Advocacy for UK Public Libraries 2007 2017 - Jon Davis Jacqueline Widdowson
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Advocacy for UK
Public Libraries
2007 - 2017
Jon Davis
Jacqueline Widdowson
Context
Context: UK Public Library’s 2007
• Operating in relative isolation
• Massive inconsistencies
• Sporadic digital inclusion initiatives
• Lack of engagement with ePublishing
• Biennial Public Library User Survey (PLUS) – since 1993
• Entrenched patterns of working, with rigid hierarchy and very
prescribed job roles
• Kodak, Blockbuster and Borders
www.publiclibrariesnews.com/useful/statistics
Context: The Changing Face of UK Public Libraries • Significant disruptive technologies available in 2007, but libraries slow to adopt/react • Throughout the decade technological disruptions became increasingly felt: Self-service; eBooks etc; Collection Management Software • Publishers were slow to get on-board with e-lending • For every £1 in central government grant to councils in 2010 they got 67p in 2015 • Budgetary drivers for change obscured other valid reasons for change www.publiclibrariesnews.com/useful/statistics http://speakupforlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Speak_up_libraries_LOBBYPACK_Nov14.pdf
Context: The Changing Face of UK Public Libraries
• Professor Hank Lucas, School of Business, University of Maryland
• Primary inhibiting factors that cause businesses to fail in the face of disruptive technologies:
• Denial ‘this will not affect us’
• History ‘we have always don’t it this way’
• Resistance to Change ‘I don’t want to’
• Mind-set ‘but this is not what we do’
• Brand ‘but this is not what WE® do’
• Sunk Costs ‘we are too financially invested in the traditional ways’
• Profitability ‘we still have lots of customers… why change?’
• Lack of imagination ‘there really is no other way for us to work’
Lucas, H. C. The Search for Survival: Lessons from disruptive technologies. ABC-CLIO, 2012, p12
The Changing Face of UK Public Libraries: Cuts Between 2010 - 2017 • 400+ libraries closed • Including 140+ mobile library services • A further 200+ removed from council service • 16,000+ additional volunteers recruited • Nearly 10,000 library jobs cut (nearly a third of the work force) • Unpaid staff posts now outnumber paid staff posts 3:2 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35707956
Context: Government Spending Comparisons
£ Million
Total UK Public Library Spending (not including capital) 2009/10* 770
Total UK Public Library Spending (not including capital) 2014/15* 629
% Reduction 18.311688
(* source - CIPFA) % Reduction adjusted for inflation 29.34
(Inflation calculated using Bank of England figures)
£ Million
Total UK Academic Library Spending (not including capital) 2009/10** 580
Total UK Academic Library Spending (not including capital) 2014/15** 634
% Growth 8.52
(** source - LISU Database) % Gain adjusted for inflation 5.44
(Inflation calculated using Bank of England figures)
Context: Government Spending Comparisons
£ Million
NHS Annual Budget for 2014/15*** 117.5
UK Welfare Budget for 2014/15*** 221.8
How much of the NHS does a whole year of the UK library budget get you? 46 hours
How much Social Welfare does a whole year of the UK library budget get you?
Context: UK Public Library’s Today
• Latest statistics (2015-2016) Reveal:
• 177 million books loaned
• 211 million visits to libraries in England
• More than the total attendance at English
Premier League football matches, cinema
admissions in England and the top 10 UK
tourist attractions combined
• Elizabeth Elford, SCL, “I think inevitably there will be fewer public libraries when
we come out the other side; but they will be better and more innovative”
www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-to-parliament-on-public-
library-activities-during-2016
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35707956
Context: Libraries Protected by Law
• 2010 Equality Act
o Section 149: Public Sector Equality Duty
• 1998 Human Rights Act (incorporates European Convention on Human Rights)
o Article 8: Right to respect for private and family life
o Article 10: Right to freedom of expression and information
o Article 14: Prohibition of Discrimination
• Public Lending Right
• Copyright
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/75Context: Libraries Protected by Law
• UK Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964
oLocal Authorities must provide a comprehensive and efficient library
service for all people that wish to use it.
