IMLS focus Learning in Libraries

Following up on a previous post, this one looks at the detail on the IMLS focus Learning in Libraries report, which is connected to the Advances learning in Libraries: An American approach. Which is the summary report highlighting 4 strategies in advancing learning in libraries.

This paper summaries the findings from one day's presentations and discussion in Kansas City Public library, which took place in May 2015, and was attended by public and state library practitioners, library and information science school representatives, researchers and service providers. Where the benefits of libraries individual learning objectives were discussed.

 One of the first topics discussed is community of practice that will disseminate resources for field- wide replication. However this might not be as easy as it sounds- replication or delivery of resources will take interaction. Each person are the origin, is likely to add their own twist on the situation. As well as information professionals who are reluctant to participate in such replication. The concept of one message for all in a great idea- even though everyone learns differently- so maybe not such a great idea. The message is likely to be altered- just think of the playground game Chinese whispers, something is missed and something is added.

Participatory learning: doing, together
Early in the write up, there are examples of innovative projects

• Sustainable library-artists partnerships
• Using libraries as makerspaces

This is a distinctive change in libraries- participating in learning for libraries. Such active learning is seen by researchers to provide deeper/ long lasting knowledge and that learning should be done is a social process. Yet one problem seeing how effective these projects would be, librarians favour recording quantitative data- but this doesn't fit with the concept that they are suggesting here. Anecdotes and interviews- qualitative data would need to be recorded here. Potentially a problem or skills shortage. 

Embracing the early learning ecosystems

Helping to reach the target audience

• families with young children
• low income families with young children
• early learning systems
• social services providers

However libraries need to develop in to non-judgemental, welcoming places- that engage with all age groups. From personally experience these are currently lacking in the public library service.

• Not welcoming places- due to the attitude of staff- if it weren't for my experience and thick skin,  I would have long ago abandoned my local library. 
• Unable to access children's services- several times I have asked library staff about Book start  to be greeted with a blank look on library staff faces. In the end I spoke to my son's nursery for the resources.
• Last summer I received a rude email from my library, as I hadn't borrowed anything on my account- my son however had borrowed loads. Instead of the email trying to entice me back, I read it feeling like I had been told off, that my account would be suspended if I didn't reply or take action in borrowing something. 
• Decent book stock for children isn't an issue, under 12's seem to be very well catered for. However there is a gap between 12-18 years old. This was the same I remember when I was that age...so I ended up raiding my older brother's bedroom and started reading Stephen King and Point Horror probably a few years before I should have done. 

Learning for adults: strengthening the workplace

Similar to the above topic, here partnerships with workplaces were highlighted. Libraries could be used to help people learn and improve IT skills. Here the main topic seemed to be in the growth of the immigration services- that could combine adult literacy and learning, workplace development, and legal services

From practice to research to practice

Funding tends to be available to library schools for research purposes. However this only shows half of the picture, how it theory events and activities should happen. But this might not be the case in reality. Teaming up practitioners with researchers would create more relevant and cohesive research and practice for the sector. 

Digital literacy and inclusion

Bridging the gap between those who have and don't have digital skills is a complex and critical component of not only government policy but also keen to society working cohesively. But as the digital environment is ever changing and teachers are preparing students for jobs that don't exist at the moment, for libraries to join in this challenge is a great idea, but a hard one. With more of the world becoming on line, so much as changed, social interactions happening online, economics changing to online services as well as education being able to be delivered online. 

However I do support inclusion, and here I really think public libraries need to look at education for inspiration. The educational sector has worked very hard to eliminate discrimination of any sort and mostly succeeded at this. 

Shaping the profession

A massive variety of skills are needed now to 10 years ago, and with all these skills I still feel that libraries are missing a few tricks and we have long way to go until libraries are at the forefront of change. With these increases in skills, this puts a lot of pressure of library school providers and employers of librarians- ensuring that librarians enter the profession with an decent skills set, but they are supported to continue to seek professional development to improve skills. This also means that libraries can no longer provider an all round excellent service, roles will start to become more specialised. With certain people taking responsibility for certain areas. This can easily be seen where I work, I have needed to become a more specialist librarian in developing archiving skills- mainly digitally, as well as developing web editing skills. Two elements I would never have considered were within my role when I was at library school. So it looks like the universal librarian is over and the days of the specialist are here to stay. 

