9:19am Thursday 26th August 2010
By Sally Clifford
Borrowers can satisfy their love of books without spending a fortune, you can expand your knowledge for free – you can even trace your family tree.
Libraries educate and inform, but much more than that, they are an integral part of our communities and have become more so in this technological age.
They provide internet access for those who otherwise could not get online, and with the development of iPads they encourage youngsters to discover all the traditional pleasure and excitement books can bring.
But library services as we know them could be about to change as authorities, such as Bradford, look at combining their smaller services with retail ventures in the city to secure their future.
According to a Government report, the number of adults visiting libraries in England has fallen steadily over the last five years.
The figures, published in a report commissioned by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, found the number of weekly library-goers in England had gone down by 32 per cent in five years. More than 60 per cent of people had not set foot inside a library in the last year.
Visits by children aged 11 to 15 remained static over the five-year period, with 71.6 per cent using their local service.
In Bradford, library usage appears to have been given a boost during the recession, with more people borrowing than buying books.
Book loans across Bradford increased by three per cent to 1,679,563 in 2009-2010, compared to the previous year, and requested items rose by 28 per cent to 77,843.
The number of active members, borrowing one item or more per year, increased by 11 per cent to 68 per cent.
Bradford is one of ten areas supported by the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council and the Local Government Association to look at alternative ways of delivering its traditional library services.
The programme of change for libraries is part of the Government’s Big Society, the drive launched in July to empower communities.
Tony Stephens, Bradford Council’s assistant director, cultural services, explained that under the current provision, some libraries only opened for five hours a week, in less-than-ideal premises.
Providing ‘Library Link Points’ with retail partners who open from early until late would allow greater access to the service.
“We have a number of libraries that are open less than ten hours a week and in inadequate premises, so access to the service is limited,” says Mr Stephens.
“People are fearful of cuts in services and libraries closing, but we are not going to think like that. We are looking at how we make the service more accessible to more people for a longer period of time.
“We cannot employ more staff, but if we can work in partnership with others we may be able to achieve what we want at no extra cost, which in this climate is a win-win.”
While Bradford is currently looking at working with retail partnerships, there is potential within the programme to launch libraries in less-conventional places. An example of this is the Yorkshire Dales pub which is being used as a library after the villagers of Hudswell bought it to save it from closing.
The New Inn at Wilsden has been running a bring-and-take service for customers for the past three years. Landlady Joanne Chappell is an avid reader and wanted to pass on the benefits to others.
“Joanne reads a lot and she thought it would be nice to give books for free,” says Joanne’s business partner, Christine Schrek.
Christine had a similar service in the pub and golf club she ran in Portugal. “Because English books are so expensive, we put a shelf of books in the pub we ran and then it carried on to the golf club. People would bring books and take books.
“We are open 12 until 12, seven days a week, so you can come in any time and swap your book.”
Mr Stephens says the library service hasn’t ruled out working in other partnerships.
“It’s about saying, how do we prevent library service reductions and how do we maintain service levels within the same or diminished resources? It’s about being more innovative in how you do that.”
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