YOUR NEWS
 The Reading Rocket…
we have lift off!
Five – four – three – two – one!
The countdown
has begun to the launch of Derby City Libraries’ new
children’s mobile library, the Reading Rocket, which takes off
in January 2004.
The Rocket’s launch has been made possible through
Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) funding. Derby’s LPSA comprises
of 12 projects designed to deliver specific improvements in performance
across
a range of service areas. In developing the concept of the Reading
Rocket we deliberately set out to address two of Derby City Council’s
corporate priorities:
- improving children’s and young people’s prospects
- improving life chances for disadvantaged people and communities.
Making
this clear and unambiguous link with the corporate “agenda” was
key to securing support for the project, both within the City Council
and with central government.
The Reading Rocket will enable library services
to be taken to the very heart of Derby’s 12 priority Neighbourhood
Renewal Areas (NRAs). The Council aims to improve opportunities for learning
and educational
attainment of children living in these areas. One of the performance
improvements outlined in Derby’s LPSA is to increase visits to
libraries in disadvantaged areas of the city by 20,000.
To meet these
performance improvements and maximise library use in these areas, the
vehicle will target playgroups, nurseries, parent and toddler
groups and day nurseries. Mobile library stops will beare planned near
schools within NRAs to enable children to access this new service after
school. The Rocket will also Vvisits to venues such as family support
centres, health centres, Sure Start bases and clinics will also be
timetabled.
“Partnerships are hard work and time-consuming, but all the evidence
indicates that pooled resources and shared expertise will help libraries
to provide
holistic services to promote social inclusion, meet special needs and
touch the lives of hard to reach groups.” Start with the Child
Partnership working is an extremely important part of the
Reading Rocket initiative, and is essential to the success of a project such
as this. Partners include four
Sure Starts, an Education Action Zone, Single Regeneration Budget 5 and the
Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. The programme managers of all four Sure Starts
are eagerly awaiting
the arrival of the Reading Rocket. Two of the programme managers are providing ‘launch
pads’ at Sure Start venues. These ‘launch pads’ will be purpose
built, designated safe areas for the Reading Rocket to park. Another Sure Start
programme manager is interested in creating Reading Rocket stops within the Sure
Start area. These will state the times when the Rocket is due to ‘land’,
and will be as recognisable as a normal bus stop.
Promoting library services
to families who have no tradition of reading or using libraries is a primary
objective of Derby’s Bookstart Plus programme. The
city’s specialist Bookstart Team has forged links between communities and
library services through a range of outreach activities. The Reading Rocket will
capitalise on this by working alongside the Bookstart Team.
Making the Reading Rocket appeal to children was the priority when the specification
for the vehicle itself was being agreed.
“The need to provide an environment which is attractive, welcoming and
feels that it belongs to children and young people may seem like a fairly basic
starting
point, but all the research shows that this is and always will be incredibly
important to children.” Start with the Child
The exterior of the vehicle has illustrations by Nick Sharratt,
based on his book Rocket Countdown. The interior has been designed to complement
these illustrations.
Bright attractive colours, face-on stock displays, child- friendly shelving
and counter – all these areas are geared to children’s needs. There is
also a storytime area with soft furnishings and seating for groups. The vehicle
is
accessible for wheelchair users, children in pushchairs and children with mobility
problems. Steps at a suitable height for children, as well as a sturdy lift,
are crucial.
The Reading Rocket provides books, audio books, CDs, DVDs and videos,
with no
charges or fines for any of these items. By providing a ’charge-free zone’ and
minimal joining procedures, we will establish a socially inclusive service from
the start.
Initially the Reading Rocket will operate from Monday to Friday. Securing
funding to enable the opening hours to extend to early evenings and Saturdays
will be
a priority over the next few months. In addition, the Rocket will support promotional
events such as Family Learning Weekend, Bedtime Reading Week, National Bookstart
Day, and events put on by Sure Start and libraries in the city. Reader development
opportunities for children will include variations on the Reading Chain theme,
such as stories on the move, launch a book and stories going places.
As children
are keen to use computers, the Reading Rocket has a computer with DVD and CD-ROM
drives, a printer and a scanner. The library’s circulation
system will operate via a General Packet Radio System (GPRS). This system is
in the forefront of ICT developments within mobile libraries. It enables ‘real
time’ library transactions and links the vehicle to all libraries in the
city to provide a joined-up service.
The Reading Rocket ‘All systems will
be will be go’ ‘lift off’ when
the Reading Rocket it is launched from Derby Market Place early next year (2004).
The launch will, of course, have a flavour of outer space – so if anyone out
there would like to volunteer to dress as Buzz Lightyear, a Jedi knight or
a storm trooper please let me know so that I can arrange a costume.This is
a really
exciting time for Derby’s children’s library service…’To
infinity and beyond!’ Jane Harrison Children’s Services Development Librarian
Derby City Libraries
Tel: 01332 2554108
Email: jane.harrison@derby.gov.uk
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