'Read It and Weep'; UNISON inquiry into Scotland’s libraries

"Fine words and ideals no substitute for investment: UNISON inquiry into Scotland’s libraries

UNISON, the trade union for Scotland’s library staff, has published a report 'Read It and Weep', which outlines the experience of those working in Scotland’s libraries. It raises the concerns and difficulties of staff who are simultaneously being expected to expand services while being in the front line of cuts.

The report is based on qualitative research from UNISON members working across Scotland’s libraries. The frustration on the part of staff is clear. They are well aware that the services they provide are not as good as they could be and they highlight the impacts that cuts are making. Library services have been undergoing massive change in recent years yet staff numbers have been going down, buildings are closing and opening hours reduced

Gray Allan, UNISON Falkirk council branch spokesperson (and a librarian), said “There is no shortage of people willing to say libraries are a good thing. But what our libraries need isn’t just fine words and ideals but proper financing and investment. The Scottish Government has endorsed a national strategy for public libraries that talks of libraries being part of a shared civic ambition.

"There isn’t much point in giving every child in Scotland a library card if their local library is being closed or its hours have reduced so much it isn’t accessible.

" Staff are keen to see their service move forward but that isn’t happening.”

For the full report click here;
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/ReadItandWeep_LibrariesStaffSurvey_Sep2015.pdf

Walking, Media & Libraries in Wester Hailes

An old friend of mine, Eoghan Howard, from my Clays Lane Housing Co-op days recently got in touch with me to tell me about the great and innovative work he is doing with communities and libraries in the Wester Hailes district of Edinburgh.

This is what he sent me;

"you might be interested in some of the things that we've been getting up to with the brilliant folk in our local library here in sunny Wester Hailes (including them setting up a "Wester Hailes Room" for us that will be used for social history & community news sharing purposes). Please find attached for your information therefore some (partly resent) items relevant to this from our various & wider Health + Heritage + Creativity + Technology activities here in sunny Wester Hailes (& please feel free to publicise as thought appropriate). These are:

1. interActive Edinburgh: encouraging closer links between Edinburgh's communities through walking groups, local history groups, community newspapers & blogs, local libraries, other relevant institutions, & waterside walking corridors (union canal, Water of Leith, & Seafront).

2. Outward Bound: ditto through promoting walks between all Edinburgh's local libraries (& other relevant institutions). This the WH example but am doing similar for all the other libraries as well.
https://dub119.mail.live.com/default.aspx?id=64855#!/mail/ViewOfficePreview.aspx?messageid=8ad1142a-7d22-11e2-9eb5-001e0bccddde&folderid=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&attindex=1&cp=-1&attdepth=1&n=210907799

3. Community Media options: combining existing communications & social media activities with the new "digital sentinel" (resurrecting the previous closed WH community newspaper in a digital format with hard copy options that will be available at the library which will also be a central meeting point).
https://dub119.mail.live.com/default.aspx?id=64855#!/mail/ViewOfficePreview.aspx?messageid=8ad1142a-7d22-11e2-9eb5-001e0bccddde&folderid=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&attindex=2&cp=-1&attdepth=2&n=1405146579

Plus a couple of weblinks....

4. Wester Hailes social history walks QR "code book": (some of these start & finish at our local library)

5. Wester Hailes digital totem pole: (please check out the launch video in particular)http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2012/12/wester-hailes-now-has-a-digital-totem-pole/"