oThey must promote the service
oThey must lend books and printed material free of charge to those who
live, work or study in the area.
oThe secretary of state has a duty under the act to superintend and
promote the improvement of public library services, to inspect public
library services and if necessary intervene and take the provision of the
public library service under the control of the Secretary of State
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/75Political Advocacy
Internal Political Advocacy
• DCMS Select Committee began an enquiry into library closures in 2010
• The resultant 2012 report revealed:
• mismanaged cuts were a failure to meet statutory obligations and devolution of
libraries to community groups represented closures by stealth
• Scope for more coordination and cooperation between authorities
• John Whittingdale MP “The current landscape may appear to bode ill for public
libraries, but during this enquiry we saw many examples of innovative thinking
about what libraries can offer and a number of new models about how these
services can be provided […] but they are not widespread”
• Directly resulted in the commissioning of a report on the cumulative affects of library
closures
www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/culture-
media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/library-closures/Internal Political Advocacy: Sieghart Review • William Sieghart CBE, British entrepreneur and founder of Foreword Prizes for poetry wrote an Independent Review of e-Lending in Public Libraries in England 2013 • Commissioned by DCMS – Independent Library Report for England • Took 7 months. • Consulted numerous stakeholders including: professional bodies, unions, library authorities, publishers and authors; and high profile individual library advocates www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-independent-review-of-e-lending-in-public-libraries-in-england www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-library-report-for-england
Internal Political Advocacy: Sieghart Review
• Report released Dec 2014:
• Three Major Recommendations
• Provision of a national digital resource for libraries
• The setting up of a task and finish force […] to provide a
strategic framework for [libraries] in England
• Task force to help local authorities improve, revitalise, and if necessary, change their
local library service, while encouraging, appropriate to each library, increased
community involvement
• CILIP: “Convincing Roadmap”
• ‘The library does more than simply loan books. It underpins every community. It is not just a
place for self-improvement, but the supplier of an infrastructure for life and learning’*
* www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-independent-review-of-e-lending-in-public-libraries-in-england
www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-library-report-for-england
www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/news/sieghart-report-public-libraries-convincing-roadmapInternal Political Advocacy: Libraries Taskforce • £2.6million awarded to 68 authorities (approximately 1,000 locations) enabling 99.3% of static UK libraries to be equipped with Wi-Fi • Libraries Opportunity for Everyone Innovation Fund £4million • Publishing core datasets, collecting images and case studies • Creation of online Toolkits: Community Libraries Best Practice; Alternative Delivery Models; Libraries Shaping the Future Toolkit • Running workshops and masterclasses www.gov.uk/government/groups/libraries-taskforce
Internal Political Advocacy: Libraries Taskforce www.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/a ttachment_data/file/5739 11/Libraries_Deliver_- _Ambition_for_Public_Libr aries_in_England_2016_to _2021.pdf
Internal Political Advocacy: Ambition
• 7 Outcomes:
● Outcome 1: Cultural and Creative Enrichment ● Outcome 2: Increased Reading and
Literacy ● Outcome 3: Increased Digital Access and Literacy ● Outcome 4: Helping
Everyone Achieve their Full Potential ● Outcome 5: Healthier and Happier Lives
● Outcome 6: Greater Prosperity ● Outcome 7: Stronger More Resilient Communities
• Draws from current best practice examples
• Criticised for presenting ideals without strategies for achieving them
• Advocates for joined-up working
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-
libraries-in-england-2016-to-2021/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-libraries-in-englan
d-2016-to-2021Internal Political Advocacy • House of Lords debates - John Bird • All Party Parliamentary Group launched 2014 (re-launched 2016) • 16 Feb 2017 Government extends the Public Lending Right Act 1979 to include remote e-lending from public libraries in the UK • Individual elected members across UK councils have stood up for libraries (with mixed results) http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons- select/culture-media-and-sport-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/library-closures/
