Grandad & Gran
Jean = Vic
Katie
Victor
Tony
Vanessa
Shani
Brian = Margaret
Stephen
Kerry
William = Anita
David
Freddie
Helen
Ron = Muriel
Mandi
Joanne
Linda
Peter
Glynis
Saturday 3 July 2010
Sunday 20 June 2010
NLCC v City Secretary's 16.6.10
Match Report – City Secretary’s v Notts Libraries, Wednesday 16 June 2010.
Libraries arrived at Regatta Way for the return clash with City Secretary’s without 3 of their leading all-rounders. Mike Hayward had work commitments in Milton Keynes, Phil Wise was seeing a chiropractor about his sore back and Mike Berry was seeking assistance with his groin strain … from whoever assists with groin strains! City Secs bowler Martin Ingham was particularly disappointed to hear of Mike’s unavailability.
In their place, skipper Shaw drafted in the Sissons – dad Graham, along with teenage sons Tom and Jack. City Secs fielded the usual suspects – Miller, Dyson, Townroe, Newton – but also included Rob McCutcheon and Martin Foulds, 2 players who have featured for Libraries this season.
City Secs won the toss and elected to bat. Steve Baker kept things tight at the start of the innings, conceding just 16 off his 4 overs and taking the first wicket with a very well-judged catch by Jack Sisson. Chris Lumb and Graham Sisson bowled economically in the middle overs picking up 5 wickets between them. Sisson seemed to particularly relish uprooting Rob McCutcheon’s middle stump first ball … is there history between these 2 combatants ? Tom Sisson then joined his brother and father in the scorebook with a fine one-handed catch at mid wicket.
But it was Lumb who removed 3 of City Secs most dangerous batsmen – Malcolm Townroe, Brian Thomas and Richard Allen – and took the Man of the Match Award for his 3-20. City Secs ended on 115-7, but not before Tom Sisson took a wicket assisted by his father who took the catch at mid off. Overall Libraries bowled and fielded well to restrict the home side on a high scoring ground.
With a weakened batting line-up, Libraries hoped for big things from their openers. Tom Price was promoted to opener to face the quicker bowling but complained that Miller wasn’t speedy enough after he was bowled second ball! Chris Walker and Graham Sisson looked as though they might put on a useful partnership but Walker swiftly fell to Dyson’s nagging bowling.
Sisson continued on to score 29, including two 6s. With son Tom making a hard hitting 16 down the order and a contribution from Jack, it meant that the Sisson family contributed 72% of the side’s total runs. A call was immediately placed to club statistician Tony Cook to check if this was a record …
Libraries’ innings ended on 64-8 and included 11 not out from Shaw in his Tavare-esque style (younger readers should check Cricinfo for the Test career of C.J.Tavare of Kent & England). This was perhaps not what Steve Baker had in mind when he suggested to the skipper that it was time to ‘roll back the years’!
Two Libraries players currently sidelined made welcome appearances at Regatta Way. John Turner umpired the game and also distributed very professional laminated fixture cards. Dave Green joined us with his retired greyhound ‘Breeze’ … who could make a useful contribution to the side by being re-trained to sweep around the boundary and provide cover for the in-field. (Breeze not Dave, you understand …)
Martyn Shaw
Libraries arrived at Regatta Way for the return clash with City Secretary’s without 3 of their leading all-rounders. Mike Hayward had work commitments in Milton Keynes, Phil Wise was seeing a chiropractor about his sore back and Mike Berry was seeking assistance with his groin strain … from whoever assists with groin strains! City Secs bowler Martin Ingham was particularly disappointed to hear of Mike’s unavailability.
In their place, skipper Shaw drafted in the Sissons – dad Graham, along with teenage sons Tom and Jack. City Secs fielded the usual suspects – Miller, Dyson, Townroe, Newton – but also included Rob McCutcheon and Martin Foulds, 2 players who have featured for Libraries this season.
City Secs won the toss and elected to bat. Steve Baker kept things tight at the start of the innings, conceding just 16 off his 4 overs and taking the first wicket with a very well-judged catch by Jack Sisson. Chris Lumb and Graham Sisson bowled economically in the middle overs picking up 5 wickets between them. Sisson seemed to particularly relish uprooting Rob McCutcheon’s middle stump first ball … is there history between these 2 combatants ? Tom Sisson then joined his brother and father in the scorebook with a fine one-handed catch at mid wicket.
But it was Lumb who removed 3 of City Secs most dangerous batsmen – Malcolm Townroe, Brian Thomas and Richard Allen – and took the Man of the Match Award for his 3-20. City Secs ended on 115-7, but not before Tom Sisson took a wicket assisted by his father who took the catch at mid off. Overall Libraries bowled and fielded well to restrict the home side on a high scoring ground.
With a weakened batting line-up, Libraries hoped for big things from their openers. Tom Price was promoted to opener to face the quicker bowling but complained that Miller wasn’t speedy enough after he was bowled second ball! Chris Walker and Graham Sisson looked as though they might put on a useful partnership but Walker swiftly fell to Dyson’s nagging bowling.
Sisson continued on to score 29, including two 6s. With son Tom making a hard hitting 16 down the order and a contribution from Jack, it meant that the Sisson family contributed 72% of the side’s total runs. A call was immediately placed to club statistician Tony Cook to check if this was a record …
Libraries’ innings ended on 64-8 and included 11 not out from Shaw in his Tavare-esque style (younger readers should check Cricinfo for the Test career of C.J.Tavare of Kent & England). This was perhaps not what Steve Baker had in mind when he suggested to the skipper that it was time to ‘roll back the years’!
Two Libraries players currently sidelined made welcome appearances at Regatta Way. John Turner umpired the game and also distributed very professional laminated fixture cards. Dave Green joined us with his retired greyhound ‘Breeze’ … who could make a useful contribution to the side by being re-trained to sweep around the boundary and provide cover for the in-field. (Breeze not Dave, you understand …)
Martyn Shaw
Friday 11 June 2010
Notts Libraries v Gedling 27.5.10
Libraries vs Gedling Sports, King George V Ground, Arnold, Thursday, 27th May, 2010
A 43 run defeat for Libraries does not tell the whole story of this match after Gedling batted first and made 129 for 3 off 16 overs.
Libraries were keeping up with the run rate in reply and were 65 for 1 off 8 overs before a collapse of epic proportions brought a swift end to the match. 83 for 3 somehow became 86 all out in the space of three overs and that, as they say, was that!
Mike Berry made a welcome first appearance of the season and Phil Wise managed to keep his place in the side after making 78 not out the previous week. With Mike Hayward also playing Libraries looked to have a useful batting line up on a ground which traditionally favours the batsmen.
Indeed it was business as usual as Gedling chose to bat after winning the toss and rattled up 129 for 3 at eight an over. An early breakthrough was made when Geoff Spurr played around a ball from Steve Baker and was bowled for 0 but his opening partner, Redfern, went on to make an unbeaten 45. Evans also made 44 before being bowled by Tom Price, who also took a good catch to dismiss Collins off the bowling of Baker.
