A while ago I went to a cracking SINTO seminar about what public libraries can do during These Economic Times to support their patrons/customers/clients/service users/human beings (delete as appropriate to whatever your LA has decided to call them) and what they can do to keep themselves afloat (which is going to get even more difficult by the looks of things) through partnerships and/or communication with less-explored avenues such as The Media and businesses.

Anyhow. I wrote it up for the Public Library Journal and it was published a week or so ago. It’s possibly going to be put online, but until it does, you can read it here.

Libraries vs. Recession

Foreword: LAUREN SMITH reports on the recent SINTO seminar investigating how public libraries can help communities during the economic downturn.

Introduction

SINTO (www.sinto.org.uk) is a consortium of library and information services in Yorkshire and the East Midlands. The SINTO seminar held in Sheffield on 15^th October 2009 looked at the information needs of communities in a recession, the services that libraries can provide and, most importantly, how to promote the value of library services at a time when they are threatened by budget cuts.

Setting the Scene

Councillor Sylvia Dunkley, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Sheffield, gave a few introductory words about the increasing importance of libraries for people who have been affected by  the economic downturn. Their work within the community provides support for people who need help with languages, CV writing, debt management, IT skills, searching for jobs and setting up businesses. Libraries in the local area also run reading groups, family history searches and local history, which, although ‘soft’ issues, are important to local people and are ways for people to build morale, a sense of purpose and develop confidence and interpersonal skills. She highlighted the difficulties faced by public libraries as they are asked to do more, at a time when cuts in public sector spending mean services are stretched. Councillor Dunkley called for libraries to look at what more can be done to promote their services – the rest of the seminar explored this need.

Rising to the Challenge

Christine Rooney-Browne, author of Rising to the Challenge: a look at public libraries in times of recession, gave an inspiring and thought-provoking presentation. Challenging a prediction made by a futurist that public libraries will be obsolete by 2020, Christine outlined the relationship between public libraries and business cycles, giving a number of examples of front-page news articles reporting human-interest stories of public libraries coming to the rescue of those in need in times of economic hardship. Libraries serve as sanctuaries from recession ;non-discriminatory environments with welcoming spaces, knowledgeable staff and free resources. The evolving role of libraries as a result of a shift in societal expectations has enabled libraries to shine in times of crisis and to be responsive, relevant, flexible and valuable.

It is easy to understand how and why public libraries are so valuable from an insider’s perspective, but library managers need to really make it clear to stakeholders just what it is they do that is so important for communities and society. There are a number of ways for libraries to collect information about their services and the ways they are used by communities in order for them to strongly demonstrate their vital role. Although anecdotal evidence is not always an appropriate method when presenting information to stakeholders with financial backgrounds, it does provide valuable qualitative data that can paint a rich picture of public libraries within society. As an alternative or supplementary source of evidence, it is possible to measure and present the monetary value of library services; consumer surplus, cost of time and contingent valuation. Using the method of contingent valuation, the British Library was able to demonstrate that its annual value to the British economy was £363 million, that without the British Library the economy would lose £280 million per annum, and that for every £1 invested in the British Library, a £4.40 return was made (British Library, 2004). Although these methods of valuation may not be entirely appropriate for public library services, they certainly present dramatic results and may be effective in catching the eye of funding bodies.

Christine is currently working on methodologies whereby social value can be communicated in effective ways, building upon the community analysis research model (Greer & Hale, 1982; Whipple & Nyce, 2007), the social impact audit (Blake et al., 1976; Usherwood and Linley, 1998; Bryson et al., 2002), and ethnographic research (Brophy, 2007). The evidence generated by qualitative studies over time would hopefully be along the lines of research conducted in New Orleans, where libraries were able to implement effective methodologies and prove their value in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricanes.

Councillor Dunkley’s call for libraries to build partnerships was echoed in the presentation. Public libraries need to exploit revenue streams and sell themselves to stakeholders as the valuable assets they are, not the drains on public sector funding that some may think of them as.

The presentation was a source of many examples of ways in which libraries in the USA as well as across the UK have used innovative publicity methods, and can be viewed at www.slideshare.net/libraryofdigress.

Financial Services Agency

Robert Matthews from the FSA explained the National Strategy for Financial Capability, a service provided by the FSA which aims to provide financial guidance and education for those facing difficulties. Presentations are given by FSA staff and volunteers in a variety of locations, including workplaces, and are sources of valuable support and advice. There is the potential for public libraries to be used as venues – the only requirement is that there must be 20 or more people in attendance. The FSA’s main website is www.fsa.gov.uk. He also pointed us to the Money Made Clear website (www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk) and two sites for younger people; http://www.ypam.org/ and http://www.whataboutmoney.info/.

