Thursday 20 October - 13.00 - 16.30
Knowledge, Innovation, Understanding
- the emerging public library
Public Library Authorities Conference 2005
Kenilworth, Warwickshire
The destinations have been chosen because the work you will see reflects the themes in the content of the Conference. Staff will present their work to you and discuss related issues as well as show the facilities and services.
Each visit comprises two destinations. Transport will leave the Chesford Grange Hotel at 13.00 and return between 17.00 and 17.30. Venues marked * will provide light refreshments during your visit.
Note: The next engagement is the Civic Reception at 19.00
Visit 1A - Arena Park Library, Coventry
Theme: Partnership
Innovative and exciting our first Community Library in an 'out of town' shopping complex opened January 2005. The library is situated within one of the retail units in the largest Tesco in Europe. The library design reflects the ultra modern complex with emphasis on maximum access for all, including opening 7 days a week for 60 hours, with one late night to 9pm and space for customers to manoeuvre shopping trollies. The library features modern technology including self-issue and a listening post. Partnerships are developing with Tesco, a readers’ group with Borders bookshop and Coventry City Football Club, whose new stadium is part of the complex and opened in August 2005.
Visit 1B - Rugby Central Library*
Theme: Modernisation, Quality, Engagement, Partnerships
The library opened in March 2000 in an attractive new town centre flagship building in partnership with Rugby Borough Council. It also houses a Museum and Art Gallery. It is open for 55.5 hours, 7 days per week it serves an average of 60,000 customers a month - over 3 million since it opened 5 years ago. There is free access to the internet and Microsoft Office via 30 PCs in the Learning Zone suite. On the staff is a full time Nextstep - Learning and Work Adviser (funded by the Learning and Skills Council), and the library recently achieved the Matrix accreditation for Advice and Guidance. A dedicated training suite of 10 PCs and work with a number of partners, provides a variety of courses including lifeskills, ICT basics, numeracy and literacy.
Visit 2A - Solihull Central Library & Arts Complex*
Theme: Partnership, Modernisation
Partnerships - around learning (Learning Shop, Learndirect, Connexions, Age Concern), culture (linking to the wider Arts Complex and Gallery of which the central Library is a part) and young people (based on joint working with the Youth Service to engage young people in design and development of services). There has been extensive refurbishment based on the opening of Touchwood, a major retail and leisure development in the town centre, immediately adjacent to the Central Library and Arts Complex. Lots of lessons have been learned from both the outcome and the process of coping with the impact of a major construction site.
Visit 2B - Kenilworth Library, Warwickshire
Theme: Partnership, Modernisation
Kenilworth Library re-opened in September 2005, following a major refurbishment. Built in the 1960's, the library has been transformed and recently re-opened as a library and one stop shop. Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council have joined together to provide a seamless service to Kenilworth residents. At one service desk, they can check in their library books, as well as making an enquiry about housing, planning applications or other council services from a trained and dedicated team.
Visit 3A - Stratford Library, Warwickshire
Theme: Modernisation
Stratford Library was reopened on 21 July 2003, after a major refurbishment programme. Although housed within a mixture of ancient buildings, it is a modern, vibrant, customer-focused library open 7 days a week. Customers of all ages have free ICT access through a suite of over 20 PC's, and as well as the traditional book library, we have an extensive multi media section, complete with free access to a CD listening post.
Visit 3B - The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust*, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Theme: Literature, Education, Partnership, Technology
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon has as its objectives the preservation of the houses relating to Shakespeare and his familiy in and around the town, the maintenance for the benefit of the nation of library, archive and museums collections relating to Shakespeare and the town of Stratford, and the promotion of the appreciation of Shakespeare and his works around the world.
The Trust's director and senior staff will talk about recent initiatives to improve access for new audiences to the buildings and collections in its care through partnerships, new technology and educational projects, and there will be an opportunity to visit Shakespeare's Birthplace which was refurbished and re-displayed in 2000.
4A - Glebefields Library, Sandwell
Theme: Partnership, Children & Families
Glebefields library has been transformed by building a SureStart Centre onto the existing library and developing day to day close working relationships that bring parents and children into the library.
The objectives from the scheme were to:·
Enhance the existing close relationships with SureStart and range of early years services through the opportunities presented by co-working·
Refurbish a library that was in poor condition and suffered from vandalism·
Reach new library users through the links that SureStart have with vulnerable families in particular.
The results have been impressive: Improved services – more floor space, better layout and more PC’s. Visits increased by 64.5% in the first year. Issues increased by 34.4% overall in the first year – and for children by 93.6%.
Visit 4B - Birmingham Libraries - Services for children, young people and families *
Theme: Partnership, Children, Young People and Families, Marketing, Engagement
Centre for the Child. At ten years old the Centre for the Child remains an exceptional children’s library. After a fire, innovative [then] consultation with users enabled us to design an innovative new centre for children, young people, their parents and carers. With diverse and comprehensive resources and a continuous programme of activities the Centre for the Child still flourishes as a leading provider of innovative services. For Birmingham, it is a unique city centre facility.