External Political Advocacy • Representatives from professional bodies (CILIP, SCL, British Library) on panels and contributing to consultations • Unison: 2008 ‘Taking Stock: The Future of Our Public Library Service’; 2014 ‘The Public Library Service Under Attack’; February 2016 public lobby parliament • 2010-2012 Community Libraries Panel: organised by CILIP to specifically address members’ concerns about individual authority’s proposals www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2013/06/On-line-Catalogue173013.pdf www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2013/06/On-line-Catalogue215893.pdf
External Political Advocacy
• National Library Rally 2012 – Organised
by Speak up for Libraries
• Estimated 300-400 people
• Individual library sit-ins and protests
• National Demonstration 2016
• 2,500 people approximately
• From the British Library to Trafalgar
Square
Photo: @SaveSwinLibraryExternal Political Advocacy
Professional Advocacy
Professional Advocacy • People focused advocacy • Big picture rather than individual cases • Professional bodies providing support for sector • Professional bodies contributing to consultations • Professional bodies representing libraries and librarians at a national level
Professional Advocacy: The British Library • British Library has stepped-up • Re-focus on the library resource network • Business & Intellectual Property Centres • Involved in consultations etc • British Library 2020 Vision • ‘the British Library will be an enabling force in the global networked environment of users, libraries, archives, research institutions and information providers from the public and private sectors’ • Roly Keating Chief Executive BL on Libraries Taskforce www.bl.uk/welcome/librarians.html www.bl.uk/aboutus/stratpolprog/2020vision/2020visioncompleteA3.pdf
Professional Advocacy: The British Library
“Attitude matters, so develop a good one.
Create a winner’s mentality”
Stephen Fear, British Library’s Entrepreneur in Residence 2012-2016
www.feargroup.comProfessional Advocacy: CILIP
Participation in Public Consultations
• Community Libraries Panel (2009 – 2011)
o 37 separate Library Authority proposals reviewed by Panel,
addressing questions or submissions to each one individually.
• DCMS Select Committee on Library Closures (2011)
o Submission made to Committee by CILIP Board, with input
from Community Libraries Panel, SIG’s and GroupsProfessional Advocacy: CILIP
Participation in Public Consultations
• DCMS Consultation Paper on Public Lending Right (2012)
o CILIP responded to the proposal to close the Office of the
Registrar of PLR, concerned about the potential loss of trusted
and expert staff in the field.
• Sieghart Review of Public Libraries (2014)
o CILIP participated in the Sieghart Review through both written
submissions and personal presentations to the panelProfessional Advocacy: CILIP
Independent initiatives
• Report: Professional Standards of Service in Public
Libraries (2008)
o Examined 10 Library Authorities which had undergone
restructuring or reduction
• CILIP Survey of Public Library Authorities, 2012
o Of respondents, 72% reducing costs; 60% reducing staff;
80% reducing opening hours
• All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries 2014 - present
o CILIP provides secretariat and organises activities, including
library visits, briefings and publishing APPG reports
• My Library By Right
www.cilip.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2008_prof%20standards%20of%20service.pdf
www.cilip.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/CILIP_Public_Library_Survey_Summary_Report
_A_Changing_Landscape_2012-13_0.pdfProfessional Advocacy: My Library By Right
• Sept 2015: CILIP Secures free legal advice from celebrated Human
Rights Barrister Eric Metcalfe
• Oct 2015: CILIP Board approves a law-based advocacy campaign to
re-assert the statutory right to a quality library service
• Dec 2015: My Library by Right Campaign launches
• Jan 2016: Media engagement and campaign profile
• May 2016: ‘Pledge’ campaign for local politicians
• Nov 2016: Re-launch of Libraries All-Party Group
http://mylibrarybyright.org.uk/Professional Advocacy: My Library By Right http://mylibrarybyright.org.uk/
My Library By Right: Campaign Materials
• Online Petition
• Key Facts
• Your Rights Explained
• Posters
• Twitter Badges
http://mylibrarybyright.org.uk/Professional Advocacy: Society of Chief Librarians • Society of Chief Librarians • SCL Universal Offers • 2013: Health, Reading, Digital and Information • 2015: Learning • Created the SCL Learning Pool: http://scl.learningpool.com/ • SCL also contributed to: • DCMS Select Committee on Library Closures (2011) • DCMS Consultation Paper on Public Lending Right (2012) • Sieghart Review of Public Libraries (2014) • Created themed initiatives with partners linked to the Offers
Professional Advocacy: Society of Chief Librarians
• Health Offer:
• A strategy to express the contribution of public libraries to positive health and
wellbeing of communities. Initiative: Books on Prescription with Reading Agency
• Digital Offer:
• Recognises that digital services and skills underpins the 21st Century library
service. Initiative: The Single Sign-On Pilot with JISC and LMS providers.