Tom Price was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with excellent figures on this ground of 4-0-16-1, but nobody else went for less than 7 an over. Libraries had still put in a decent effort in the field, and we felt it was still game on when Mike Hayward came to open the batting with Mike Berry.
Hayward was in a hurry and hit 4 fours in his 17, and the good work was continued by Berry and Phil Wise who put on 54 for the second wicket. They were up with the rate at the half way point of the innings, although several good shots were finding fielders and yielding only singles rather than boundaries.
Everything changed with the introduction of Roylance, and the Gedling bowler struck two vital blows to have Phil Wise stumped for 24 and in his next over to bowl Mike Berry for 32. A probable winning situation had now become only a ‘possible’, but what happened next defied belief even after many years of witnessing Library batting collapses.
Mike Berry had been raffling off an unconventional looking bat called a ‘Mongoose’ before the game, but the only animal on most people’s minds was our old friend the duck as Messrs Gordon, Price, Stannard, Shaw, Brindle, Baker and Lumb mustered only 4 runs between them for the loss of 7, yes SEVEN, wickets! Five of the ‘batsmen’ failed to trouble the scorers, although Mr Baker was undefeated on 0 not out. Libraries had contrived to go from 79 for 2, to 83 for 3, to 86 all out.
Mr Baker had even predicted the fall of a wicket, commenting when Tom Price faced up to Roylance that he was the kind of bowler that Tom hated, ie the ball not coming on with any great pace. As if on cue the batsman duly took a huge swing at a straight ball and was comprehensively bowled.
Gedling bowler Roylance finished with the incredible figures of 6 wickets for 9 runs off 3.2 overs, and Libraries ended up with another defeat at the King George V ground. The Man of the Match award was given to Tom Price for his bowling and fine catch, but he was also awarded the Vimto Moment for trying to hit the first ball from a new bowler out of the ground and being bowled for 0!
Chris Lumb
A 43 run defeat for Libraries does not tell the whole story of this match after Gedling batted first and made 129 for 3 off 16 overs.
Libraries were keeping up with the run rate in reply and were 65 for 1 off 8 overs before a collapse of epic proportions brought a swift end to the match. 83 for 3 somehow became 86 all out in the space of three overs and that, as they say, was that!
Mike Berry made a welcome first appearance of the season and Phil Wise managed to keep his place in the side after making 78 not out the previous week. With Mike Hayward also playing Libraries looked to have a useful batting line up on a ground which traditionally favours the batsmen.
Indeed it was business as usual as Gedling chose to bat after winning the toss and rattled up 129 for 3 at eight an over. An early breakthrough was made when Geoff Spurr played around a ball from Steve Baker and was bowled for 0 but his opening partner, Redfern, went on to make an unbeaten 45. Evans also made 44 before being bowled by Tom Price, who also took a good catch to dismiss Collins off the bowling of Baker.
Tom Price was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with excellent figures on this ground of 4-0-16-1, but nobody else went for less than 7 an over. Libraries had still put in a decent effort in the field, and we felt it was still game on when Mike Hayward came to open the batting with Mike Berry.
Hayward was in a hurry and hit 4 fours in his 17, and the good work was continued by Berry and Phil Wise who put on 54 for the second wicket. They were up with the rate at the half way point of the innings, although several good shots were finding fielders and yielding only singles rather than boundaries.
Everything changed with the introduction of Roylance, and the Gedling bowler struck two vital blows to have Phil Wise stumped for 24 and in his next over to bowl Mike Berry for 32. A probable winning situation had now become only a ‘possible’, but what happened next defied belief even after many years of witnessing Library batting collapses.
Mike Berry had been raffling off an unconventional looking bat called a ‘Mongoose’ before the game, but the only animal on most people’s minds was our old friend the duck as Messrs Gordon, Price, Stannard, Shaw, Brindle, Baker and Lumb mustered only 4 runs between them for the loss of 7, yes SEVEN, wickets! Five of the ‘batsmen’ failed to trouble the scorers, although Mr Baker was undefeated on 0 not out. Libraries had contrived to go from 79 for 2, to 83 for 3, to 86 all out.
Mr Baker had even predicted the fall of a wicket, commenting when Tom Price faced up to Roylance that he was the kind of bowler that Tom hated, ie the ball not coming on with any great pace. As if on cue the batsman duly took a huge swing at a straight ball and was comprehensively bowled.
Gedling bowler Roylance finished with the incredible figures of 6 wickets for 9 runs off 3.2 overs, and Libraries ended up with another defeat at the King George V ground. The Man of the Match award was given to Tom Price for his bowling and fine catch, but he was also awarded the Vimto Moment for trying to hit the first ball from a new bowler out of the ground and being bowled for 0!
Chris Lumb
Sunday 6 June 2010
Nottinghamshire Libraries Cricket Team V Ernehale, 2.6.10
Nottinghamshire Libraries V Ernhale
2nd June 2010 at The Rectory Ground, Colwick
On a beautiful night for cricket NLCC found themselves playing on The rectory in Colwick for the first time in many years. The match should have been played at King George V playing field in Arnold but botulism has closed the pavilion (what do Gedling District Council expect when they neglect the ground?).
The change of venue delighted all our bowlers who find King George a nightmare to bowl on but little did they know! The night didn’t start well as we were only had 9 players available (it was to get worse with one player arriving late and one not making it at all). Stand in Captain Mike Hayward won the toss and decided to bowl. Ernehale, the opposition, very generously leant us 4 players to field. Well it seemed generous but after a couple of overs it became obvious that they were more for decoration than any practical use, making some very poor fielding attempts. These included a farcical dive that saw a slow moving ball kicked over the boundary rope.
The match started well enough with Baker bowling Johnson with his second ball but after that it was very hard work with Newham scoring 79 before being stumped by Bray of Stannard’s bowling and Taj retiring not out on 65. Ernehale scored freely through out their innings ending up on 183 for 2 off their 20 overs.
While Ernehale found it easy Libraries found it anything but with only Hayward (17) and Stannard (10) getting to double figures. When we were all out for 68 in the 14th over it actually felt a bit of a relief.
We were out batted, bowled and fielded but still had a good time and there were some highlights. Tony Gordon and Dave Stannard got a rare opportunity to bowl. Dave doing very well, beating the bat several times and getting a well earned stumping (his bowling added to his batting got him the man of the match award). Lumb getting an equally rare opportunity to bat scored a fluent 7 not out including a boundary.
The Vimto moment, the opposite of a champagne moment, went to our guest fielders for the most incompetent display of fielding seen for many a year.
Steve Baker
2nd June 2010 at The Rectory Ground, Colwick
On a beautiful night for cricket NLCC found themselves playing on The rectory in Colwick for the first time in many years. The match should have been played at King George V playing field in Arnold but botulism has closed the pavilion (what do Gedling District Council expect when they neglect the ground?).
