What's your library journey?

 Last month I had the pleasure of attending the official launch of the Libraries Alliance at The British Academy, a partnership ‘working to strengthen and champion libraries of all kinds’ spanning public, school, academic, independent and national libraries. The event included a rather inspiring video ‘Libraries Through Life’  and, although I was there with my school librarian hat on, it got me thinking about my personal library journey. 

I grew up in London, my local public library was Sands End in Wandsworth Bridge Road, about 5 minutes’ walk away. It was above the public baths and I can remember going every week on my own, from around the age of 10 years, spending hours inside, browsing and reading. If I selected more books than I could borrow, I’d simply read the extra ones in the library. Sadly, the library is no longer there; the nearest one is Fulham Library, about 30 minutes away. I suspect if this had been my ‘local’ library, my reading would probably have been a bit curtailed as a child. Local libraries really do need to be LOCAL!  A large library in the centre of town cannot take the place of numerous small libraries serving outlying communities. 

I have no recollection of my primary school library (though I do remember being sent home with those dire Janet and John books) but can recall my secondary school library; tall shelves, wooden desks, everyone speaking in hushed voices. And it would get very hot and stuffy in the summer. I don’t think I used it much – we didn’t have library lessons or events. My reading needs (including books for homework) were still being fulfilled by the public library especially as, by this time, I was visiting my grandmother once a week after school and she, very conveniently, lived round the corner from Fulham Library. Also, my father, who was the reading influence in my life, was passing on the classic sci-fi and fantasy books he’d finished with. I, in turn, was bringing home graphic novels (including Tintin books) from the library and passing them to him to read.

My next library memory should be associated with university and my business degree but my mind’s a blank. When I took my distance-learning LIS degree (years later) I was thrilled by the library at Aberystwyth and made good use of the inter-library loan service but, sadly, this was not the case as a young adult. Sorry, University of Westminster, it wasn’t personal – there were just too many other exciting distractions in my life at the time. I also wonder, given the lack of interaction with my school library, did this make any difference? Would I have made more use of the university library if I’d had lessons in my school library, learned how to find resources I needed, how the school librarian could have helped me look for them? Perhaps we need some research on the correlation between school library use and university library use – there’s certainly enough evidence that indicates school library use improves attainment.   

Moving into the world of work, I found myself employed as a project manager for a consultancy firm and being set various information-finding tasks; one I remember was regarding the numbers and types of engineers in the oil and gas industry. It was at this point I discovered special libraries – namely at the Institute of Petroleum Engineers. I had no idea such libraries existed! I’d also started doing family history research so spent several hours buried in archives. Today much of this is done online but in the late 1970s and early 1980s we didn’t even have the internet. Those hours spent looking at parish registers, trying to decipher handwriting, delighting in finding a link to another family branch and the smell of musty books - online searching is way more convenient but it’s not quite the same. 

And then I found myself working in a school library … 

I’m not sure why nobody suggested I become a librarian when I was at school, especially given my love of reading and obsession with books. Although, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I’d have been the same librarian if I’d gone into the profession when I was younger. 

And my library journey continues: Public Þ School Þ Academic Þ Special Þ School Þ Public 

Today I use my public library more than I ever did – I regularly visit about five ‘local’ libraries (so convenient being able to return books to any library in the county) – as I don’t tend to reread books it’s far less costly to borrow them. As part of the CILIP School Libraries Group I’m still very much involved in school libraries and, as a CILIP member, I take advantage, when I can, of visits to special libraries and talks by professionals in other sectors. And, when I’m travelling, the library gets added along with museums and galleries to my ‘want-to-see’ list; my fascination with books and libraries is still going strong.

What’s your library journey? Has it gone full circle or do you no longer visit public libraries? I’m surprised by the number of people I meet, who love books and are readers, yet they say they’ve not been to a library in years. If this is you … please go, our public libraries need you! 

 ‘To ask why we need libraries at all, when there is so much information available elsewhere, is about as sensible as asking if roadmaps are necessary now that there are so very many roads.’

Jon Bing (1944-2014)
Norwegian writer and law professor at the Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law

How do school libraries fit into CILIP's "Trust Libraries" pledge?