• Information Offer:
• The focus of the offer is on libraries’ role in supporting access to information and
services online in life-critical areas such as careers and job seeking; health,
personal financial information and benefits. Initiative: Information4LivingPublic Advocacy
Public Advocacy
• Sit-ins and banner waving has low success rate
• Petitions have equally low impact
• Example: 1472 signatures, but 75 regular users, library closed 6 months after
first being put under threat
• But… community engagement is the life blood of public librariesSpeak up for Libraries • Established 2012 • Coalition of organisations and campaigners working to protect libraries and library staff, includes: Campaign for the Book; CILIP; The Library Campaign; Voices for the Library; Unison • Annual conference • Organise protest marches • Website with linked resources, including a lobbying pack with template letters • Strong social media presence
Protest, Persuasion and Participation: Case Study from
Denby DaleProtest • Frequent first reaction • 2011 newspaper article prompted initial protest • Friends of Denby Dale Library formed on National Libraries Day, 2012 • Defined by negatives • Did not initially offer any alternative – created a petition against the removal of paid staff from the library • Confrontation often provokes a defensive mind-set – Council initially found it difficult to engage
Persuasion • Respected advocates join the cause… • Local Councillor Jim Dodds chairs ‘parallel group’ looking at alternatives involving local community support • A move towards open conversation – acknowledging position of both perspectives • 2013 Denby Dale Community Project formed to raise funds to establish a new library embodying alternative delivery models • Key moment was acknowledgement by Council that the new library would continue to be part of network and still have professional staff
Participation
• Professional guidance enabled
• DDCP established:
oVolunteer work force
oUndertook an agreed training programme
oIndependent fundraising
oEngaged with local business to support construction of a new library
oCreated a website: www.ddcp.org/
oA blog: https://foddlib.wordpress.com/’
oAnd a Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/theddcp/ and Twitter
@DenbyDaleCPThe Picture Now
The Picture Now
• Denby Dale Community Partnership (DDCP) registered as a community
enterprise with charitable status.