The change of venue delighted all our bowlers who find King George a nightmare to bowl on but little did they know! The night didn’t start well as we were only had 9 players available (it was to get worse with one player arriving late and one not making it at all). Stand in Captain Mike Hayward won the toss and decided to bowl. Ernehale, the opposition, very generously leant us 4 players to field. Well it seemed generous but after a couple of overs it became obvious that they were more for decoration than any practical use, making some very poor fielding attempts. These included a farcical dive that saw a slow moving ball kicked over the boundary rope.
The match started well enough with Baker bowling Johnson with his second ball but after that it was very hard work with Newham scoring 79 before being stumped by Bray of Stannard’s bowling and Taj retiring not out on 65. Ernehale scored freely through out their innings ending up on 183 for 2 off their 20 overs.
While Ernehale found it easy Libraries found it anything but with only Hayward (17) and Stannard (10) getting to double figures. When we were all out for 68 in the 14th over it actually felt a bit of a relief.
We were out batted, bowled and fielded but still had a good time and there were some highlights. Tony Gordon and Dave Stannard got a rare opportunity to bowl. Dave doing very well, beating the bat several times and getting a well earned stumping (his bowling added to his batting got him the man of the match award). Lumb getting an equally rare opportunity to bat scored a fluent 7 not out including a boundary.
The Vimto moment, the opposite of a champagne moment, went to our guest fielders for the most incompetent display of fielding seen for many a year.
Steve Baker
Tuesday 1 June 2010
First 3 matches of Notts Libraries cricket season 2010
Libraries vs. County Casuals, West Park, Thursday, 13th May, 2010
A typically eventful match against County Casuals ended with a five wicket victory for Libraries at West Park. It was a reversal of the result of last year’s opening fixture, but was achieved with one or two bizarre incidents, a touch of controversy, and a dramatic batting collapse which had us limping over the finishing line when the match should have been done and dusted.
A superb bowling and fielding performance had left Libraries needing only 51 to win off 18 overs, having dismissed Casuals for 50. Mike Hayward and Tony Gordon had put on 40 for the first wicket and we were seemingly cruising to victory with only one wicket down and one run needed. However, in the finest Libraries’ tradition there followed a collapse of epic proportions which saw FOUR wickets fall with the score on 50.
Tony Gordon was caught for 10, having narrowly failed to carry his bat through the innings, but the further dismissals of Steve Hayward, Tom Price and Thomas Brindle, all for nought, left the nerves jangling. However, with Saed Anwar and Colin Morley at the crease, a wide was bowled to give us the one run needed for victory! It was a fitting end to a bizarre sequence of events.
The Libraries line up was a mixture of the old guard and the new, with Mike Hayward keeping wicket for the first time, twin brother Steve making his debut, Thomas Brindle coming in for an occasional game, and Ken Bray taking the field after a pre-season operation on his foot. The plaster had only been fully removed a week beforehand, proving that his time spent in the oxygen tent had clearly worked.
There was still a familiar look about the side with Martyn Shaw skippering, and it was an established partnership of Baker and Lumb which produced the first wicket of the season, Lumb catching Ebbage at backward point off the bowling of Steve Baker. It was Chris Lumb’s 50th catch for Libraries. The same combination struck again a few overs later with an almost identical dismissal, this time Arnold cutting a ball from Baker straight to Lumb in the same position.
In between Tom Price, carrying on his superb indoor nets’ form, struck twice. His wickets included a rare stumping, the first of two by Mike Hayward in the innings. Ken Bray then pulled off a trademark catch in the covers, sticking out his left hand to hold a stinging drive from Hallam and giving Steve Baker his third wicket.
The wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with that of Bob Wallace the most bizarre and, in the mind of Mr Wallace, the most controversial. A ball from left-armer Lumb hit him on the back leg and appeared to be plumb. Wicket-keeper Hayward let out a stifled appeal, followed by what can best be described as a polite enquiry from Lumb. The umpire’s finger shot up and he later said he had no doubt that the ball had pitched on rather than outside leg stump, the reason for both ‘keeper and bowler’s hesitation. Mr Wallace was initially reluctant to depart, like the former prime minister, and there followed a period of negotiation which would not have disgraced our new political leaders before he did the decent thing and returned to the pavilion. Presumably Bob was trying to work out whether two half appeals constituted a full appeal!
All the Libraries’ bowlers put in good performances; Colin Morley had excellent figures of 1 for 11 off four overs, Baker an impressive 3 for 8 off four, Price 2 for 8 off four, and Lumb took 3 for 20. Steve Hayward also bowled with frightening pace on the West Park matted strip and took his first wicket for the team. Meats was struck a beefy blow on the arm before being bowled the very next delivery by one pitched up.
Needing 51 to win, Mike Hayward carried the fight with an excellent 32 in the opening partnership of 40 with Tony Gordon. His dismissal brought Saed to the crease, and they brought the scores level when Tony Gordon was out caught for 10. At this stage Libraries were possibly guilty of complacency – not a phrase often associated with the Libraries cricket team – with Steve Hayward bowled for 0 when trying to end the match with a lusty blow. Tom Price then became Saed’s first victim of the season, run out by almost the length of the pitch when called for a quick single, and Thomas Brindle was caught behind by a diving Andy Peacock with the scores still remaining level. It was all over when a wide finally brought us victory.
The Vimto Moment went to Saed Anwar for running out Tom Price in pursuit of victory, and the Man of the Match award was given to Ken Bray in recognition of his efforts in taking the field –and taking a stunning catch - only a week after having a post op plaster removed from his foot.
Chris Lumb
Hardwick v Notts Libraries, Sunday 16 May.
With the Hardwick fixture washed out in the past 2 seasons, Notts Libraries arrived at the picturesque Derbyshire venue seeking to avenge their heavy defeat in 2007. On that occasion, Libraries amassed just 78 runs – despite the presence in the side of a Bangladeshi international!
Libraries’ batsmen faired much better on this visit, totalling a competitive 191-5, after skipper Shaw won the toss and elected to bat. The innings was given a solid start by openers Martin Foulds and Mike Hayward, who put on 90 for the first wicket. Foulds was first out for 28 but Hayward went on to reach 50, hitting four 6s in an otherwise patient knock. Phil Gilman and Chris Walker maintained the momentum – both hitting 30s. Some lusty late order hitting from Tom Price – finally re-producing some of his form from the indoor nets – took Libraries to a very respectable total and their highest at Hardwick for many seasons. The Libraries performance was much appreciated by a small, but knowledgeable crowd of family members and former players, including Brian Spencer and his wife Dee.
The tea interval did not pass without incident. Safety advisor Rob McCutcheon failed to undertake an adequate risk assessment when sugaring his tea and threatened to put opening bowler Baker out of the match with a scalding injury. Back safely on the outfield before the start of Hardwick’s innings, Tom Price was presented with a signed mini-bat to mark his 50th appearance for the Libraries XI.
Libraries’ opening bowlers ensured that Hardwick started their reply steadily, scoring at under the asking-rate for the first 10 overs. Steve Baker was particularly economical, conceding just 20 runs in 8 overs which included 3 maidens and the valuable wicket of Andy Wheatcroft, Hardwick’s opening bat and captain and a regular thorn in Libraries’ side. This wicket fell to an excellently judged tumbling catch at mid-on by Tony Gordon.