Advance learning in libraries: an American approach.

Having just read the very exciting article entitled: 4 strategies in advance learning in libraries http://www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/blog/4-strategies-advance-learning-libraries. This paper was written in America and it is fascinating to read, several library leaders came together over 2 years to identify impact and outcomes of funding for libraries. Though this paper looks at federal funding, and examples are American. This is something useful to take from our state side information professionals. Having attended many conferences over the last few years, it has always occurred to me that America is somewhat ahead of the game. Having introduced a national Information Literacy month... yet the UK lags behind.

So to return to the summary article on these meetings. Though the meetings covered many topics, and looked at a variety of information professionals settings, 4 main themes were established. A full report is accessible https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/publications/documents/imlsfocuslearninginlibrariesfinalreport.pdf which on my reading list.

In brief, for now, here are the 4 topics

1. Connect LIS education and professional development to 21st century librarianship- starting and progressing from school librarians, this section looks at creating a new space and new services fit for the 21st century. Librarians should be embedded within the community that they work with. 
2. Pursue research that connects with library practice- connecting research that informs and is informed by practice. Working with others, and ensuring dissemination needs to be optimal for impact and influence. 
3. Designing participatory learning programs that demonstrate innovation and scalability- Design and develop library programmes that aid patrons over their lifespan.
4. Develop cross-disciplinary collaborations that advance library services nationwide- Engage with other non library organisations on a national level, to broaden the service of the library to new audiences. 

Library of Birmingham

Having see the culture shows program dedicated to this library several months ago and followed its developments online and via cilip update, I jumped at the chance to come here and see it. I was ready to be impressed and mostly I was. 

Having had other librarian friends visit the library before me, I knew a bit about what to expect, one of my colleagues were disappointed with the half empty shelves, which is pretty noticeable to a librarian. 

Birmingham library

 

Having recently returned from the public library at Birmingham, I thought I would share my thoughts about the library. Having arrived late on the Tuesday, I wandered around. To say the library is big is an understatement, its big to the point of being bewildering, it took 45 minutes to do a round trip around the library spanning 9 floors. Instead of a feeling of wonderment about not knowing what was around the corner, I had a feeling of being uneasy and just in the way. Which is not a feeling I have ever had in a library before, usually they have been my havens, a meeting place for friends, a place to research and get lost in, that is, in a good way. But here even with a map, I was still wandering around like a tourist, who didn’t quite speak the language.

 

 

Shakespeare

 

Having looked at the map before I entered the building, one of the rooms I really wanted to see was the Shakespeare Memorial room, so I headed straight for there. I am making it sound like it was easy, but confusingly levels 5&6 being off limits to the public, clearly for the offices, but somewhat confusing. I ended up teaming up with another library tourist who was trying to get there. We found the much talked about glass lift from floor 4 out of action, so a normal lift was called for. But when I got to the Shakespeare memorial room, I must say it did not disappoint, it was pretty impressive, including a great view, from the secret garden overlooking the city of Birmingham. The Shakespeare memorial room was a replica of the original due to the 1800s fire. Still it was interesting and provided a grand space, sadly most of the books were placed too high, so I was unable to read the actual spines, and obviously everything was behind glass. But still it was an interesting space.

 

 

Staffing

 

One thing that I couldn't understand was the staffing system, the staff stood out, as they all wore blue waistcoats, but they didn't seem to be doing anything. A couple of them smiled at me, and I am guessing that they would have helped if I had asked. But what I really wanted was to speak to another librarian, about the culture of the library and the complex nature of the move, as I assume there are plenty of the working there, but they seem to avail me. Even before I set off I tried to contact one via their website, but with no luck. Another point about the staff, nobody seemed to tidy up, certain areas looked somewhere between well-loved to overly loved and messy. Nobody seemed to straighten the books. I know at this point I am starting to sound old and grumpy. Which isn’t right at all, I’m not 30 yet and I really liked the library. But for me some of the basics were missing, which a contrast to the high volumes of staff that were standing around. That’s all.