• Denby Dale is still a part of the Library Authority with:
oBook fund provided stock
oLibrary Service IT facilities
oFull access to catalogue including online subscription services
oStarted looking for business partners to co-locate
• AND led by a professional paid member of staffThe Picture Now • Opening hours increased from 25 to 43 a week. • Exciting new programme of events and activities • 558 Issues in the first 3 days of opening • All despite a substantial reduction in costs for the Council
Lessons • Open dialogues rather than confrontations • It does not work everywhere… • Relies on established community engagement • Volunteer success relies on strong professional guidance • Finding funds always challenging
Celebrity Endorsement
Celebrity Endorsement: CILIP Posters
Celebrity Endorsement: The Power of Positive Backing
• The Society of Authors – ‘support national and local campaigns to
save libraries threatened by funding cuts’
• Alan Gibbons – credited with instigating National Libraries Day and
‘Campaign for the Book’
• Dolly Parton – Imagination Library
www.societyofauthors.org/Where-We-Stand/LibrariesCelebrity Endorsement: Authors • David Almond • Colin Dexter • Debi Gliori • Philip Ardagh • Julia Donaldson • Christopher Gray • Julian Barnes • Margaret Drabble • Lee Hall • Alan Bennett • Anne Fine • Tony Hawkes • Eric Chappell • Neil Gaiman • Val McDermid • Martina Cole • Maggie Gee • Ken McLeod • John Connelly • Alan Gibbons • Debborah Moggach
Celebrity Endorsement: Authors
• Terry Pratchett
• Michael Moore • Charles Stross
• Philip Pullman
• Michael Morpurgo • Barbara Trapido
• Bali Rai
• David Nicholls • Minette Walters
• Michael Rosen
• John O’Farrell • Irvine Welsh
• J. K. Rowling
• Tim Pears • Jacqueline Wilson
• Oliver Sacks
• Gervase Phinn • Jeanette Winterson
• Zadie SmithCelebrity Endorsement: On Social Media
• Chris Riddell
• Author and Illustrator
• Illustrates Quotes
• Advocating for libraries
• … and Librarians
• …and posts the on
social mediaCelebrity Endorsement: Local and National Media
Attention
• BBC reported on Simon Callow donating 1000 of his own books to libraries
• Times newspaper reported on BAFTA winning actress Prunella Scales
signing petition against library closure
• Independent newspaper reported on Elbow singer, Guy Garvey’s
contributions to Radio 6 Libraries Celebration week
• Comedians Alexei Sayle, Phil Jupitus, Robin Ince, Helen Arny and Robyn
Hitchcock gained various media attention through their ‘Stand Up for
Libraries’ fundraiser performance.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16305457
www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/make-more-elbow-room-for-the-
nations-libraries-says-guy-garvey-9849304.html
www.savekensalriselibrary.org/2011/08/02/mon-17th-oct-stand-up-for-libraries-comedy-
with-phil-jupitus-robin-ince-helen-arney-robyn-hitchcock/Celebrity Endorsement: Local and National Media
Attention
“without libraries and
librarians we are less human
and more profoundly alone”
Nicola Davies, Children’s Author
www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2017/mar/02/without-libraries-and-
librarians-we-are-less-human-and-more-profoundly-aloneCelebrity Endorsement: The Benefits
• Celebrity Endorsement helps to raise public awareness
• Evokes positive emotion
• Positive association
• Sense of solidarity
• IT IS NOT A CAMPAIGN ONLY A TOOL:
Celebrity + Good argument = Improved chance of success
Celebrity + No Good argument = Still unlikely to succeedFriends and Partners:
New Models and
MoneyNew Models: Gateway to Government Services
• Environmental Waste
• Travel Cards/ Concessionary Travel / Disabled Parking
• Tourist Information
• Councillor and MP Surgeries
• Business Support Services (business licensing and information)
• Cash payments for council services
• Probation Services
www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/NEWS/15126295.Tourist_centres_to_m
erge_with_library_service_in_bid_to_save___200_000/New Models: Gateway to Government Services • Signposting government services: Children’s Centres, Youth Centres, Schools • Support for refugees, asylum seekers and other immigrants • Digital by Default : Online Access to Government Services • Health Services (Books on Prescription) • Services for Carers
New Models: More Stakeholders
• External funders (Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, EU)
