Congratulations to Steve and his SCL(Wales) colleagues for getting out there and doing something. The clip has been tweeted and retweeted and will have reached more people than the original broadcast. (For those of you who don't speak Welsh it's a very positive broadcast which mentions the £2.5 (it's actually £3m) invested in public library refurbishments by the Welsh Assembly this year, and goes to Swansea, Vale of Glamorgan (Barry library), Wrexham and Denbighshire and excellent library staff describe all the things they're doing eg Summer Reading Challenge and why libraries are vital, and it mentions that whilst most library stats are down in England [not getting into that debate!] they're up in Wales.)
To continue the them of Wales blowing its trumpet (harp?), I'd like to mention a few things we're doing in Wales that have also been discussed on this list.
We (the Welsh Assembly Government) have a national all-Wales cross-sector marketing strategy which includes staff training, reader development grants, a national campaign, generating local/regiona/all-Wales press releases, and much more. Information about last's year campaign (Express Yourself) can be found on the library portal http://library.wales.org
We are also funding a single search facility for 50+ library catalogues (again cross-sector) for users and staff to search, find, and then request the item online (depending on availability) - check out Cat Cymru here http://library.wales.org/catcymru/
And as part of that we're funding different regional delivery models for those (and other) requests that are made for items in Wales - some regions have opted for library vans, some for a courier and some for postage (direct to library, not to home). These pilots mean the request and deliver service is free for users (I won't say customer/citizens for fear of sparking more debate...). And Newport local authority has had a postal service (direct to homes) for more than a year now (funded by the authority itself, the Government can't take credit for this) so those of you who are interested in the LoveBooks option could look at http://www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=libraries.homepage and click on the link to Book Express.
We also have a (cross-sector) regional framework within Wales which means services are working together on things, and it's early days yet but work is beginning to look at more opportunities for collaboration between libraries.
Whilst Wales seems to be great at doing the above (and more!), it doesn't seem to get all this good stuff out there, either - we haven't really done (m)any articles in the professional or academic library press. Also, as I am part of the Welsh Assembly we are prevented from directly advocating for libraries, so we have to rely on the dynamism of people like Steve to get out there and promote libraries as well as the project officers of the Marketing strand which is run on behalf of all libraries in Wales by a local authority library service and they do the promoting bit on everyone's behalf.
Hope the list doesn't mind a bit of Wales-promotion - I was getting a bit depressed and felt like sharing some nice positive information about libraries!
Alyson
***********************
Alyson Tyler
Cynghorydd Datblygu Llyfrgelloedd
CyMAL: Amgueddfeydd Archifau a Llyfrgelloedd Cymru, Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru
Libraries Development Adviser
CyMAL Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Ffôn 0300 062 2103 Phone
http://twitter.com/libalyson
Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru/ Welsh Assembly Government, Rhodfa Padarn, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3UR
Hapus i gyfathrebu'n Saesneg neu yn y Gymraeg/Happy to communicate in English or Welsh
www.cymru.gov.uk/cymal
www.wales.gov.uk/cymal
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Hardman [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 26 August 2010 16:18
Subject: Libraries make the news again - A view from across the border
Hi all,
Long term lurker and newbie poster.
I have been dipping in and out of this debate with interest.
However, talking amongst ourselves will not help save our services. There is a role for all of us to try and influence the media if we truly believe libraries have a future. SCL may not ultimately make the decisions but they can join the debate (if they are allowed). I work for a local authority as head of service but I can also advocate on behalf of library services within that role.
I too was furious to see the same old, same old debate on BBC breakfast so with the support of my corporate communication colleagues I tried to put across a more positive spin. By Tuesday afternoon we had a positive piece in the local newspaper about library services in Swansea. I undertook a quick interview for the local radio station and a colleague of mine agreed to undertake a radio interview in Welsh and a BBC Wales national TV interview for the main Welsh evening news programme Newyddion. This expanded into three Welsh library services having the opportunity to put a positive spin on the story.
O.k. it might not have reached a huge audience but it did make a few good points that have already been rehearsed in this debate. I am sure that the interviews were also passed onto the relevant cabinet members as part of the press briefings we circulate.
If anyone is interested the Newyddion link is
http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_8940000/newsid_8944700/8944776.stm
Obviously it's all in Welsh so I hope everyone's saying the right things! (I'm a non Welsh speaker)
I know the political situation in Wales is different but the core values and services are the same. What I really want to emphasis is that it's our responsibility to participate in the debate in whatever way we can and if we don't defend our position no one is going to do it for us.
Steve Hardman
Library Services Manager / Rheolwr Gwasanaethau Llyfrgell City and County of Swansea / Dinas a Sir Abertawe County Hall / Neuadd y Sir Oystermouth Road / Heol Ystumllwynarth Swansea / Abertawe
SA1 3SN
(01792) 636610
[log in to unmask]
www.swansea.gov.uk/libraries
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