Words on Wheels is the pivot of children’s outreach service aimed especially at children with special needs and children and families living in challenging circumstances
Words Out is funded by the Children’ Fund, taking educational opportunities and life enhancing experiences in books and reading to African-Caribbean children, especially boys, in outreach, community-based library programmes.
Visit 5A - Birmingham Libraries
Birmingham Libraries - Services for children, young people and families
Theme: Partnership, Children, Young People and Families, Marketing, Engagement
Centre for the Child. At ten years old the Centre for the Child remains an exceptional children’s library. After a fire, innovative [then] consultation with users enabled us to design an innovative new centre for children, young people, their parents and carers. With diverse and comprehensive resources and a continuous programme of activities the Centre for the Child still flourishes as a leading provider of innovative services. For Birmingham, it is a unique city centre facility.
Words on Wheels is the pivot of children’s outreach service aimed especially at children with special needs and children and families living in challenging circumstances
Words Out is funded by the Children’ Fund, taking educational opportunities and life enhancing experiences in books and reading to African-Caribbean children, especially boys, in outreach, community-based library programmes.
Visit 5B - Birmingham Central Library*
Theme: Partnership, Learning, Technology, Marketing, Literature
The Learning Centre, The Matthew Boulton Suite is the flagship Learndirect centre for Birmingham & Solihull, complemented by a wide range of informal learning opportunities with active learner support, especially in areas of basic skills and ESOL. It was recently supplemented by a partnership venture with a local lead college to deliver accredited courses on library site.
Business Insight is the UK's leading public business information service, focussed on pre-startup, start-up business and small business services. It offers a full business planning service, and partnership with other business support agencies to deliver a full range of business support. Support for the creative industries has been a major thrust of recent work, backed by a strong web presence.
The Birmingham Shakespeare Library and the Early and Fine Printing Collections which contain over 8,000 books printed before 1701. It includes a splendid collection of early atlases; books and ephemera printed by John Baskerville, the 18th century Birmingham printer and type designer and books printed by the Kelmscott and other famous presses. The Birmingham Shakespeare Library was founded in 1864 by members of the local Shakespeare Club. The aim was to build a collection containing "every edition and every translation of Shakespeare, all the commentators, good, bad and indifferent, in short, every book connected with the life and works of our great poet". Almost a century and a half later, the Library is recognised as one of the premier resources for the study of Shakespeare and his work.
Visit 6A - Lanchester Library, Coventry University*
Theme: Modernisation, Learning
The Lanchester Library, was officially opened in September 2001 after a planning & construction process of five years and costing c£16 million. In just over 10,000m², the Library is a focal point for student learning and information. It offers 1,200 study places, with options for group, individual, or silent study; 450 of these give PC access to state-of-the-art networked information and learning technologies. The physical stock – over 350,000 monographs, 2,000 periodical titles and significant collections of audio-visual and multimedia materials – is complemented by a developing collection of electronic information sources. This highly acclaimed building breaks new ground. It is almost wholly naturally ventilated, naturally cooled and naturally lit, has won a number of national awards including most significantly in terms of its educational purpose, the SCONUL Award for Library Design in 2002.
Visit 6B - Bell Green Library & Learning Centre, Coventry
Theme: Partnership, Modernisation, Children & Young People, Adult Learning
In June 2004 Bell Green Library & Learning Centre moved to its current location in Riley Square following £750,000 of refurbishment work. The Library & Learning Centre creates opportunities for formal and informal learning for the whole community in the heart of the district shopping centre. Partnerships with Adult Education and Sure Start are essential. The community library, three training suites and a crèche to support learning are all available. New features include 13 free public access computers for email and internet, a spacious community room available for local organisations to hold meetings or exhibitions, a smaller meeting room for confidential advice sessions and a quiet study room. Partnership with Coventry Direct will provide One Stop Shop services in 2006.
Visit 7A - Lillington Library, Warwickshire
Theme: Engagement, Partnership, Children & Families, Learning
Lillington is a thriving community library in an area of mixed social and private housing on the edge of Leamington. Housing both traditional and modern ICT services, the library has active partnerships with Surestart, Warwickshire College, Community Education among others-all helping to provide opportunities for lifelong learning for all age groups. The library provides an office for the local Community Outreach Worker funded through SRB6 and was completely refurbished 2 years ago. It was also the host library for a winner of a "Libraries Change Lives Award" getting to the national final three years ago.
Visit 7B - Leamington Library, Warwickshire
Theme: Partnership
Leamington Library opened in 1999, as part of the refurbishment of the town's royal Pump Rooms. The Library is open 7 days per week. Customers have access to ICT via 20+ work stations. The stock ranges widely from spoken word and large print to multi media. Open 57 hours per week, and serving 450,000 customers per year, in 2001 the Library won the PLG Library Building of the Year award.