From Sheffield Libraries Staff News
Schools and Young People’s Library Service have been successful in their bid for funding from the Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) programme. The money will be used to host
arts and cultural activities in libraries across the city for 8-13 year olds, starting in the summer holidays and continuing until March 2010.
The project is called ‘From my place to our space’ and encourages young people to explore their sense of individual and community space through creative arts. We are currently gathering proposals from creative practitioners to run workshops, one-off events or performances, encompassing filmmaking, photography, music, theatre, art, media, digital technologies, graphics and design. The project gives libraries the chance to host exciting, contemporary events which will encourage young people to see the library as a space they can utilise and enjoy.
Paul Walker – Project Manager: paul.walker@sheffield.gov.uk
Anna Lord – Project Officer: anna.lord@sheffield.gov.uk
Showing posts with label Sheffield Libraries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheffield Libraries. Show all posts
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Friday, 17 April 2009
Changes at Sheffield Central Library
Work will start soon on the reorganisation of service points at Sheffield Central Library. The current Business, Science & Technology (BST) and the Arts & Social Sciences (ASS) Libraries will merge and become Reception, Reference and Information - a single access point for reference services and a reception /information point for the central library. It will be located in the current BST room on the ground floor. The current Sheffield Information Service and reception will close.
The Local Studies library will move to the current ASS room on the first floor. The current Sheffield Information Services room on the ground floor will become the Computer and Internet Centre. The current Local Studies room may become an exhibition/activity area. Sheffield Community Information Unit will move to a new office.
The lending library will not be affected.
The timetable is as follows:
Further information and updates will be available on the Sheffield Libraries website.
The Local Studies library will move to the current ASS room on the first floor. The current Sheffield Information Services room on the ground floor will become the Computer and Internet Centre. The current Local Studies room may become an exhibition/activity area. Sheffield Community Information Unit will move to a new office.
The lending library will not be affected.
The timetable is as follows:
- Current BST Library: closes Saturday 25th April. Reopens as RRI Thursday 28th May.
- Current ASS Library: Closes Thursday 21st May. Reopens for People's Network service only Thursday 28th May. Closes Wednesday 24th June. Reopens as Local Studies Library - to be decided.
- Current Sheffield Information Service: Closes Wednesday 27th May. Reopens as ICT suite Monday 29th June.
Further information and updates will be available on the Sheffield Libraries website.
Monday, 6 April 2009
A new library service for Sheffield?
An extract from Bob McKee's blog
And what about the great city of Sheffield you may ask? The Sheffield City Council Cultural Services service plan for 2009-2010 includes the following two bullet points:
First, investment. After completion of the new Central Library in Newcastle(due to open on 7th June) and the announcement of a major investment programme for Manchester's libraries (Central Library and local community libraries),comes the announcement of plans for the new £193 million Central Library in Birmingham. It's good to see the great cities of the North and Midlands showing
the way forward, investing in library service at the heart of their civic aspirations for local people, local communities, and the whole of society.
And what about the great city of Sheffield you may ask? The Sheffield City Council Cultural Services service plan for 2009-2010 includes the following two bullet points:
- Develop and agree a plan for the future of the Central Library
- Deliver a modernised library service – that delivers improved and more efficient services
(Key priorities 3 and 4 of 12).
So we're getting there (copyright British Rail). There will be a presentation about the new central library at Newcastle as part of the SINTO Members' Day on 26th June.
Monday, 4 February 2008
Sheffield Libraries
Roy Hattersley penned a heartfelt tribute to public libraries in general and Hilsborough Library in Sheffield in particular, in a Daily Mail piece on 7th January 2008 headlined Why closing local libraries is a tragedy for us all. He wrote "They still provide essential information, informal education and, most important of all, hours of pure pleasure.... Yet 40 [libraries] closed last year. What happens in Hillsborough shows what a tragedy that is."