• Government direct partnerships, e.g. NHS, Home Office
• Bookstart
• The Reading Agency
• Third sector outreach
o University of the Third Age; Age UK;
Alzheimer’s Society; Autism GB; Job Centre
Plus; Citizen’s Advice Bureau;New Models: New Income Streams • Amazon Lockers • Photo-Me Booths • Postage stamps • Book Tokens • Booking Office • Space rental (Exhibition space, meeting rooms, office spaces, event halls) • Commissioned Sales
New Models: Co-Location • Registered UK Charities • Third sector organisations • Other Council Services • Commercial • Example: Millennium Library
Alternative Governance Models
• Trust Status
• Most operate with continued Local Authority funding
• Public Service Mutual
• Most operate with continued Local Authority funding
• Social Enterprise (Charitable or PLC)
• Charitable social enterprises can access funds that PLC’s cannot
• Privately Owned (Outsourced)
• One privately operated library service boasts the highest percentage cut in paid
staff in the UK: 63.5% of staff made redundant
• Joint Venture
• Combination of public sector and private provider ownershipDigital Engagement: Free Thinkers with Computers
Public Library News
Public Library News • Individual (Ian Anstice) with no prior experience of blogging • www.publiclibrariesnews.com • Providing information that no-one else was collating – earned a mention in the House of Commons within three months • Never promoted, people found PLN themselves, including national and international media • Receives weekly enquiries • Started as a protest moved into more balances resource listing investment and innovation items as well as closure and cut stories
Public Library News • Twitter: @publiclibnews – subsequent thread • @publiclibnews more than twice as many readers as the blog • The Government Department for Culture Media and Sport and the Libraries Taskforce use this information resource • Not tied to a political party • Avoids jargon • Connects at all levels • “One-man band” with occasional support from specialists i.e. Web Developers • 2-4 hours on at least 4 evenings a week
Leon’s Library Blog
https://leonslibraryblog.com/ • Leon Bolton
• Campaign tips and
tactics
• Statistics and Reports
• Leon Librarian
• @Librareon
- • 942 Followers
• 8,869 TweetsLibraries Hacked
• Dave Rowe
• @LibrariesHacked
• 989 Followers
• 1,888 Tweets
• Progressive ideas:
• Open Data
- • New technologiesNick Poole
• CEO of CILIP
• @NickPoole1
• 8,244 Twitter Followers
• 18.9k Tweets
• Spotlights latest
developments
- • Engages in political debateOther Notable Individuals • Laura Swaffield @lswaffield1 – Public Library Activist – 384 Followers • Lauren Smith @walkyouhome – Politically engaged Researcher – 4,189 followers • Phil Bradley @Philbradley – Librarian and internet consultant – 17.5k followers • Stella Duffy @StellDuffy – Innovator behind Fun Palaces - 22k followers • Eli Neiburger @ulotrichous – Self-proclaimed, geek, dad, librarian – 3,098 followers • Sarah Houghton @TheLib – Library Director, author, speaker, iconoclast – 16.2k followers • Sara Wingate Gray and Sarah Lomax @artefactors – Collections + Technology x Ideas = artefactors – 280 followers. • Library customers and users have the power to change the narrative too. Just look at United Airlines!
Defend the 10
• Lambeth, London
• http://defendthe10-
lambeth.org.uk/
• @DefendtheTen
• 2,976 Twitter Followers
• 12.4k Tweets
-The Library Campaign
• Independent registered charity
• National
• Set up in 1984
• www.librarycampaign.com
@LibraryCampaign
• 5,540 Twitter Followers
- • 20.4k TweetsClosing Remarks
Closing Remarks • Know and understand your context • Extend advocacy to all issues affecting the sector from author to publisher to reader and everything in between. • Open dialogues • Don’t just make noise, actually say something! • Try to be a part of every conversation affecting your activities • Engage with all stakeholders
Closing Remarks • Professor Hank Lucas: How would your library score? • Libraries steeped in history, but our secret weapon is that we are meeting our future head-on and we do not lack imagination. • Evolve the business model • If we had known 10 years ago what we know now, maybe 300+ more libraries would still be open…
Jon Davis and Jacqueline Widdowson
PMLGAccess@gmail.comYou can also read