Job Centre Plus

Jill Marsden from Jobcentre Plus explained the services that Jobcentres provide and made suggestions about how libraries may support job-seekers, through access to the Internet and printing facilities, IT classes and practical guidance. Key outcomes of the discussion at the end of the presentation was that there is often confusion as to how far public library staff should go to support job-seekers and what the expectations of customers are, and that the links between JCPs and libraries could be improved. It was clarified that JCPs do provide in-depth classes and workshops and libraries should not be expected to offer these. It was recommended that libraries could add the www.direct.gov.uk website to Internet browser favourites lists to make it easier for people to find the website.

Business Link

Lynn Harrison explained the role of Business Link Yorkshire and the ways in which they provide support, guidance and inside knowledge for people setting up businesses. The standardised service means there is no postcode lottery and that customers are offered independent and impartial advice. The Business Link website is another site that may be useful for library visitors seeking business advice, and drop-in sessions may be conducted within libraries. It is the feeling of Business Link Yorkshire that no business should fail because of a lack of awareness of access to free information and advice. It is therefore important for library staff to know where to refer people and what business support is available – often customers may ask for advice about where to get grants, which are not currently widely or immediately available.

Libraries and their Value

Following on from the presentations, the attendees were split into two groups for workshops. Tim Davies from Rotherham Public Libraries led a session in which the groups shared information about what libraries in the area already do and what they would like to see libraries be involved with in the future. Some initiatives have been introduced specifically to counter the recession:

• Hosting and/or organising Credit Crunch Roadshows
• Tweaking normal publicity material to emphasise the low cost of library services, availability of potentially useful services and stock, etc.
• Collating useful information on ‘Recession Buster’ section of the service’s website. For example, ’10 Ways to Beat the Recession’
• Collating job information on library websites. For example, ‘Where’s That Job?’ and listing useful newspapers, trade magazines etc. held in stock
• Referrals to i-Point – a service provided by Connexions South-West (http://www.i-point.org.uk/). Making this site available on library computers
• Exploiting internal and council links to provide careers advice sessions
• Attending Area Assemblies and other local democracy to raise visibility and talk about the services on offer
• Producing and hosting a ‘Best of the Web’ directory which includes sections on business information, information for families, etc.
• Consortium-style ‘Ask About Business’ scheme between libraries in Greater Manchester and the North-West. This acts as a referral service and enables resource-sharing. It also organises seminars for local business, to raise awareness of the resources available in libraries. This scheme is currently being investigated by major public business libraries in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Sharing this information was useful to many group members because, although they may have been aware of activities that public libraries could introduce, feedback from libraries which had  experience of trying these ideas provided valuable information and recommendations.

It was largely agreed that public libraries need to make sure that marketing efforts are concerted. A number of barriers to consistent and successful promotion were identified:

• Time
• Money
• Strategic and specialist/expert support
• Lack of recognition of existing good practice
• Lack of ability to “shout about” libraries and library staff
• Inability to recruit more staff should marketing strategies be successful

Building a Local Communication Strategy

David Lindley from The Libraries Agency led a stimulating workshop about how public libraries can build a local communication strategy. He encouraged members to think about how they could market and promote the role of public libraries through effective internal and external communications. He highlighted five points to consider when planning the promotion of library services:

1) Audience

2) Behaviour

3) Content

4) Design

5) Execution/evaluation

1) The importance of effective communication with an Audience of governing bodies (stakeholders) and supporters (partners, agencies, supporters, press, press-offices) was addressed. A number of groups were identified as the people who need to know the value of what public libraries do because of their power to influence decisions affecting public libraries:

• Councillors
• Extended council services
• Schools
• Directors/ Chief Executives/ Chief Officers
• PCTs
• Police/ community safety/ health centres
• Partnerships/agencies
• FSA/ Jobcentre/ Business Link
• National bodies – MLA, DCMS, SCL
• Regional bodies – LAA boards
• Unions

2) Library managers must influence the Behaviour of the Audience through effective communications. If current methods are not working, another way must be identified. At the end of each piece of information there should be a “call to action” identifying what the communication was for and what the recipient ought to do about it.