As the innings progressed, Hardwick utilised their local knowledge and especially the very short boundary on the Hall side of the wicket. Several balls were deposited over the wall into the garden, endangering visitors enjoying an afternoon stroll! Chris Lumb responded to some savage hitting from the Hardwick batsmen by taking the second wicket with the score on Nelson. Despite trying 6 bowlers (and 2 wicket keepers), Libraries could take no more wickets as opener Matt Pearson proved impossible to dislodge, finally finishing the match in the 32nd over with 91 not out.
Libraries’ Man of the Match was awarded to Mike Hayward for his 50 runs and a return to bowling action. David Stannard was awarded the Vimto moment for no other reason than turning up with a spectacular bruise which was the colour of Vimto!
So a competitive match with a very good batting performance from Libraries. With England overcoming Australia in the World T20 in Barbados, all present will remember where they were when an England cricket team finally won a World tournament … (Oh … and hopefully Morecambe FC fan, Chris Lumb, will remember the cricket … rather than the play-off score from Dag & Red!...)
Martyn Shaw
Libraries vs. City Secretary’s Dept, Regatta Way, 19th May, 2010
Libraries made it two midweek victories in a row with a 7 wicket win over City Sec’s in a high scoring match at Regatta Way. A belligerent 78 not out from Phil Wise and 38 from Chris Walker, who together put on 81 for the second wicket, saw us home with three balls to spare.
It was all the more galling for City Sec’s as Phil was a last minute inclusion in the Libraries’ side, having turned down an offer earlier in the week to play for City Sec’s against us. We can only speculate on the inducements made by skipper Martyn Shaw to Mr Wise to turn out for Libraries after Steve Hayward withdrew on the morning of the match, but the phrase ‘cricket whore’ was mentioned by the opposition!
The 16 over evening match also marked our first played with a pink ball; not so much a cherry as a pink blancmange! However, the ball stayed hard as did the Regatta Way outfield, making it a tough ground on which to defend boundaries.
Shaw won the toss and put the opposition in, and Townroe was particularly brutal in making 67 not out. He was accompanied by some searing shots from Thomas, who finished undefeated on 24. However, the Libraries’ bowlers stuck at it, backed up by some creditable fielding which kept the score down to manageable proportions. Thomas Brindle, in particular, did some sterling work on the boundary and had one of those nights when the ball seemed to follow him no matter where he was placed.
Only two wickets fell in the City Sec’s innings, Price bowling Allen for 8 and Mike Hayward bowling Bird with his slow spin. The only other chances fell early on when a ball in Price’s first over was clipped to the fine leg boundary over the head of the onrushing Steve Baker, and Dave Stannard couldn’t hold on to a chance in the covers off Steve’s bowling.
City Sec’s made 125 for 2 off their 16 overs, meaning Libraries needed to score at almost 8 an over to overhaul them. Our reply couldn’t have got off to a worse start when Mike Hayward was bowled by Sin in the first over, but this brought together Phil Wise and Chris Walker.
Chris had picked up a leg injury when bowling at Hardwick but his batting was in good touch as he and Wise kept pace with each other in the early overs. He was dropped once, but had made 38, running 22 of them, until the injury hampered his attempts to snatch a quick single and he was run out at the non strikers end.
The partnership had put on 81 in 10 overs, but there was still plenty to do to knock off the 44 runs still needed in just over five overs. Phil Wise stepped it up though, partnered by first Tom Price and then Colin Morley, and went from 42 to 78 not out at the close to see us home to victory. His Man of the Match knock included 10 fours and a six.
The Vimto Trophy was not awarded, although Steve Baker must have been a strong candidate when he raced in from the deep fine leg boundary for an attempted catch, overshot, and then could only watch the ball sail over his head and cross the boundary at very spot he had just come from!
Heard out in the middle:
Mike Hayward had just bowled City Sec’s number 3 when the next batsman, a tall muscular fella with the physique of an American footballer, strode to the crease swishing his bat. “Now Mike, what do you think he does?” asked the skipper with a view to his field placings.
“He eats babies!” replied one of the Libraries’ fielders from close by.
Chris Lumb
A typically eventful match against County Casuals ended with a five wicket victory for Libraries at West Park. It was a reversal of the result of last year’s opening fixture, but was achieved with one or two bizarre incidents, a touch of controversy, and a dramatic batting collapse which had us limping over the finishing line when the match should have been done and dusted.
A superb bowling and fielding performance had left Libraries needing only 51 to win off 18 overs, having dismissed Casuals for 50. Mike Hayward and Tony Gordon had put on 40 for the first wicket and we were seemingly cruising to victory with only one wicket down and one run needed. However, in the finest Libraries’ tradition there followed a collapse of epic proportions which saw FOUR wickets fall with the score on 50.
Tony Gordon was caught for 10, having narrowly failed to carry his bat through the innings, but the further dismissals of Steve Hayward, Tom Price and Thomas Brindle, all for nought, left the nerves jangling. However, with Saed Anwar and Colin Morley at the crease, a wide was bowled to give us the one run needed for victory! It was a fitting end to a bizarre sequence of events.
The Libraries line up was a mixture of the old guard and the new, with Mike Hayward keeping wicket for the first time, twin brother Steve making his debut, Thomas Brindle coming in for an occasional game, and Ken Bray taking the field after a pre-season operation on his foot. The plaster had only been fully removed a week beforehand, proving that his time spent in the oxygen tent had clearly worked.
There was still a familiar look about the side with Martyn Shaw skippering, and it was an established partnership of Baker and Lumb which produced the first wicket of the season, Lumb catching Ebbage at backward point off the bowling of Steve Baker. It was Chris Lumb’s 50th catch for Libraries. The same combination struck again a few overs later with an almost identical dismissal, this time Arnold cutting a ball from Baker straight to Lumb in the same position.
In between Tom Price, carrying on his superb indoor nets’ form, struck twice. His wickets included a rare stumping, the first of two by Mike Hayward in the innings. Ken Bray then pulled off a trademark catch in the covers, sticking out his left hand to hold a stinging drive from Hallam and giving Steve Baker his third wicket.
The wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, with that of Bob Wallace the most bizarre and, in the mind of Mr Wallace, the most controversial. A ball from left-armer Lumb hit him on the back leg and appeared to be plumb. Wicket-keeper Hayward let out a stifled appeal, followed by what can best be described as a polite enquiry from Lumb. The umpire’s finger shot up and he later said he had no doubt that the ball had pitched on rather than outside leg stump, the reason for both ‘keeper and bowler’s hesitation. Mr Wallace was initially reluctant to depart, like the former prime minister, and there followed a period of negotiation which would not have disgraced our new political leaders before he did the decent thing and returned to the pavilion. Presumably Bob was trying to work out whether two half appeals constituted a full appeal!
