A supplement to Update/Gazette from the CILIP NW Branch North West News, No. 46,
Registered Charity no. 313014
January 2014
nw news Moving a library
In this issue of nw news •
CILIP NW Branch update
•
Moving a Library
•
CILIP New Professional’s Day
•
Open Access Publishing Seminar
CILIP NW Branch Update Member Network Chair Wanted The new CILIP NW Member Network is being launched on 5th March 2014. It is the latest in a series of mergers between CILIP Branches and regional groups of the Careers Development Group. The mission statement for the new Network is here: http://www.cilip.org.uk/north-west-branch/ about/north-west-members-network-information We are now looking for a new Chair for the Network to take over from David Stewart on 5th March 2014. What you need to know To help potential candidates to understand what the role is about and what the time commitments are a Chair’s role description is available from http://www.cilip.org.uk/north-west -branch/news/chair-nomination Candidates need to be nominated by two current CILIP members. If you wish to nominate someone as Chair, a nomination form is available from http://www.cilip.org.uk/north-west -branch/news/chair-nomination Nominations should be sent to the Secretary at a.a.taylor@mmu.ac.uk Closing date for nominations January 2014
Friday 17th
Steve Collman, Community Outreach Librarian talks about his experiences of working at the Staff Library Service, Macclesfield District General Hospital as it moved location We first discovered that we would be moving the Staff Library Service at Macclesfield Hospital about a year ago. Our old premises were ideally situated being self-contained with areas for quiet study, training and group work, as well as ample room for our book stock and journal collection. Everyone knew where we were as Trust inductions took place in the same building which meant that we had a key role to play. Due to development of the site, the Education and Training Centre was closing, and some of our colleagues would be relocated in the new premises that had been built just across the road. Although the building was modern the space needed to be customised for library use. It was our challenge to make it work for us, and more importantly our customers. Over the months the space that was to be available for us did shrink as the need to accommodate other teams became a factor for the Trust. We took the opportunity to review our stock which meant making some difficult decisions about what we had to leave behind. Our book stock was reduced, and then reduced again to fit the space available. In addition our back run of paper based journals was discarded and we cancelled our subscriptions to the majority of these. To combat this we reviewed our on-line subscriptions in order to give the best coverage we could within our limited budget and also looked at our e-book offer. Our immediate priority was to attract people to the new building.
We would no longer benefit from ‘passing trade’, nor would the Inductions take place in the same location. Initially the numbers of people coming up to the library reduced, although we did notice an increase in use by Administrative, Managerial and Clerical staff who were now based in the same building. In my own role as a librarian specifically for the Community, I wondered if this would affect my own service? Did it matter that people weren’t going to the library – I go out to see them! However, I meet a lot of people during Inductions and those coming in to browse. This enables me to build up my contact list and stay in touch. The library is important not just as a physical resource but underpins the essential research and governance that occurs in a busy, acute, hospital to support patient care. Simultaneously our manager at that time left to take up a new post closer to home. This resulted in us having less time than we would have liked to reflect on the effects of the move and to plan for the future in our new premises. We attended several meetings and discussed new methods to encourage people into the new library premises on the top floor of our new office building. Some of our ideas included •
Increasing partnership working
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Ensuring a continued presence at Inductions
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continuing to make contact with people at the Trust who work with students and new starters
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improving our signage meaning people can find the library more easily (more still needs to be done)
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putting on open day events to bring people in for a specific reason
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extending our outreach work across the Trust to publicise our Service
The message is slowly filtering through the hospital as we continue to promote the Library Service to a wider audience in the hope that we will broaden their horizons (our new strapline for a new start). We remain determined to provide a high quality Service for all our Staff and students. http://www.netvibes.com/ecnstafflibrary#Welcome
Follow Steve and his team @TheStaffLibrary
CILIP New Professional’s Day Amy Roberts, Outreach Librarian at Warrington and Halton Hospitals Foundation Trust reviews the event
NHS
CILIP, 7 Ridgmount Street, London 4th October 2013 I graduated from John Moores University in summer 2013 with a Postgraduate Diploma. After being successful in gaining a post at Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as an Outreach Librarian I was so excited to book a place on the CILIP New Professional’s Day! It was an early start to the CILIP New Professional’s Day as I was on the 7am train from Liverpool Lime Street to arrive in Euston around 9ish. I found the venue after consulting my map and asking two very friendly passersby, and signed in, picking up my name badge. The first hour was spent chatting to other new professionals, discussing university courses and career paths, which was a really good opportunity to network. We also used this time to register for the workshops of the day. I decided to see the talks by Ka-Ming Pang, Nick Stopforth, Chris Billing and Victoria Treadway. Barbara Band, Head of Library and Resources, The Emmbrook School, CILIP Vice-President. Keynote Speaker Barbara was really enthusiastic which was encouraging for people new to their careers. Although job titles will always change, core values of libraries always remain the same, regardless of sector. Barbara stressed that changes are not threats; seeing change as positive and a chance to learn. Barbara’s message for the day was to grab opportunities, keep learning and to advocate and promote libraries. Ka-Ming Pang, Website & Promotions Librarian at St George's, University of London, Customer Services Information Assistant at the Royal College of Nursing #uklibchat
This was the first workshop of the day. Ka-Ming focussed her talk on social media. Ka-Ming is a founding member of #uklibchat and as an active tweeter, I was interested to hear this talk. KaMing explained that #uklibchat is a monthly Twitter chat that takes places during a weeknight for a couple of hours, usually 6.308.30. Various topics relating to the library world have taken place and are archived on the UK Lib Chat blog available at http:// uklibchat.wordpress.com/ UK Lib Chat is good way to improve knowledge and helpful when continuing professional development.