I mentioned the Oxford Online Library Champions Award when they were launched last year and I am very pleased to see that Sheffield Libraries were joint winners (with Plymouth) of the Best Website Promotion of Oxford Online Resources category. The judges were impressed by the number of ways people could find out about the service on the Sheffield Libraries’ website. ‘The overall aim has been to ensure high visibility of the OUP packages for 24/7 use, to maximize awareness of them at as many entry points on the web pages as possible, to ensure easy access to the packages and maximize their use by as diverse a customer base as possible,’ says Karen Wallace of Sheffield Libraries.
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
What they say about us
It's always interesting to see ourselves through the eyes of others. When it comes to how outsiders see libraries ans librarians this can be uncomfortable - especially when outdated or unflattering stereotypes are used. Youtube is always a good source of deeply unflattering representations of librarians. A recent example is The Librarian Dialogues which features a staff meeting in a US public library where four "librarians" bicker about the minutia of running a library. As far as I can see, it is completely pointless, not very funny, not satirical, not even a training aid. Someone has created some two-dimensional caricatures and is trying to raise a laugh by making fun of them.
That is not to say that humour can't be found in the portrayal of the peculiarities of the library world. Stuart Maconie is a broadcaster and journalist well known for his work on Radio 2 and other stations. he has recently published Pies and prejudice: in search of the North - an exploration of the landscape and people of the north of England. Stuart admits to a love of libraries:
"I love libraries. As a kid I practically lived in Powell Street Library in Wigan, devouring everything from Norse myths to football reference books to Richmal Crompton's William stories to books about Romania, a country I was strangely fascinated by...
"Public libraries in the afternoon attract a certain kind of melancholic misfit whom life, it seems, has somehow passed by. I don't know if this is a good description of me but I do like a nice public library of an afternoon." p44
Later he visits Oldham Library and Art Gallery, as described in previous postings.
"Gallery Oldham turns out to be pretty marvellous. A classy bit of modernist steel and glass in the midst of tat and run-down Victoriana. It's the only library I've ever come across which seems to have a nightclub inside. It was taking deliveries of crates of those flavoured vodka drinks (for people who don't like alcohol but want to get utterly trashed) and seemed to be called Rude or possibly 365. A large banner proclaimed 'IT''S ALL ABOUT HOUSE MUSIC'...
"Inside, pretty much all of the actual galleries are closed but I'm starting to get used to this kind of minor disappointment. The girl who politely explains that I can't use my wireless laptop link because I'm not a library member has an accent that's broad 'Lanky' with an exotic descant melody in Francophone, a pretty winning combination, I have to tell you. I begin to ask increasingly redundant queries just to listen to her voice. Nearby, an elderly lady is asking about a local history book on an Oldham factory: 'I do hope you have it. Both my grandfathers worked there.' Sadly they don't but she reserves it for 80p. 'Can it go to Lees library? I live there, you see.' In the Local Studies section a loud cheery man seeks help in his quest to investigate his Irish roots. 'My grandfather was born in 1818. But that's all I know. Would you do the research for me?" With unfailing courtesy the librarian points out that he has to do the actual research himself but that two nice ladies from 'the Society' come in every Wednesday from two till four. Also, she gently advises that the marriage certificate he's brought with him is in fact a death certificate. 'Green one's marriage, love, black is death.' As I travelled around the north, I saw hundreds of these small everyday acts of kindness and they never failed to cheer the spirit and make me quietly proud. Some of the clichés about us are true. We are friendlier and more helpful. And if you don't agree, we might glass you, of course." p171
Sheffield Libraries, Archives & Information have just issues a special edition of their Staff News to mark National Customer Service Week. This features some of the nice things that have been said about the service recently:
"Sometimes services in our city do not get the thanks and acknowledgement they deserve - one such service is Sheffield Libraries... we have found the staff to be exceptional in their kindness and helpfulness, nothing has been too much trouble for them, so would you, on our behalf make sure they are aware of our gratitude"
"Sheffield libraries are brilliant, so are the staff. Much better than in ..... where I come from"
"Using the books and Internet in this library helped me pass my exams. Thank you"
"I am 72 and have just learned to use a computer. Thank you so much for your patience and help. Marvellous"
"This must be one of the most helpful places in Sheffield. It's always a joy to come here"
"Libraries can always help where others fail"
None of this must blind us to some of the serious problems that we must deal with. Nor must we ignore the "silent majority" who don't use of library services - perhaps because they have had a bad experience in the past. But we can celebrate our successes. If anyone else has similar feedback from other library services in our area please let me know.