All the Libraries’ bowlers put in good performances; Colin Morley had excellent figures of 1 for 11 off four overs, Baker an impressive 3 for 8 off four, Price 2 for 8 off four, and Lumb took 3 for 20. Steve Hayward also bowled with frightening pace on the West Park matted strip and took his first wicket for the team. Meats was struck a beefy blow on the arm before being bowled the very next delivery by one pitched up.
Needing 51 to win, Mike Hayward carried the fight with an excellent 32 in the opening partnership of 40 with Tony Gordon. His dismissal brought Saed to the crease, and they brought the scores level when Tony Gordon was out caught for 10. At this stage Libraries were possibly guilty of complacency – not a phrase often associated with the Libraries cricket team – with Steve Hayward bowled for 0 when trying to end the match with a lusty blow. Tom Price then became Saed’s first victim of the season, run out by almost the length of the pitch when called for a quick single, and Thomas Brindle was caught behind by a diving Andy Peacock with the scores still remaining level. It was all over when a wide finally brought us victory.
The Vimto Moment went to Saed Anwar for running out Tom Price in pursuit of victory, and the Man of the Match award was given to Ken Bray in recognition of his efforts in taking the field –and taking a stunning catch - only a week after having a post op plaster removed from his foot.
Chris Lumb
Hardwick v Notts Libraries, Sunday 16 May.
With the Hardwick fixture washed out in the past 2 seasons, Notts Libraries arrived at the picturesque Derbyshire venue seeking to avenge their heavy defeat in 2007. On that occasion, Libraries amassed just 78 runs – despite the presence in the side of a Bangladeshi international!
Libraries’ batsmen faired much better on this visit, totalling a competitive 191-5, after skipper Shaw won the toss and elected to bat. The innings was given a solid start by openers Martin Foulds and Mike Hayward, who put on 90 for the first wicket. Foulds was first out for 28 but Hayward went on to reach 50, hitting four 6s in an otherwise patient knock. Phil Gilman and Chris Walker maintained the momentum – both hitting 30s. Some lusty late order hitting from Tom Price – finally re-producing some of his form from the indoor nets – took Libraries to a very respectable total and their highest at Hardwick for many seasons. The Libraries performance was much appreciated by a small, but knowledgeable crowd of family members and former players, including Brian Spencer and his wife Dee.
The tea interval did not pass without incident. Safety advisor Rob McCutcheon failed to undertake an adequate risk assessment when sugaring his tea and threatened to put opening bowler Baker out of the match with a scalding injury. Back safely on the outfield before the start of Hardwick’s innings, Tom Price was presented with a signed mini-bat to mark his 50th appearance for the Libraries XI.
Libraries’ opening bowlers ensured that Hardwick started their reply steadily, scoring at under the asking-rate for the first 10 overs. Steve Baker was particularly economical, conceding just 20 runs in 8 overs which included 3 maidens and the valuable wicket of Andy Wheatcroft, Hardwick’s opening bat and captain and a regular thorn in Libraries’ side. This wicket fell to an excellently judged tumbling catch at mid-on by Tony Gordon.
As the innings progressed, Hardwick utilised their local knowledge and especially the very short boundary on the Hall side of the wicket. Several balls were deposited over the wall into the garden, endangering visitors enjoying an afternoon stroll! Chris Lumb responded to some savage hitting from the Hardwick batsmen by taking the second wicket with the score on Nelson. Despite trying 6 bowlers (and 2 wicket keepers), Libraries could take no more wickets as opener Matt Pearson proved impossible to dislodge, finally finishing the match in the 32nd over with 91 not out.
Libraries’ Man of the Match was awarded to Mike Hayward for his 50 runs and a return to bowling action. David Stannard was awarded the Vimto moment for no other reason than turning up with a spectacular bruise which was the colour of Vimto!
So a competitive match with a very good batting performance from Libraries. With England overcoming Australia in the World T20 in Barbados, all present will remember where they were when an England cricket team finally won a World tournament … (Oh … and hopefully Morecambe FC fan, Chris Lumb, will remember the cricket … rather than the play-off score from Dag & Red!...)
Martyn Shaw
Libraries vs. City Secretary’s Dept, Regatta Way, 19th May, 2010
Libraries made it two midweek victories in a row with a 7 wicket win over City Sec’s in a high scoring match at Regatta Way. A belligerent 78 not out from Phil Wise and 38 from Chris Walker, who together put on 81 for the second wicket, saw us home with three balls to spare.
It was all the more galling for City Sec’s as Phil was a last minute inclusion in the Libraries’ side, having turned down an offer earlier in the week to play for City Sec’s against us. We can only speculate on the inducements made by skipper Martyn Shaw to Mr Wise to turn out for Libraries after Steve Hayward withdrew on the morning of the match, but the phrase ‘cricket whore’ was mentioned by the opposition!
The 16 over evening match also marked our first played with a pink ball; not so much a cherry as a pink blancmange! However, the ball stayed hard as did the Regatta Way outfield, making it a tough ground on which to defend boundaries.
Shaw won the toss and put the opposition in, and Townroe was particularly brutal in making 67 not out. He was accompanied by some searing shots from Thomas, who finished undefeated on 24. However, the Libraries’ bowlers stuck at it, backed up by some creditable fielding which kept the score down to manageable proportions. Thomas Brindle, in particular, did some sterling work on the boundary and had one of those nights when the ball seemed to follow him no matter where he was placed.
Only two wickets fell in the City Sec’s innings, Price bowling Allen for 8 and Mike Hayward bowling Bird with his slow spin. The only other chances fell early on when a ball in Price’s first over was clipped to the fine leg boundary over the head of the onrushing Steve Baker, and Dave Stannard couldn’t hold on to a chance in the covers off Steve’s bowling.
City Sec’s made 125 for 2 off their 16 overs, meaning Libraries needed to score at almost 8 an over to overhaul them. Our reply couldn’t have got off to a worse start when Mike Hayward was bowled by Sin in the first over, but this brought together Phil Wise and Chris Walker.
Chris had picked up a leg injury when bowling at Hardwick but his batting was in good touch as he and Wise kept pace with each other in the early overs. He was dropped once, but had made 38, running 22 of them, until the injury hampered his attempts to snatch a quick single and he was run out at the non strikers end.
The partnership had put on 81 in 10 overs, but there was still plenty to do to knock off the 44 runs still needed in just over five overs. Phil Wise stepped it up though, partnered by first Tom Price and then Colin Morley, and went from 42 to 78 not out at the close to see us home to victory. His Man of the Match knock included 10 fours and a six.
The Vimto Trophy was not awarded, although Steve Baker must have been a strong candidate when he raced in from the deep fine leg boundary for an attempted catch, overshot, and then could only watch the ball sail over his head and cross the boundary at very spot he had just come from!
Heard out in the middle:
Mike Hayward had just bowled City Sec’s number 3 when the next batsman, a tall muscular fella with the physique of an American footballer, strode to the crease swishing his bat. “Now Mike, what do you think he does?” asked the skipper with a view to his field placings.
