libraries

Connecting library to neighbourhood in a big city

Interesting reflections by Christopher DeWolf on Montreal's new Grande Bibliothèque over on Urban Photo.

Like many people's reaction to the British Library building at St Pancras, he's enthusiastic about the interior, less so about the exterior. As for what's going on around it:

"What's most exciting about the building is its relationship with the adjacent back alley. Currently, it is lined by an empty row of shallow retail spaces with awnings and sliding glass windows; the plan is to use them to create an-open used-book market. It's a perfect way to connect the library to the neighbourhood."

Community cohesion toolkit

I'm not a big fan of 'toolkits,' since I don't think people use them much, and often the ones that work best are really topic guides. Like this Community cohesion toolkit produced by the Government Office for the South West.

It's described as an interactive practical toolkit to assist government office and partners to mainstream community cohesion through government funding streams, so it's really aimed at grant-givers. But it looks a handy guide to refer to from time to time, or perhaps as a quick intro for new staff. It will be updated online.

Analytical report published

Libraries and community cohesion: a paper for the South East Museum, Library and Archive Council has been written by John Vincent and researched over the same period as our own report.

It takes a detailed look at published materials and current activity on the topic and as such is a very useful narrative and resource for the subject - and as it says

(we) had hoped that the Government would have published the
long-awaited results of the Community Cohesion Pathfinder projects by now, but these are still not available – therefore, we have decided to publish this paper now as it is, and update it later in the year with the Pathfinder material. (March 2005)

It suggests that

For work carried out by libraries to be considered as contributing to
community cohesion as defined here, therefore, it will need to demonstrate that it does meet the criteria developed above:

• A focus on the ‘bigger picture’ (eg countering racism, healing intergenerational rifts)
• The intention to contribute to community cohesion
• A strategic approach with long-term goals
• A change of culture for the service concerned
• The development of strong and healthy partnerships
• Sustainability – longer-term work, not one-off projects (unless these
in turn lead to the longer-term).

Much of the report paints a picture of research, organisations and initiatives at local and national level, and it has a long chapter  on the questions of social exclusion and inclusion.

You can download and read the report in pdf here.

A story unfolds

Pendle Borough Council (libraries provided by Lanacashire) has just highlighted its initiative that is one of the outcomes from the research report into community cohesion commissioned by the Pendle Partnership.

Report published

The report Public Libaries and Community Cohesion has now been published by MLA and is available here.

The report is based on a mix of telephone interviews, questionnaires, desk research, visits and focus group meetings. Initial research showed that there had been little significant activity in public libraries to suggest that community cohesion is either well-understood or that it forms the central focus of strategy or practice. The report argues firstly that community cohesion is a key component in a broad policy trend characterised as ‘civil-localism,’ which both challenges and creates opportunities for pluralism and the public realm. Secondly it argues that community cohesion is a legitimate central focus for library services. Where the public library can demonstrate a contribution to the quality of social relations in local communities it will recover its place as a recognised symbol of the public realm.

To address the requirement for indicators under actions in support of Framework for the Future, it proposes a structure based upon an analysis of the understanding of the potential contribution of libraries, and an approach on areas for action.

As a result of the publication, this web log is being revived: you are invited to contribute and to check it for further content. One simple way to do this is to use RSS feeds that will automatically alert you to new material. Check here for a description of what to do.

We are also keen to explore with library authorities how community cohesion and the development of indicators might be developed locally. If you are interested in working with us on this, please contact Kevin Harris by email or on 0773 042 9993.

Indicative help

The report Public libraries and community cohesion proposes an overall indicator, but has left blank for now proposals for a series of indicators that reflect the role and outcomes of the public library service. The matrix provided has been left blank deliberately, in order to avoid the ‘solidification’ of any untried indicators that we, as researchers, might suggest. Various possible indicators have emerged from our research and we hope to develop these alongside (not in front of) suggestions from the field, in the next phase of our research.

The report argues that there is a four-point structure for understanding the potential contribution of libraries to community cohesion:

• library as resource
• librarians as expertise
• library as place
• and library as symbol.

There seems also to be three complimentary and self-reinforcing areas for action:

• library services can participate in wider strategies aimed at improving community cohesion
• they can represent the notion of community cohesion in the ways in which they plan and deliver services
• and they can work at local level with local residents and groups, to support viable networks of self-support and communication.