 

I was catching up with the latest CILIP Information Professional (June 2024) at the weekend - yes, I know it’s already mid-July but this time of year is very busy with no less than three family birthdays - and was interested the news feature on page 12 titled “Trust Libraries”. This article was CILIP’s response to the announcement of the election and that’s old news now, but the aim of the feature was to highlight the need for advocacy to a new government with a key message that libraries are “perfectly placed to help transform … political aims into reality” and MPs need to “trust libraries to deliver.”  If you want to read more, you can find it here.

There are 10 pledges relating to public libraries and it’s important for CILIP to advocate for this sector because many councils seem to have forgotten libraries are statutory or consider that one library in a couple of major county towns constitutes “a comprehensive and efficient library service for all” (Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, Section 7). However, as with many CILIP publications, I found myself thinking that a lot of these pledges are also relevant to school libraries:

·         To deliver trustworthy information and access to culture

One aim of a school library is to provide a range of appropriate, accurate and up-to-date resources to support the curriculum as well as students’ interests. It’s not possible to check every book or website a student is using so it’s important that they can trust the information they’re reading and using. This is why school librarians “curate” their collection … and why it’s important to systematically deselect stock if it no longer meets these standards.
The other aspect of this is that students need to be taught how to evaluate information to ascertain whether it’s trustworthy or not. Too many schools do not have a robust information and media skills curriculum; rather it is delivered piecemeal via various subjects without any overview. This is where the skills and experience of the librarian can play a role - involve and use them!
Many students live in a small cultural bubble. There may be few cultural opportunities within their local community and, even if there are, a lack of parental time and money may restrict participation. School libraries can help fill this gap; by linking books, displays and activities to different cultures, presenting different perspectives and encouraging creativity these cultural bubbles can be expanded.

·         To inform better decisions

Students must often make important decisions impacting their lives and career paths with little experience and whilst they are still developing their emotional intelligence. By providing reliable information, trusted advice and guidance, school libraries can help students make better informed decisions.

·         To offer a warm welcome and safe space for all

Every school librarian will tell you that their library is recognised as a welcoming and safe space within the school. Witness the numbers of students who use it every day – from those who have yet to find their “tribe” to those who need somewhere to recharge before re-entering the busyness and bustle of the school day. Librarians do this by creating an inclusive ethos and diverse collection that represents their community.

·         To champion the right to read and intellectual freedom

School librarians want every student to be a reader! They have a wide range of material within their collections – fiction and information books, comics, graphic novels, manga – in order to tempt even the most reluctant of readers. And they fight for students to be able to read what they want to. I had Daniel Pennac’s “The Rights of the Reader” poster up in my library and would regularly have discussions with students about it.
Intellectual freedom – the right to think, express and access information – occurs daily within schools. The library supports this, not by censoring books but by providing a curated collection of diverse perspectives, different opinions and points of view. School library books are purchased from reputable publishers and the majority are written by experts in their field; thus a book on vegetarianism will also list the disadvantages as well as advantages.

·         To enable learning at the heart of communities and institutions

I feel I don’t really need to expand on this point. Learning is at the heart of every school and whether it’s learning to read, learning to research, learning for formal examination subjects or simply learning about a new interest, the school library is central to it all.

·         To open a world of opportunities, inspiration and ideas

Anyone who works in a school will tell you that there’s always something happening. These activities might involve the entire school, just one year group or even a single class. Whether linked to a national event or unique to the community, they offer a myriad of opportunities, inspiration and ideas for students. School libraries are no exception. I’ve organised author visits and theatre trips, hosted film clubs and Warhammer groups, managed makerspaces and craft circles - the list is endless. Most of these initiatives go unnoticed because librarians see them as part of the job and quietly get on with them, and yet they offer students chances they may not get elsewhere.

The final pledges relate to: fuelling the green economy with data and skills; being ethical partners committed to social justice: supporting start-ups; and unlocking new research. I can’t help thinking that young people currently in schools are going to be working in the green economy. They are learning and developing the skills needed in this environment. Possibly, many of them will create start-ups and work in research. And their future paths are very often activated by a book or article they’ve read, a topic they’ve been able to explore, a project they’ve been involved with – all within the library.

If you’d like to find out more about the impact of school libraries and the sort of things librarians do, have a look at the Great School Libraries website. It’s full of links to research and case studies. And if you think they should receive better recognition and be properly funded, then do have a look at how you can help.

Unlike public libraries, school libraries aren’t statutory but if they can help the government deliver their “political aims” then maybe they need to be higher on the agenda?