“He eats babies!” replied one of the Libraries’ fielders from close by.
Chris Lumb
Friday 23 April 2010
Homework Support Project
Homework Project Report
1. Purpose of the report
2. Methodology
3. Findings
4. Recommendations
5. Evaluation
6. Final Conclusion
7. Appendix
1. Purpose of the report
The report identifies the role Nottinghamshire Libraries could play in providing homework support. The work was undertaken by members of the Learning Support Team and Children and Youth Team in liaison with other Development Teams and District Managers.
2. Methodology
The project evaluated existing homework provision and examined models for extending provision across the whole county, including the development of new ‘homework clubs’ and a ‘virtual’ service.
2.1 Evaluated the Homework Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library
Discussions were held with the Homework Centre Assistant, library staff and the Learning Support Team who have worked at the Centre. Feedback was collected from children and young people who use the Centre as well as from their parents and teachers. We also analysed statistics of use.
2.2 Identified existing homework provision across the County
• Working with Extended Services Coordinators and School Librarians we conducted a survey of 283 state schools across Nottinghamshire to identify which schools ran homework clubs.
• We contacted Extended Services Co-ordinators and COG members about homework support provided by other agencies including the voluntary and private sectors. This information has helped to map provision across the county.
• We contacted Youth Centres where Newlink PCs have been located.
2.3 Identified potential partners
• We examined the Community Scoping documents as well as questionnaires sent out to COG members and Extended Services Coordinators. We also contacted Sure Start and Youth Centres where Newlink PCs have been located. This information has enabled us to identify and contact organisations with a view to potential partnership working.
2.4 Identified libraries with the greatest social need
• We examined evidence of social deprivation in the community served by each library to identify where the need for homework support was greatest and where efforts should be concentrated. Decisions were based on information from each library’s community profile and ‘The Condition of Nottinghamshire 2009’ report.
• Library Managers and District Managers were asked to complete an audit for all libraries in their area to determine what facilities were available to offer effective homework support.
2.5 Investigated models of homework support including the option of providing ‘virtual’ support
We examined 172 library authorities in England and Wales for evidence of good practice both in providing ‘homework clubs’ and ‘virtual’ support.
3. Findings
3.1 The Homework Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library
The Centre has fulfilled a need for supporting children and young people in an area of high social deprivation for 12 years. However some revisions need to be made.
• Current opening hours are not compatible with the revised opening hours at Kirkby Library.
• A number of issues regarding health and safety were identified, including staffing ratios, cover for absence and the need for enhanced CRB checks.
• Ongoing liaison with schools over planned homework topics is essential to ensure relevant resources are available.
• Ongoing promotion is needed to ensure numbers attending the Centre remain constant.
• There is a need for ‘topic pack’ material that is difficult to find in printed or online resources to be produced at an appropriate level for the age of the child, e.g. local studies material.
3.2 Existing homework provision across the County
Although only 84 schools out of the 283 contacted responded to the questionnaire, of those, the majority were very positive about working with the library service to develop homework support.
• 31 schools already run a homework club with a further 14 schools considering setting one up. Despite having their own clubs 29 of these schools could see the benefits of supporting homework provision through the library service.
• A number of agencies offer homework support e.g. YMCA in Mansfield, however, they are willing to work with the library service to ensure joint promotion and to avoid duplication.
3.3 Potential partners
A number of agencies are willing to work with the library service to promote homework support to children and parents/carers. This could take the form of promoting the homework offer, recruiting potential volunteers or giving guidance to parents/carers on how to help their children with homework.
• 26 Children’s Centres have Newlinc PCs. These could be used as a way of promoting homework provision to parents with school age children. Links between libraries and Children’s Centres are currently being investigated by the Community & Inclusion Team.
• 25 Youth Clubs have Newlinc PCs, although use in some is very low. There is scope for more promotional work with these agencies to develop homework support.
• Detached Youth Service has a county fleet of mobiles that could link in to homework support in areas that do not have access to a library.
• ‘Headspace’ will be based in the new Worksop library. We could work with them as a way of involving young people in decision making.
• ‘Blue Skies Community Initiative’ operates in the Retford area working with rural schools. Links could be made to support children who do not have access to a static library.
• Ethnicity, Culture & Achievement (ECAS) are aware of current homework provision and direct children to library services. There is scope for further promotional work with this team.
• The Head of Virtual Learning for Looked After Children is keen to work with the library service. The Children and Youth Team are currently preparing training for looked after children, which could incorporate homework support.
3.4 Libraries with the greatest social need
The responses from District and Library Managers indicated that:
• 35 libraries had some level of social deprivation.
• 10 of these, Bilsthorpe, Bircotes, Carlton-in-Lindrick, Forest Town, Ladybrook, Langold, Mansfield Woodhouse, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Warsop and Worksop, were identified as having the greatest social need and therefore a higher level of homework support may be needed.
• 4 of the 10 libraries stated that children’s PCs were not well used after school.
• 6 of the 10 showed an increase in the number of homework enquiries as opposed to the trend for a decline in other libraries. Carlton-in-Lindrick, where local staff established a homework club in 2009, showed a rise in enquiries from 20 to 138.
• 2 of the 10 libraries have neither a photocopier nor scanner, which may cause problems if children need be able to take away information from reference books.
3.5 Models of homework support including ‘homework clubs’.
• Of the 172 library authorities we looked at 41 ran homework clubs in at least one of their libraries. The majority of these are run by dedicated homework club staff; some are recruited specifically for the post, while others are existing library staff timetabled to cover the core club opening times. To reflect the specialist nature of the work most pay homework club staff on a higher scale. E.g. Shropshire pays Higher Level Teaching Assistant (Hay Grade 8), Islington offer SO1 while others pay the equivalent of Teaching Assistants or Learning Support Assistants.
• 55 authorities offer access to online subscription resources
• 35 have links to homework related websites
• 8 have obvious homework links to the ‘Ask Libraries’ service
• 3 have access to downloadable ‘topic packs’ produced by librarians.
3.6 Providing virtual homework support.
Many schools are moving towards ‘Moodle Virtual Learning Environments’ where students access and complete homework online. In addition to student access, there is password protected staff access to lesson plans and schemes of work. Parents can also access the site to see future homework assignments. Of the schools who responded to the survey:
• 51 schools currently have their own Virtual Learning Environment, with a further 15 expected to have a website up and running in the near future.
• 59 schools would consider having a link to the library website through the school website, enabling children with a library card to access library resources through school PCs. A further 5 schools would consider having a link but required more information.
• 69 schools would allow library staff to provide training to children in accessing a virtual homework support service with a further 4 schools willing to consider it after more information was given.
• The Nottinghamshire Learning Centre, which caters for the authority’s out of school provision for 5-16 year olds and the specialist Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties provision, use the Fronter VLE, as do several of the County’s schools. There may be scope for investigating use of the library virtual support by these agencies.
• Links can be set up to relevant websites on the library gateway. A team would be needed to identify and monitor these websites.