Nick Stopforth, Head of Libraries and Information, Doncaster Council Digital libraries: modern skills mix for modern library services During my time studying for my librarian qualification, I worked as a Trainee Librarian at Halton Borough Council libraries so was interested in attending the public library talk. Nick stressed that to progress you should not be doing the same thing in two years’ time. Nick stated that libraries should have a website independent of the council so that the librarians are in control of the information that is provided to users. Halton Libraries are doing this - have a look at: http://kohalibrary.halton.gov.uk/. Nick raised the issue of a public library’s core values, being that a library is there for the good of the public. He stated that twenty first century libraries should be curators of content, facilitators and enables, and creators.
Chris Billing, Librarian, HMP Haverigg Heaven or Hell: my life inside - A career in Prison libraries I’ve not heard a librarian from a prison library talk before and was fascinated with the job role. I learnt that it is a legal requirement for prisons to have a library and that funding is secured for the library service, although the amount is uncertain. Chris emphasised that services can vary from prison to prison, depending on the prison category. A very rewarding aspect of Chris’s job is the Storybook Dads programme where dads were brought to the library and recorded reading
a storybook. This was then posted home for their children to listen to. A prisoner involved in this programme came to tell Chris that on his release he was going to visit a bookshop with his children and buy them a book each. Toe by Toe is another programme where prison mentors work with prisoners, helping them to read. Ping Pong stories involve the prisoner writing the beginning of a story which is then sent out the family where they continue the tale and this process is continued until the story is complete. An interesting point from Chris’s talk was that if a prisoner is aggressive in any way then a report is made and they have a privilege taken away. Along with lots of training in place, Chris feels safe. A prison library is not part of the digital age, with no internet use for prisoners. Chris stated that to be a prison librarian you need to have common sense, be assertive, persistent and have a sense of humour. Victoria Treadway, Clinical Librarian, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust True or false? Mythbusting the NHS and health librarianship I had heard Victoria talk before at CILIP NW Branch’s Member’s Day in March 2013 so was excited to hear her talk again. The presentation was in the form of a quiz – a series of statements put to the audience to decide if it was true or false. Victoria then expanded upon these points and told us about her job role. I found out that all hospitals have a library, although not every one may be in a physical setting. Clinical staff can use their library services to find best research evidence, therefore making best practice decisions. Victoria made the audience aware of the NW Clinical Librarians Blog www.lihnnclinicallibs.wordpress.com and NHS Choices’ Behind the Headlines www.nhs.uk/ news. After a short break, (and a little more networking!) the day ended with all the speakers appearing on the discussion panel answering any further questions. Overall a very enjoyable day, learning about various job roles in the different sectors and lots of opportunity to network.
Open Access Publishing One Day Seminar Including optional tour of Liverpool Central Library Monday 10th February 2014 University of Liverpool
Free for CILIP members (lunch included) ÂŁ40 for non-members (lunch included)
To view the programme and to book your place visit http://www.cilip.org.uk/north-west-branch/events/open-access-publishing For further information contact Deborah Harrop d.harrop@shu.ac.uk
A word from the Editor Happy new year to you all. I have been busy asking colleagues what their new year resolutions are in the hope of inspiration. Whilst I am tempted with the usual overhaul of diet or household bills, I think reviewing my skills or seeking out some relevant training would be time well spent. If you are thinking along the same lines then visit our webpage for further information on events, support and funding. http://www.cilip.org.uk/about/branches/north-west-branch
Plans to merge with the Career Development Group North West are full steam ahead and our rebrand will come into effect in March. We will sadly be losing David as Chair and nominations are being taken now until 17th January for a new Chair. Keep up to date on Twitter @CILIPNW
Copy dates for next issue of NW News Editorial Copy Deadline: 1st March 2014 Cover date: April 2014 Contact the editor: Jenny Norton Email: jenny.norton@cheshireeast.gov.uk Tel:
01625 374818