That is not to say that humour can't be found in the portrayal of the peculiarities of the library world. Stuart Maconie is a broadcaster and journalist well known for his work on Radio 2 and other stations. he has recently published Pies and prejudice: in search of the North - an exploration of the landscape and people of the north of England. Stuart admits to a love of libraries:
"I love libraries. As a kid I practically lived in Powell Street Library in Wigan, devouring everything from Norse myths to football reference books to Richmal Crompton's William stories to books about Romania, a country I was strangely fascinated by...
"Public libraries in the afternoon attract a certain kind of melancholic misfit whom life, it seems, has somehow passed by. I don't know if this is a good description of me but I do like a nice public library of an afternoon." p44
Later he visits Oldham Library and Art Gallery, as described in previous postings.
"Gallery Oldham turns out to be pretty marvellous. A classy bit of modernist steel and glass in the midst of tat and run-down Victoriana. It's the only library I've ever come across which seems to have a nightclub inside. It was taking deliveries of crates of those flavoured vodka drinks (for people who don't like alcohol but want to get utterly trashed) and seemed to be called Rude or possibly 365. A large banner proclaimed 'IT''S ALL ABOUT HOUSE MUSIC'...
"Inside, pretty much all of the actual galleries are closed but I'm starting to get used to this kind of minor disappointment. The girl who politely explains that I can't use my wireless laptop link because I'm not a library member has an accent that's broad 'Lanky' with an exotic descant melody in Francophone, a pretty winning combination, I have to tell you. I begin to ask increasingly redundant queries just to listen to her voice. Nearby, an elderly lady is asking about a local history book on an Oldham factory: 'I do hope you have it. Both my grandfathers worked there.' Sadly they don't but she reserves it for 80p. 'Can it go to Lees library? I live there, you see.' In the Local Studies section a loud cheery man seeks help in his quest to investigate his Irish roots. 'My grandfather was born in 1818. But that's all I know. Would you do the research for me?" With unfailing courtesy the librarian points out that he has to do the actual research himself but that two nice ladies from 'the Society' come in every Wednesday from two till four. Also, she gently advises that the marriage certificate he's brought with him is in fact a death certificate. 'Green one's marriage, love, black is death.' As I travelled around the north, I saw hundreds of these small everyday acts of kindness and they never failed to cheer the spirit and make me quietly proud. Some of the clichés about us are true. We are friendlier and more helpful. And if you don't agree, we might glass you, of course." p171
Sheffield Libraries, Archives & Information have just issues a special edition of their Staff News to mark National Customer Service Week. This features some of the nice things that have been said about the service recently:
"Sometimes services in our city do not get the thanks and acknowledgement they deserve - one such service is Sheffield Libraries... we have found the staff to be exceptional in their kindness and helpfulness, nothing has been too much trouble for them, so would you, on our behalf make sure they are aware of our gratitude"
"Sheffield libraries are brilliant, so are the staff. Much better than in ..... where I come from"
"Using the books and Internet in this library helped me pass my exams. Thank you"
"I am 72 and have just learned to use a computer. Thank you so much for your patience and help. Marvellous"
"This must be one of the most helpful places in Sheffield. It's always a joy to come here"
"Libraries can always help where others fail"
None of this must blind us to some of the serious problems that we must deal with. Nor must we ignore the "silent majority" who don't use of library services - perhaps because they have had a bad experience in the past. But we can celebrate our successes. If anyone else has similar feedback from other library services in our area please let me know.
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