• ‘Topic packs’ can be produced and accessed as downloadable PDF files to provide age appropriate material on difficult to find topics, e.g. local studies material aimed at adults. A team would be needed to create and monitor these packs.
4. Recommendations
If the recommendations are accepted a Homework Support Task and Finish Group should be set up to deliver them. This group should consist of members from the Learning Support Team, Information Team and Children’s and Youth Team plus a representative from Locst. Other members from development teams could be co-opted onto the group as required. Claire Brown should also be involved on relevant items regarding training. The role of the group is to oversee strategy delivery and to monitor quality.
4.1 The Core offer
All libraries to provide an appropriate environment for homework support.
• Access to printed and online resources.
• A designated space where children can work. Depending on the size of the library, this may be one table and chair.
• Free printing and photocopying for homework. Limited to 5 sheets per person.
• All libraries to have access to virtual homework support.
4.1.1 Kirkby Homework Centre
Maintain the Homework Centre at Kirkby. Reduce opening hours to 3.30-5.30 on all four nights. The 1.5 hours saved to be used by the Homework Centre Assistant to take on extra duties identified by the Learning Support Team.
4.1.2 Websites
• Set up ‘homework help’ pages for relevant websites on the Children’s Library Gateway, divided into Key Stage 2 (primary age 7-11) and Key Stage 3 (secondary age 11-13).
• Set up links to websites for GCSE (age 14-16) and ‘A’ Level (age 16-18) students through the adult library homepage.
• Set up links for parents on both the children’s and adult gateways to promote the service and offer tips for helping their children with homework, safe surfing etc.
• Learning Support Team to be responsible for identifying, monitoring, adding and updating websites in consultation with Information Team.
• All staff to contribute suggestions for relevant websites.
• The Homework Centre Assistant at Kirkby to monitor websites with children to assess suitability and ease of use.
• Consider joint working with other library authorities e.g. Leicestershire to share content.
• Timescale – to coincide with re-launch of website in August 2010
• Information Team to have oversight of the homework portal
4.1.3 Online Resources
• Create ‘homework help’ pages for links to online subscription resources.
• Create ‘homework help’ pages for links to downloadable ‘topic packs’ as PDF files. Files to have a watermark to prevent children handing them in as their own work.
• The Homework Centre Assistant at Kirkby to produce ‘topic packs’ as identified by the Learning Support Team.
4.1.4 Links to school websites
• Set up a link on schools’ websites and Moodles to the library gateway, giving them access to Nelib, recommended websites, online resources, Ask Libraries etc.
• Create a webpage of links to school websites that children can access from Newlink PCs.
4.1.5 Training
• All front line staff to be given basic training by the Learning Support Team on homework enquiry techniques plus use of websites, online subscription resources, ‘topic packs’ and Ask Libraries.
4.2 The Advanced Offer
4.2.1 Homework Clubs
• Set up Homework Clubs in the 10 libraries identified as having the greatest level of social need on a 5 year rolling programme. Review after each phase.
• Clubs to be:
o held in an appropriate area of the library
o aimed at 8-13 year olds
o run for 1-1.5 hours per session, depending on the size of the library and local circumstances.
o held one or two nights a week, depending on the size of the library and local circumstances, term time only.
• Consider establishing Homework Clubs in the remaining 25 libraries identified as having high levels of social deprivation at the end of the 5-year programme.
4.2.1.1 Staffing
• Kirkby Homework Centre to be double staffed at all times. Guidelines for staffing ratio for 7-16 year olds is 1:15
• Homework Clubs to be single staffed using existing library staff, timetabled at set times to be dedicated ‘Homework Helpers’.
• Explore the possibility of recruiting volunteers to work alongside staff in Kirkby and the other Homework Clubs to meet demand.
• All Homework Clubs and Kirkby Homework Centre staff to have enhanced CRB checks. The current cost for this is £36 per person. CRB checks are free for volunteers.
• Homework Club staff to receive advanced training from Learning Support Team.
• A list to be drawn up of library assistants who have received training and have enhanced CRB checks, who are willing to provide cover for absences at Kirkby Homework Centre and the 10 proposed new Homework Clubs.
• A rota to be drawn up of Learning Support Team Librarians to provide back-up cover for absences of Homework Centre and Homework Club staff.
4.2.1.2 Resources
• Each Club to have a ‘toolbox’ of equipment, e.g. calculator, compass, ruler, pencils, handwriting pens, paper, memory stick etc. Estimated cost of £400 for all 10 clubs to be funded through Learning Support Team budget.
• Each Club to have a core reference collection e.g. dictionary, thesaurus, student atlas etc. Estimated total cost of £300 to be funded through Learning Team budget.
• Learning Support Team to be responsible for ordering all ‘toolbox’ supplies and for distributing them to relevant Clubs, to allow for cost savings through bulk buying.
• Learning Support Team working with Resources Team to be responsible for core reference collection.
• In addition, a small selection of stock (between 10-50 titles depending on size of library) to be leased from Education Library Service with unlimited exchanges, at the cost of £2.90 per item. Leasing stock in this way ensures the Homework Clubs always have resources relevant to current curriculum topics. Total cost for 10 libraries would be £319 - £1595, depending on the number of titles. As each item will be exchanged every time the curriculum topic changes this represents better value for money than investing in a general homework collection which would lie dormant for most of the year.
• ELS stock to be selected by Learning Support Team with input from Homework Club staff.
4.2.1.3 Promotion
• Kirkby Homework Centre and the 10 new Homework Clubs to be promoted in school assemblies by members of the Learning Support Team with input from local staff.
• Flyers and bookmarks with the ‘homework help’ offer, including a list of Homework Clubs and details of online resources and websites, to be given out in all libraries.
• ‘Homework help’ to be promoted through other County Council websites e.g. CYP, Foster Care, Education, Study Support, SEN, Nottinghamshire Out of School provision etc.
4.3 Ask Libraries
• Offer ‘homework help’ sessions to cover peak homework periods. Each session to be for 2 hours (3-5pm), 5 nights a week term-time only.
o Establish a rota of all librarians to staff these sessions with extra sessions provided by the Learning Team.
o Part time staff to cover 4 sessions per annum. Learning Support Team to cover 8 sessions per annum.
o Full time staff to cover 8 sessions per annum. Learning Support Team to cover 16 sessions per annum.
• Enquiries to link to normal Ask Libraries but be flagged up as homework. Simple ones to be dealt with by Ask Libraries staff, others to be passed through to the librarian on duty on the homework rota.
• Staff on the rota to work from normal base (Beeston, Retford, Newark, Arnold and Kirkby) to save on travelling time and expenses.
• Each base to have a selection of age-appropriate National Curriculum-related resources to help with enquiries.
• The idea of providing homework help is to not just to give children the answer but enough information so they can find the answer themselves. We do not want children to get the idea that we will do their homework for them! In addition to the homework query, the following information is needed to ensure appropriate information is given:
o Age of the child
o Ability of the child
o Deadline for handing in the homework
o Amount of work to be produced
o What the child already knows about the topic
This could be done:
o By local staff through the ‘asklibraries’ email on a specially designed form, similar to a CL74
o by local staff via telephone with a checklist of relevant questions to ask
• Consider the option for children and young people to access Ask Libraries Homework Help through online chat. Assurances may need to be given to parents about child security while using chat.