 

The following day, I decided to return and I did manage to speak to a few members of staff, two counter Staff and a cleaner, all of whom seems perfectly polite.

 

 

Design and everything else

 

The planning of this library must have been a mammoth task, clearly loads of research had been done prior to the planning stage into what Birmingham's audience wanted, with a plethora of activities being on offer. The library probably shouldn’t be called a library more library plus because of everything else that it offers, the coffee shop (ok pretty standard now) but the exhibition space, the gardens and Shakespeare’s memorial room were an added bonus, and there was a small shop in the foyer.

 

I really liked the timeless colour scheme, of white up to level two, then it having a feeling like the bodleian library circle. From this point on the décor changes to black and has a more adult/ researchers feel. A stark contrast to the basement floors, which are brightly coloured.

 

It was great to see that the city had BFI Mediatique, this is something I have looked at before for Plymouth, but was unsuccessful in obtaining it, as we needed a purpose built space, something we couldn’t offer at the time.

 

I spent quite a bit of time, just people watching, seeing people sitting 2-3 on the benches; it was clearly a well-used space. To be fair they were mostly teenagers, but this was also 6-7 in the evening, but one group of suited business men. Which I have to say slightly amused me, seeing three expensively dressed men almost lying down and working. But clearly feeling very comfortable in there surrounds.

 

 

The city obviously has a large background in music, as the music library was fantastic, there was a keyboard being played, pretty well, I have to say by two teenage boys. I must have stopped and stood there for quite a while, as when they stopped playing both turned to look at me and both smiled. One boy looked pretty pleased that he had an audience the other less so.

 

If I returned in a few months or a years’ time I would like to see, more signage that is clearer. The signage was on large pillars, and it was clear that some had been moved, as the signage made no sense. Plus there are certain areas that have few books in them, one section I would have liked to have seen more books in was the environmental sections, which has 15 metres of empty shelves. I can only guess that this is here for growth.

 

 

 

The next day

 

I decided to head back the next day, I ended up arriving really early, at 7.40am when there were already people in the queue to get in, by 8am (opening time), I was the 20th person in the queue. It was all walks of life, men in suits, women and students. Which I have to say, I can’t think of many other libraries where people would be queuing on a cold and damp Wednesday morning. But with that said, strangely there was some hostility towards the door person about not being able to open the doors, 10 seconds after8am.

 

This morning, I had a plan, having dedicated yesterday to the upper levels today I was going to investigate the lower ones. My first stop middle earth in the children's library and I had high hopes, with the cities connection to Tolkien, I was hoping to see like Shakespeare memorial room, something connected to the great man or his work. As I walked down, thinking about the movies, I loved and Tolkien’s work, I was getting more and more excited with each step.  The room was partially obscured by blinds on the inside, making the anticipation even greater.  What I was greeted by was a sterile blank room, with chairs. This is possibly one of the biggest disappointments I have faced. I was gutted, I headed shoulder slumped back to the upper levels, never to mention it again. 

Trying to brighten my mood, I went up to the lower terrace, sitting on one of the two roof terraces, this felt like a real treat, whilst sitting there, I only needed a cup of tea and a good book to read. its not particularly warm and my mind is racing with  the busy journey ahead of me, but this is very pleasant indeed. A librarians holiday.

 

Leaving the roof terrace, I take a wonder over to the Cultural Exhibiton space, which currently is celebrating the history of Birmingham. I was a little disappointed about the tour, only happening at certain times on certain days. As I would have liked to have done that, but I did wander around the otherwise person empty space and loved it. I suppose this is one of the major selling points, this library is more than a place to lend books, it offers a variety of activities and events. Having looked at what events were happening this month, I could have easily attended the library, for an exhibition, a yoga class and other events and never need to borrow a book. This library truly has become a library of the future, one which embraces technology and the audience it is there for. For that reason you have to be impressed, so not everything is exactly to my likely, it was never going to please everyone every day of the week. People of Birmingham you are very lucky to have such an excellent example of a library. Treat her well.