On this basis, we have developed a matrix for the creation of indicators. You are invited to download this matrix here. Please use the document as a template for discussion and writing in suggestions and send it to us here. Also, you can contribute to suggestions here by clicking the Comments link below.

How to keep up to date - RSS feeds

In order to receive newsfeeds from web sites, you need a newsreader or aggregator on the your computer. In fact your email program may already have one built in - you can use for example Mozilla Thunderbird.

As well as downloading a news reader to your computer, you can download an Outlook plugin, or sign up for an online site such as www.bloglines.com

   1. In order to download a news aggregator, you can go to http://blogspace.com/rss/readers and select one based on what operating platform you are using.

   2. If you prefer to install the Outlook plug-in and receive your news directly to your Outlook email, you can go to http://www.newsgator.com/ngs/default.aspx and download it from there.

   3. If you do however prefer to access your newsfeed via an online service and without downloading any software or plug-ins, you can sign up to an online site like www.bloglines.com.

Recommended newsreaders are SharpReader, and Feedreader. Bloglines, Feed Demon, NewsGator, and many other news aggregators operate similarly. They're free, and each has slightly different features.

Once you have a newsreader installed, all you have to do is look for and right-click the text Syndicate this site (XML) on this web site, and copy the web address in to your newsreader in order to create a folder. Then follow instructions and sit back and wait for results!

Chinese Experiences brought to print

Linda Martin (Partnership and Development Manager, Cambridgeshire Libraries) writes:

I'm proud and pleased to announce the publication of "Many Miles, Many Memories" our new book published jointly with the Chinese Community Centre and the Cambridge Chinese Students Association. The book contains the life stories of 10 of the older members of the community and five from the younger members. The hardship that older members faced in their early lives before arriving in Cambridge makes a very moving account, and contrasts with the opportunities that the younger generation have enjoyed. The book also includes a history of the Chinese in Britain by Coventry Librarian Mark Lum, and articles on the Chinese Societies and Institutions in Cambridge. The book is hardback and illustrated and printed in full colour throughout with dual text in both English and Chinese (choice of traditional or modern script). It is available now at £7.50 + p & p. I encourage everyone to consider purchasing a copy for their Chinese Collection! Just email me with your orders!

See other Cambridge stuff here..

Strength In Diversity: towards a Community Cohesion and Race Equality Strategy

A Community Cohesion and Race Equality strategy is out for consultation from the Home office.

By developing a Government wide strategy for community cohesion and race equality, we aim to articulate the vision of a successful integrated society, draw together the evidence and provide a coherent framework through which we can drive a programme of action across Government, the public services and more widely. It will be a strategy led by Government, but which will require the engagement of individuals, communities and organisations across society.

In the form of a pdf pamphlet, the government

sets out (it’s) analysis of the issues and challenges that we need to address in developing a community cohesion and race equality strategy. Through it we want to promote an honest and open debate, engaging people from all backgrounds, age groups and parts of the country. In doing so, we are calling on those in positions of responsibility and leadership to promote and lead the debate across your networks and organisations

You should download and read the document, and lobby for a pursuasive response from the library profession!

Southwark: Community Involvement And Cohesion

The Southwark Alliance (the LSP) has a web section devoted to cohesion. It is developing its Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy by working with local community organisations to:

* Strengthen the opportunities for involving local people in neighbourhood and democratic renewal
* Ensure community participation includes those from different cultural backgrounds, different age groups, and those who experience different levels of deprivation and exclusion
* Develop better understanding of the factors in each neighbourhood that act as barriers to people accessing opportunities, and find solutions to those barriers in partnership with local people
* Identify the opportunities and challenges to create cohesive communities within and between neighbourhoods, and work with local people to improve understanding and celebrate diversity
* Improve the network of community resources within neighbourhoods that can support and sustain self-confident communities.

Southwark's cohesion pathfinder work revolves around

* Working with young people to explore inter-racial, inter-generational and inter-estate issues
* Strengthening how the voluntary sector can promote cohesion
* Building inter-faith understanding and relationships with the wider community
* Strengthening the strategic role of key partners to provide leadership around cohesion and ensure it is embedded in the core work of public agencies.

Plenty of scope for the library service there. In particular, you can download a copy of the Soutwark Compact here that sets out the relationsip between the community/ voluntary agencies and statutory bodies.