Hi all
Many moons ago I sent out the below:
"Hi all,
In Brighton & Hove City Library Service we are currently reviewing our
leaflet and posters policy. From initial discussions the following points
will help inform our revised policy discussion
-Library 'display space' in effect the whole library should be primarily to
promote our range of services rather than other people's
-Any leaflet/poster provision should not detract from this and for example
should not hinder the display of our core services and products(such as
books!) by just taking up too much space, causing clutter etc
-Information provision is a key library service but need to be clear about
the difference between this and promoting other services/'advertising' and
the increasing role of electronic information
-Library staff workload in dealing with large amounts of leaflets,
newsheets etc is another significant factor.
We will be looking to define minimum provision in terms of Library service,
other council service and other leaflet provision. The basis to be less is
more with alternatives to leaflets for providing information in response to
request being optimised.
If anyone has any written policies and/or views they would be prepared to
share with us we would be most grateful and I will circulate our new policy
to those interested when it is ready."
Thank you to all who sent me policies. I think the issues as outlined in
the above email are common to us all. Whilst we do not have a published
policy as such yet, we do now have a document/guidelines for staff about
dealing with this thorny issue. This is specifically for Jubilee Library
but the principle of the prioritisation applies across the board. As well
as being a guideline document for staff the attached was produced to inform
our lead Councillor as it is potentially controversial policy for those who
feel libraries should take anything and everything and certainly what
particular interest groups think we should hold. To summarise our basic
policy guideline is:
-we differentiate between information provision and active promotion- in
terms of local information we will keep single copies of virtrually
anything and if appropriate put it on our community information database as
long as it is legal
-in terms of promotion-i.e display of posters/multiple copies of flyers our
priority order is:
*library service and other council service information
*obvious useful local information (eg maps, bus timetables etc)
* specified local education prospectuses
*government information
*other
-we can manage to reasonably accomodate all the first four above.
Also we do not take anything promoting any particular beliefs, politicak
affiliations, religious views etc.
Please find attached extract from recent internal summary document of how
we are operating at Jubilee Library. It is not an exact science and there
will always be exceptions but we think it is a step in the right direction.
Best wishes
(See attached file: Community info audit 08.05.doc)
Alan
Alan Issler
Community & Development Manager
Brighton & Hove City Library Service
Jubilee Library
Jubilee Street,
Brighton BN1 1GE
tel:01273-296948
fax:01273-296976
'e' mail: [log in to unmask]
website: www.citylibraries.info
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