3) The Content of public libraries – their products and services, value and benefits, uniqueness and performance should be clear in press releases and other communications. Products and services should be explored by public libraries and promoted in exact rather than abstract form. A web toolkit is available which can calculate the annual value of public libraries – (details from David Lindley)

4) A strategy must be Designed. There are effective ways to market services even with a restricted budget; internal newsletters, press releases (through press offices), contact with councillors, monthly reports for directors and invitations to visit the library for police, nurses and press representatives, for example. A collection of a variety of news items (children’s, reading, health etc.) could be gathered and drip-fed to a variety of outlets – the higher the number, the more the sense of Behaviour change.

5) In order for the Execution of a campaign to be successful, everyone involved must know when and how the campaign is happening and know how to respond to its success through an effective infrastructure; ensuring that people are available to take telephone calls, for example. If the messages do not work, look at why, and consider a change in emphasis, processes and disciplines. It is important for the top departments within library services to know what is taking place and for senior managers to buy-in to the strategy and support it.

A number of free resources, including ready-made poster templates, are available on the Libraries Agency website: http://www.librariesagency.com/

A library use value calculator is available at http://www.maine.gov/msl/services/calculator.htm.

Recommendations and Conclusions

The seminar provided a variety of partnership and marketing strategies which public libraries could implement to improve public awareness of their services as well as effectively demonstrate that public libraries are a cornerstone of communities. Public libraries need to be innovative and bold with their promotional activities and schemes and be willing to embrace new technologies. Although public libraries must be careful not to compromise their integrity and position as neutral gatekeepers of information for the community, online sources of publicity, including Web 2.0 features, are often of little or no cost and could be explored as a direction for publicity campaigns. A key area in need of revamping and developing is library websites themselves; they have the potential to be the first point of contact for potential library customers and if they fail to meet the information needs of the user, the user is likely to go elsewhere. Libraries need support from high-level strategic areas and other council departments. Endeavours to publicise public libraries should involve an element of challenging libraries’ image.

Lauren Smith is a Masters student in Librarianship at The University of Sheffield.

LNSmith1@sheffield.ac.uk

References

Blake, D.H., Frederick, W.C. and Meyers, M.S. (1976). “Social auditing: evaluating the impact of corporate programs”, New York: Praeger.

British Library (2004). ‘Measuring our value’. http://www.bl.uk/pdf/measuring.pdf [Accessed 21 October 2009]

Brophy, P., Butters, G. (2007). “Creating a research agenda for local libraries, archives and museums across Europe”, New Review of Information Networking, Vol. 13 No.1, pp.3-21.

Bryson, J., Usherwood, B., Streatfield, D. (2002). Social Impact Audit for the South West Museums Libraries and Archives Council, Centre for the Public Library in the Information Society, Department of Information Studies, The University of Sheffield. [SWMLAC Report].

Greer, R.C., Hale, M.L. (1982). ‘The Community Analysis Process’, Public librarianship: a reader, Robbins-Carter, J. (ed.), Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, pp.358-367.

Linley, R., Usherwood, B. (1998). ‘New measures for the new library: a social audit of public libraries’, Centre for the Public Library in the Information Society, Department of Information Studies, The University of Sheffield. [British Library Research and Innovation Centre Report 89].

Nyce, J.M., Whipple, M. (2007). ‘Community analysis needs ethnography: an example from Romania’. Library Review, v.56 (8), 694-706.

Rooney-Browne, C. (2009). ‘Rising to the challenge: a look at the role of public libraries in times of recession’. Library Review, Vol. 58 No.5, pp. 341-352.

Schuller, T., Watson, D. (2009). ‘Learning through life: inquiry into the future for lifelong learning’. NIACE.

LEIO-TE

Leio-te: — o pranto dos meus olhos rola:
— Do seu cabelo o delicado cheiro,
Da sua voz o timbre prazenteiro,
Tudo do livro sinto que se evola …

Todo o nosso romance: – a doce esmola
Do seu primeiro olhar, o seu primeiro
Sorriso, – neste poema verdadeiro,
Tudo ao meu triste olhar se desenrola.

