Presented at Speak Up For Libraries conference 10 November 2012. Looks at the contemporary situation for volunteers taking over public libraries, pros and cons, practicalities and questions arising.
1. @publiclibnews
www.publiclibrariesnews.com
I’m losing my job to
them
It’s making closing
libraries easier
So much better than
those annoying paid
people
We love our library and we just want
to keep the library open.
We can pretend we’re
not closing it now!
3. @publiclibnews
www.publiclibrariesnews.com
28% cut over three years – and it’s going to get worse.
Staff are sometimes 50% of budget and books just 5%
“Library work is easy and anyone can do it”
“If we don’t volunteer, the library will close”
This is the way to get more community involvement
Councils can say “It’s not us who closed it”
We have proof it works – Look at Buckinghamshire
Wake up and smell
the Recession
The Big Society
works
Yes - I love my library
5. @publiclibnews
www.publiclibrariesnews.com
CRB checks and legal (but be aware some authorities don’t demand CRB
checks of paid library staff)
Who owns the building?
Job description and volunteer policy
Data Protection Act and computer system
Training
Seed-corn funding
Serious commitment on behalf of council and volunteers
6. @publiclibnews
www.publiclibrariesnews.com
“CILIP is opposed to job substitution where paid professional and support roles are directly
replaced with either volunteers or untrained administrative posts to save money. This applies
to all library and information services in every sector.”
“The Society of Chief Librarians strongly supports volunteering in libraries. The Society
firmly believes that volunteers add value to the public library service, as long as all
volunteering activity is contained within a professionally managed and delivered framework. “
But not SCL Wales
“Staff costs are a significant and have been an increasing proportion of library costs and, if
the service is losing up to 35% of its budget,[108] some staff cuts are inevitable … local
authorities need to give careful consideration to how to do least damage to the service
provided to the public now and for the future. They must ensure that they retain enough
experienced and/or professionally qualified staff to develop the services on offer” CMS
Select Committee
7. @publiclibnews
www.publiclibrariesnews.com
Why are councils the natural home for libraries?
Is confrontation the best way to campaign?
What can we do to affect things, either way?
What evidence do you have for your point of view?
Anything else anyone wants to say?
8. @publiclibnews
www.publiclibrariesnews.com
I am Ian Anstice MA MCILIP
User of libraries since 1974, MA in Librarianship, paid librarian since 1994,
Unison steward, Information Professional of the Year 2011, Voices for the
Library, Public Libraries News, Winsford Customer Service of the Year
“Oscar” 2012.
And … involved in the transferring of one library to volunteers.
We are all, volunteer or not, Lovers of Libraries
All views expressed or inferred do not necessarily reflect those of my
employer.