No National Libraries Day in Kent?

With National Libraries Day just over a week away, I decided to have a look around to see what my local authority is doing to join in the celebration of public libraries. The event itself is a great opportunity for libraries (and particularly public libraries) to shout about the services they offer and the many great things they do. You’d think, with that in mind, most authorities would jump at the chance to get onboard a fabulous opportunity. So what about Kent? Well…

My first stop was the National Libraries Day website. There is where all the events that are taking place have been logged by participating authorities. And what did I find?

Erm....

Well, it looks like a gaping great hole in the bottom right corner. It would appear that nothing is being planned in Kent. How strange.

But, maybe they’ve just not added their event to the website yet and are currently promoting it on their own site in the meantime…

How strange...

Hmmm. That is strange. It doesn’t even appear to mentioned on the library front page of the website. Even on that scrolling list of events. And you’d expect to find it there more than anywhere else.

But they also have a Facebook Page…maybe they have posted something there…

You are kidding...

Wow, not there either. I guess that means they aren’t running any events in support of National Libraries Day then. But what about The Library Book? If they are not running any events, surely they must have ordered some of the books to lend?

Nada...

Although, to be fair, the book isn’t actually out yet so maybe that explains the delay…Maybe I better just check to see if it is available in other authorities?

Well strike me down...

Oh blimey. Well it looks like other authorities have ordered and it is clear to the public that they have done so. How strange that not a single library in Kent is listed as having a copy on order…

To make things worse, it has also been alleged that staff have been told not to get involved in the day of celebration. And, strangely for the people of Kent, Medway libraries (a unitary authority within Kent) are celebrating National Libraries Day.

It gets all the more bizarre when you discover that the Head of Libraries at KCC is also the Secretary of the SCL, one of the organisations supporting National Libraries Day. Now that really is bizarre.

So why are Kent libraries not supporting National Libraries Day, an event designed to celebrate the contribution libraries make to our communities? Might it be something to do with the fact that the council is preparing to look at a range of options for libraries across the county (including closures and forcing communities to run them)? Perhaps they don’t want people to ‘re-discover’ their local library and see the range of services the excellent staff provide? Because if they were to go along and see what their local library offers, they will be even more likely to oppose the programme of closures and cuts that the council are lining up (regardless of what is raised in discussions with local people). Far better for local people to remain in ignorance about the services that the council are so desperate to destroy. When you have a leadership that can’t even bring itself to celebrate libraries, you know there are bleak times ahead.

You may be interested to know that a couple of protests are planned to take place on National Libraries Day at a couple of locations in the county: Whitstable and Ash. Why not pop along and show your support?

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Jokurlbaum

Please take a look at the fogl website for details of events in Gloucestershire. Interestingly, organised by libary users and authors/illustrators who care about their libraries and librarians. Did GCC plan anything to celebrate this day? In my opinion the librarians are too scared of losing their jobs to actually do their jobs.
Jen

Libraries are having a hard enough time keeping up with regular services while their budgets are hacked to pieces. Now they have to defend themselves because they aren’t making extra happy one day of the year? Take it easy on Kent libraries and just visit & enjoy as normal. They shouldn’t need a special day to illuminate their services–they provide them all year round.

http://infoism.co.uk/blog Ian

Hi Jen. I do think you’re missing the point I’m afraid. The Head of Libraries is Secretary to the SCL, a body that is one of the organisers and supporters of the day. The management team recently put forward plans to close up to 40 libraries. Locality boards are being created to ‘consult’ on their future, with no-one knowing how they will operate or how they can be involved. Staff have been apparently told not to promote the initiative, perhaps because it will encourage people to use their libraries and therefore put pressure on the council when they attempt to close it.

I think you need to keep in mind that supporting National Libraries Day would have cost next to nothing as it is a national initiative. They could have done something with minimal cost.

Yes, we should support libraries every day…unfortunately, councils aren’t which is why libraries are closing and a day of celebration was organised.

I’m not going to stop putting pressure on the councillors and senior management, the service is too important for that. If you want to turn a blind eye while the council destroys our library service that is up to you. Some of us, however, are prepared to defend both the libraries and the people who work in them.

Jen

I can’t turn a blind eye to councils destroying libraries because I work in a library, for a council. At the moment they’re deciding how many of us to make redundant. So my eyes are wide open, I’m afraid.

But I’m also aware that all the NLD events happening in my library are due to staff going above & beyond to make them happen. There’s no other option. It’s front-line staff that make these events happen, and councils are not going to add hours to our shifts for anything, certainly not this. The only way we can get more done is to do more with the time we have. That pressure falls to front-line staff, always.

I fully support putting pressure on councils and those in charge to look at library services, recognize their value, and keep them funded. But that should be all the time, not for events like this that are fleeting and mean little in the overall view of library services.

http://twitter.com/alanfricker Alan Fricker

It is rotten to hear that you are in a consultation period at present. Best of luck for as decent an outcome as is possible.

I am not sure that NLD is fleeting a means little in the overall view of library services though. It is garnering a fairly decent profile (all be it that I am in the library interested bubble). There was stuff on C4 news last night and links in to the campaigning by the WI and so on. And it has the potential to build and progress over time with some of the initiatives about National Catalogue and so on. I am based in Essex and they are doing some events but also just using it to promote the things they normally run so my local library is highlighting the session for dads they run once a month that happens to fall on this Saturday.

Promotion is hard work and if there is a national promotion that you can hang off and have doors opened by then surely it must be a thing worth supporting.

Not having it certainly wouldn’t improve things.

http://infoism.co.uk/blog Ian

I completely agree Alan. Tomorrow is a great opportunity for libraries. One of the elements that has played a massive part in the attack on libraries is the fact that there has been no national marketing campaign to promote their use. National Libraries Day is one way of addressing that. If we can’t support a united effort to promote libraries then there is something very wrong indeed and the future will be one of closures and even more redundancies. Surely we don’t want that?
Jen

Good point about NLD’s profile, and I find it really interesting that it has become know this year mostly because of the furor around councils *not* celebrating. This could actually be a very good thing.

http://twitter.com/ShirleyBurnham Shirley Burnham

It has not been too much trouble for the majority of councils to seize this unique — and inexpensive — opportunity (National Libraries Day, tomorrow) to raise the profile of their local service. My small branch library in Swindon is holding an “extra special storytime” that is to be ‘interactive and feature musical instruments’ — not exactly breaking the bank, but likely to be hugely appreciated by all. It is baffling, therefore, that Kent has passed up this chance and, indeed, is being defended by some for doing so ! and more than a little anachronistic that the Head of Libraries in Kent, a senior member of the Society of Chief Librarians, has apparently distanced her service from a worthwhile initiative that would raise staff morale, improve library usage and be pleasing to residents.