Para ler o restante clique no link abaixo e conheçam nosso novo blog

http://www.poemasepensamentos.com.br/2009/10/25/leio-te-e-longe-de-ti-por-olavo-bilac/

O fotógrafo francês JR ( Jr Art) é um jovem de 25 anos que esteve em 2008 aqui no Brasil realizando fotos e intervenções em São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro. No Rio, seus trabalhos podem ser vistos no Morro da Providência e no Complexo do Alemão, onde foram fotografados  os próprios moradores. Auto-intitulado um Artivista (artista+ativista), JR realiza retratos sempre relacionados a temas como: engajamento social, liberdade e identidade. Seus retratos são todos em P&B, para que não sejam confundidos com peças publicitárias e suas “cores agressivas”  Como ele mesmo diz. Sua galeria são as ruas de varias cidades pelo mundo, sempre com seus retratos em P&B de proporções gigantes, já realizou trabalhos por todo mundo em locais como : Londres, Espanha, Genebra, Amsterdã, Berlin, Estocolmo, Nova Iorque, entre outras. Veja se não é impressionante nas fotos a seguir por todo mundo inclusive no Rio de Janeiro.

Jr Art Rio de Janeiro

Jr Art Rio de Janeiro

Jr Art Londres

Jr Art Kenya

Eu sei que é meio besta ter fobias. Mas o pavor de rodoviárias não chega a ser crônico, do tipo que faz você espumar pela boca ao entrar em uma.

O que se sente é aquele aperto no peito pelas sensações às quais a rodoviária está ligada, de chegar feliz e ansioso, de ir triste e cansado. De ir cumprir com obrigações e voltar satisfeito (ou preocupado). De ir passear e voltar cheio de histórias, metáforas sobre a vida, fábulas que encantarão aos que não estiveram lá mas estão curiosos sobre suas andanças pelo mundo. Mas é claro que por causa das infinitas experiências que nos proporciona a saudade, muitas outras sensações podem ser catalisadas numa rodoviária.

Saudade! Esta palavra que como muitos sabem só existe na língua portuguesa, é uma espécie de poema minimalista que nosso idioma oferece. Pra quem diga que ela não é poética, apenas pense se um “I miss you” consegue carregar todo o sentido complexo de se gostar à distância, sentir alegria em prestações ou de dividir a vida com quem não se vê.

Além disso tudo, o vazio da rodoviária se completa com a visão desoladora dos vadios que perambulam e dos banquinhos em que as pessoas se sentam, com todo cuidado para ficar o mais longe possível umas das outras. Quanto ao cheiro da rodoviária, este me parece ser universal. É uma mistura de mofo, fritura e perfume de alguns dos que vêm e vão.

Simbolicamente parece que as rodoviárias pertencem ao baixo escalão. Ali se agrupam pessoas comuns e incomuns (o que quer que isso seja, para o bem ou o mal). Essa associação é tão verdadeira quanto o desprezo por qualquer coisa que venha da rodoviária, sejam as cochinhas e souvenirs, sejam os estranhos que possam vir a falar com você – todos parecerão suspeitos.

Bom mesmo ia ser poder ir e vir quando se quer, aonde se quer. Mas estamos presos pela nossa necessidade de sobreviver. Nosso último consolo frente a todas essas privações é o papel, a crônica e os contos que brotam vigorosamente, recortes da verdade que fazem rir ou chorar provocando emoções que podem parecer ou desconhecer a experiência vivida na distância.

E a rodoviária continua lá, todos os dias, destilando esse espectro contido naquilo que nos torna humanos.

Sinto o ar
sinto a tristeza

Sinto a fome
sinto a tristeza

Sinto a dor
sinto a tristeza

Sinto o ódio
sinto a tristeza
Mas, de tudo isso,
o que mais sinto
é o amor.

Diário de Ana

Não vou fazer que nem as menininhas fazem. Chamando-te de querido diário. Nem é por preconceito. É porque não sou mais uma menina.

Sei que és apenas um lugar no espaço e no tempo para que eu escreva sobre o que sinto e penso. Será que o que sinto e penso merece ser escrito?

Mesmo assim, na dúvida, vou escrever. Pode ser que para alguém em algum lugar deste mundo o que escrevo seja relevante.

Diário, meu nome é Ana. Fui blogueira e hoje não me considero mais uma blogueira. Um dia explico porque.

Hoje te inauguro.

Com a internet é fácil, não sei o que faria sem ela...

Busquei por pureza e olha o resultado!

Maligna, eu?

Pobre de mim, só queria umas figurinhas

Powered by ScribeFire.

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Tem dias, que sinto como quem morre

E choro como quem some, derramando-me…

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Edu, são poucas as palavras que tenho para descrever o que sinto por você (se elas conseguirem descrever). Então vou compará-lo ao dia de verão de shakespeare: que é raro de acontecer, mas é o mais belo que se pode viver. Você é minha raridade, minha força, meu mundo, minha doce razão, meu dia de verão. Te amo

Mari

XVIII

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thon art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

Para ler o restante clique no link abaixo e conheçam nosso novo blog

http://www.poemasepensamentos.com.br/2009/09/12/shakespeare-soneto-18/

1) Presa em casa.

