right site
Essex Libraries relied heavily on our partners in the Travellers Education Service to advise which sites would be suitably for this initiative. We needed a site which offered a stable environment, where there were a number of families and where we could be reasonably sure that the site manager (most of whom live on site) would be enthusiastic.
It was essential that we took our time to introduce the idea as we would be bringing a large vehicle and unknown people onto the site. We decided on two sites – Wood Corner, near Maldon which has around 20 pitches and Ridgewell, a smaller site near Halstead which is home to 12 traveller families.
The right people
Writing this some four years down the line it is easy to forget that what we were proposing to do could potentially be threatening for our mobile library staff. What could they expect? Would they be left alone on a traveller site (all but one of our thirteen mobile library vehicles are single staffed). Would they lose a lot of their bookstock? How could travellers join the library if their levels of literacy were low?
Our first move was to ask the Travellers Education Service to come to one of our six monthly Mobile Library Managers meetings to do a ‘cultural awareness' session. This covered some background to traveller heritage, some information about their lifestyle and cultural norms – and provided an opportunity for staff to ask questions in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
In choosing the right site we also took into account which Mobile Library Manager's ‘patch' it would be. Tony (Wood Corner) and Jill (Ridgwell) took it all in their stride. They recognised that what they were being asked to do was a big step forward for library services in Essex in terms of accessing an excluded client group. This initial cultural awareness session was followed up by a more in-depth session at TES at a later date.
The right books
The majority of stock which we selected for this project was mainstream children's material. However, we tailored the ‘non-fiction' stock (both adult and children's) to provide the subjects which we knew to be of interest – animal keeping, for example. We also embarked on what proved to be a lengthy search for specific traveller heritage books. These are frequently published by small publishers, many of them traveller education services and were not always easy to get hold of. However, when we did, the payback was enormous! These books generally contain many photos and little text and can therefore be accessed by those with low levels of literacy. Add to that the fact that they frequently contain pictures of extended family members and you have a winner!
The mobile libraries also contain a selection of videos and DVDs which proved popular.
The right time
In order to make this project work, we needed to find a time to visit which would be convenient and we needed to ensure that we would not disadvantage existing customers. We therefore took the opportunity to undertake a complete review of our mobile schedules for these two routes, examining current levels of business, making proposals for change and consulting with our stakeholders, not all of whom agreed with our proposal to devote resources to this client group.
Finally all the planning was in place and we began these two traveller site visits in 2001. TES staff worked with us to provide support on the sites and we gradually built up a regular customer base.
Project development
It was clear that there was much that we could do to develop the project, if only we had the resources. A successful bid to the Children's Fund Essex (which is aimed at 5 – 13 year olds) at the end of 2002 provided just the right impetus. This funding meant that we could appoint a project co-ordinator and extend the project to other sites. We also spoke to a number of primary schools who had traveller children on their roll.
In 2004 we now work on five traveller sites and in eight primary schools, providing a weekly mobile library stop at each. Of our thirteen mobile libraries, eight are involved in this project. We plan to continue to extend he work of the project to other sites in the coming year and to provide opportunities for traveller families to access ICT.
Key to the success of this project is the support we have received from a range of partners. As well as TES, we work closely with the Gypsy Services team, who are responsible for maintaining the county-owned sites, with Surestart who work in the Basildon area, with the Harlow storysacks co-ordinator, with the Friends, Families and Travellers organisation and of course with the site managers and staff at the schools we visit.
Highlights
In the week leading up to Christmas, Surestart held a Christmas party at the Hovefield site, complete with ‘Mother Christmas' on the mobile library. Every child received a present, even those who were visiting family on the site. The library counter was covered with cakes, fruit and biscuits – but there was still room for books to be borrowed.
During the months of this project, many animals have made their appearance on the mobile, from ponies peering round the door, to chickens, puppies and even a ferret.
Library staff were almost as pleased as J, a traveller girl living on the Harlow site, on the day her school awarded her a ‘librarian' badge for her hard work and enthusiasm in her school library.
Children have been keen to have their photo taken on our brand new state-of-the -art mobile libraries on a digital camera. These pictures have been printed off and given to their parents as a tangible reminder of the excitement of books, stories and mobile libraries.
The results
The following are extracts from written testimonies from some of our partners:
“As part of the visiting ‘team' our Parental Involvement Worker has been able to establish excellent relationships with the families. This has enabled her to talk informally about the health and developmental needs of children in a non-threatening environment, gradually gaining the trust and confidence of parents.
She has been able to identify specific needs of some families and to gradually introduce other services and practitioners to them. This has worked really successfully.”
Maureen Longley, Surestart co-ordinator
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“I have been delighted with the opportunity that the library service has given to our traveller children to have regular access to books. The children themselves continue to wait eagerly for the library van each week, and have regularly returned and changed their books. This initiative has also given rise to positive support at home from some of the parents.
M and K are two such pupils. These children attend school quite regularly now, and there is a very positive relationships between the home and the school. Mrs X is extremely committed to her children receiving an education and this service has enhanced the provision needed at this crucial time in their school career."
Susannah Edom, Headteacher, Little Waltham Primary School
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“One group of children for whom the mobile library makes a dramatic impact is our traveller children. These children, by the very nature of their lifestyle, rarely have access to books outside of the school setting. The library service's regular visits provide these children with access to a wealth of superb books that would otherwise be denied to them. It is well known that a worrying high percentage of traveller parents have disappointing literacy skills, let alone the possibility of developing a love of books. The mobile library service is enabling us to start to break the cycle of poor literacy in our travellers. ……………….
…………You are making a difference to the lives of all our children and a significant difference to the lives of some of our most vulnerable children.”
Iain Birtwell, Advisory Head Teacher, Noak Bridge Primary School
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“Some [traveller children] have parents with very basic literacy skills and few or no books at home. The children now have the opportunity alongside the rest of their classmates to choose and share books at school and then at home. One traveller mum was delighted that her son was teaching her to read!
The project is increasing the children's interest and enjoyment of reading, which in turn is improving their reading standards and, potentially, literacy skills within their families.”
Carol Leverett, Head Teacher, Cressing Primary School
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“Books and the ability to read them is something many of us take for granted but a lot of our children don't have these opportunities outside school so the library bus helps us to open the world of books to them in school……………..
……….One abiding memory is that I was asked whether it was true that you could really take the books home with you. The child who asked me was so excited and chose her full quota……..which she then proudly carried out in a carrier bag, delighted with her lot!”
Sarah Gallagher, Headteacher, Crays Hill Primary School
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“…….traveller children can use this valuable resource to benefit and further their education in several ways:
Encourages care and respect for books and the importance of the printed word.
Promotes a responsible attired to the books they borrow and must look after during the loan period.
Meeting the friendly and helpful librarians encourages independence and politeness.”
Peter Hodges, Teaching Assistant, Highwood Primary School
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“From being an avid listener of stories, M is now reading on her own; from very shy, reticent beginnings she is developing into a careful confident reader.”
Judi Embling, Travellers Education Service
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And this is what our traveller customers have told us:
“ the children love coming and getting the books.”
Mrs E Cooper
“I think that it has helped my reading.”
Lila, aged 8
“Lily Rose really enjoys stories and it helps her learn. Everyone says how forward she is and I think that is because of the reading, it has made her talking really good. Because of the bus I have read to her since she was born, she loves the touch and feel of books. We now go to the library at Maldon as well because we have used all the books here.”
Sarah Harbour
“……….all the children are waiting for the library to come and spend the whole hour reading and hearing a story.”
Mrs Karen Clarke
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