Ultimamente tenho me sentido presa em casa. Faço de tudo para resolver o máximo de assuntos necessários em determinada região da cidade, para que não precise voltar lá tão cedo. E tem alguns dias específicos que sair de casa é quase uma tortura. Psicológica.

O anjinho vem e me diz: não te isola desse jeito, vai, conhece pessoas, caminha, aproveita o sol lá fora – e convenhamos que tem feito dias lindos em Porto Alegre -, convida amigos pra uma festa, um cinema, um parque, qualquer coisa. E então vem o diabinho e diz: fica, fica de pijama que é quentinho e confortável, assiste um seriado, faz um almoço gostoso, arruma a casa, estuda, não sai, lá fora é hostil, difícil e doloroso.

Vezes saio. Vezes não.

2) Não tem o que explicar.

As pessoas perguntam o motivo das minhas tatuagens. Uma delas tem sim uma historinha do porquê, mas se eu quisesse contar e criar motivos pra cada uma delas, eu mesma traria a tona o assunto para contar AS PESSOAS QUE ME INTERESSA QUE SAIBAM os motivos de tatuar tais desenhos.

É a minha intimidade o que eu quero desenhar no meu corpo e não vou sair contando. Se quisesse sair contando, postava aqui.

Resumindo: Não pergunte, é coisa de gente chata.

cada um com os seus problemas

3) Eu esqueci.

Todos os anos, na data exata, eu acordava e lembrava que aquele dia um dia foi importante pra mim. E imaginava o que eu faria se as coisas não fossem do jeito que foram. Imaginava todas as surpresas geniais que eu faria, todas as demonstrações de afeto e todas as comemorações. Me deprimia. Passava o resto do dia chorosa.

Esse ano, eu só lembrei que aquele dia era aquele dia quando já haviam passado 2 dias. Vocês não podem conceber a minha felicidade por ter esquecido. Foi a sensação de finalmente ter me libertado de algo que nunca fosse sair de mim. Não pensei em comemorações ou afeto, nada. Só liberdade. LIBERDADE, de verdade.

but not anymore

Imagens retiradas do PostSecret. As páginas linkadas em cada foto são os respectivos posts de cada segredo original.

Eu deixarei que morra em mim o desejo de amar seus olhos que são doces…

Porque nada te poderei dar senão a mágoa de me veres exausto…

No entanto a tua presença é qualquer coisa, como a luz e a vida…

E eu sinto que em meu gesto existe o teu gesto…

E em minha voz, a tua voz…

Para ler o restante clique no link abaixo e conheçam nosso novo blog

http://www.poemasepensamentos.com.br/2009/08/28/ausencia-vinicius-de-morais/

Como é dificil encontrar alguém em uma praia no inverno…

praia no inverno

Não faz um frio congelante. O calor do sol consegue balancear o frio do vento, e a areia está umida, mas não tão umida a ponto de fazer parar. Há uma concha brilhando na areia, alegria: vozes, risadas, música. E logo tudo cessa. A garganta fecha, vem um desespero, uma angústia. Ninguém mais fala nada, ninguém ri, não há direção a seguir.

Só resta dizer que a porta ainda esta entreaberta. Fechando.

É preciso correr.

Deslizo como o véu na sua pele macia
sentindo as curvas de seu corpo,
me perco em suas pernas sensuais,
deliro com seu perfume de mulher,
enquanto beijo seu corpo
olhando em seus olhos seu olhar caliente.

Toco sua juventude com meus lábios de menino,
toco sua alma com meus desejos de homem
e sinto o calor que arde na fusão de nossos corpos,

Para ler o restante clique no link abaixo e conheçam nosso novo blog

http://www.poemasepensamentos.com.br/2009/08/21/desabrochar/

Teus olhos me olham
longamente,
imperiosamente…
de dentro deles teu amor me espia.

Teus olhos me olham numa tortura
de alma que quer ser corpo,
de criação que anseia ser criatura

Para ler o restante clique no link abaixo e conheçam nosso novo blog

http://www.poemasepensamentos.com.br/2009/08/13/fecundacao-gilka-machado/

TEXTO: BEZERRA | ILUSTRAÇÃO: LUCIANO MIDLEJ