• Librarians staffing ‘homework help’ sessions to be given study support training to ensure they are familiar with age appropriate material.
4.4 Homework Doctor
• Librarians to do drop-in sessions at Kirkby Homework Centre and the 10 Homework Clubs to promote the service to children and parents/carers and assist with homework enquiries. Minimum of 30 sessions (1 per librarian) to be coordinated by the Learning Support Team.
4.5 Branding
• ‘Toolbox’ equipment to have ‘homework help’ logo
• Homework Club staff to wear ‘homework help’ T-shirts or badges to identify them.
• All Homework Clubs to be branded with corporate identity.
5. Evaluation
• Increased use of Newlinc PCs
• Increased uptake of Ask Libraries service
• Increased number of homework enquiries in all libraries as recorded on PIF form
• Increased library membership and borrowing
• Measure against the 5 MLA Generic Learning Outcomes
• Impact measures e.g. comments from children, parents, teachers to identify positive outcomes from attendance at Homework Clubs.
• Consider the Quality In Study Support (QISS) process to inform our code of practice. While formal public accreditation can be time consuming, using aspects of the self evaluation process without going for validation could encourage good practice and provide key indicators for evaluation.
The following websites give details of the QISS process:
http://www.qissnationaldatabase.org.uk/
http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/education/quality-in-study-support/Home.aspx
6. Final conclusion
Research has shown that Homework Clubs in public libraries offer a neutral and welcoming environment, providing support, encouragement and one to one attention. Homework Club staff make an important contribution to pupils' learning and achievement; they help foster self esteem and aspiration and increase confidence; they enable children to develop independent learning skills and improve literacy and numeracy. This is especially important to those children who do not receive this in the home or school environment. The example of Kirkby Homework Centre and those from other authorities suggests that even those schools that do run their own homework clubs actively encourage children to attend clubs run by the library.
Links with schools have shown that attending a homework club can encourage independent learning, improve the standard of a child’s work, increase their academic ability and encourage them to become regular library users. Clubs have also been found to contribute towards easing the transition from primary to secondary school and, because they attract a mix of pupils from different schools, they help towards integration and community cohesion.
While we appreciate that it may be difficult to set up Homework Clubs in the current climate, they are a proven way of delivering effective homework support and encouraging library use. The five year plan in the appendix enables us to manage the development of this service.
1. Purpose of the report
2. Methodology
3. Findings
4. Recommendations
5. Evaluation
6. Final Conclusion
7. Appendix
1. Purpose of the report
The report identifies the role Nottinghamshire Libraries could play in providing homework support. The work was undertaken by members of the Learning Support Team and Children and Youth Team in liaison with other Development Teams and District Managers.
2. Methodology
The project evaluated existing homework provision and examined models for extending provision across the whole county, including the development of new ‘homework clubs’ and a ‘virtual’ service.
2.1 Evaluated the Homework Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library
Discussions were held with the Homework Centre Assistant, library staff and the Learning Support Team who have worked at the Centre. Feedback was collected from children and young people who use the Centre as well as from their parents and teachers. We also analysed statistics of use.
2.2 Identified existing homework provision across the County
• Working with Extended Services Coordinators and School Librarians we conducted a survey of 283 state schools across Nottinghamshire to identify which schools ran homework clubs.
• We contacted Extended Services Co-ordinators and COG members about homework support provided by other agencies including the voluntary and private sectors. This information has helped to map provision across the county.
• We contacted Youth Centres where Newlink PCs have been located.
2.3 Identified potential partners
• We examined the Community Scoping documents as well as questionnaires sent out to COG members and Extended Services Coordinators. We also contacted Sure Start and Youth Centres where Newlink PCs have been located. This information has enabled us to identify and contact organisations with a view to potential partnership working.
2.4 Identified libraries with the greatest social need
• We examined evidence of social deprivation in the community served by each library to identify where the need for homework support was greatest and where efforts should be concentrated. Decisions were based on information from each library’s community profile and ‘The Condition of Nottinghamshire 2009’ report.
• Library Managers and District Managers were asked to complete an audit for all libraries in their area to determine what facilities were available to offer effective homework support.
2.5 Investigated models of homework support including the option of providing ‘virtual’ support
We examined 172 library authorities in England and Wales for evidence of good practice both in providing ‘homework clubs’ and ‘virtual’ support.
3. Findings
3.1 The Homework Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library
The Centre has fulfilled a need for supporting children and young people in an area of high social deprivation for 12 years. However some revisions need to be made.
• Current opening hours are not compatible with the revised opening hours at Kirkby Library.
• A number of issues regarding health and safety were identified, including staffing ratios, cover for absence and the need for enhanced CRB checks.
• Ongoing liaison with schools over planned homework topics is essential to ensure relevant resources are available.
• Ongoing promotion is needed to ensure numbers attending the Centre remain constant.
• There is a need for ‘topic pack’ material that is difficult to find in printed or online resources to be produced at an appropriate level for the age of the child, e.g. local studies material.
3.2 Existing homework provision across the County
Although only 84 schools out of the 283 contacted responded to the questionnaire, of those, the majority were very positive about working with the library service to develop homework support.
• 31 schools already run a homework club with a further 14 schools considering setting one up. Despite having their own clubs 29 of these schools could see the benefits of supporting homework provision through the library service.
• A number of agencies offer homework support e.g. YMCA in Mansfield, however, they are willing to work with the library service to ensure joint promotion and to avoid duplication.
3.3 Potential partners
A number of agencies are willing to work with the library service to promote homework support to children and parents/carers. This could take the form of promoting the homework offer, recruiting potential volunteers or giving guidance to parents/carers on how to help their children with homework.
• 26 Children’s Centres have Newlinc PCs. These could be used as a way of promoting homework provision to parents with school age children. Links between libraries and Children’s Centres are currently being investigated by the Community & Inclusion Team.
• 25 Youth Clubs have Newlinc PCs, although use in some is very low. There is scope for more promotional work with these agencies to develop homework support.
• Detached Youth Service has a county fleet of mobiles that could link in to homework support in areas that do not have access to a library.
• ‘Headspace’ will be based in the new Worksop library. We could work with them as a way of involving young people in decision making.
• ‘Blue Skies Community Initiative’ operates in the Retford area working with rural schools. Links could be made to support children who do not have access to a static library.
• Ethnicity, Culture & Achievement (ECAS) are aware of current homework provision and direct children to library services. There is scope for further promotional work with this team.
• The Head of Virtual Learning for Looked After Children is keen to work with the library service. The Children and Youth Team are currently preparing training for looked after children, which could incorporate homework support.
3.4 Libraries with the greatest social need
The responses from District and Library Managers indicated that:
• 35 libraries had some level of social deprivation.
• 10 of these, Bilsthorpe, Bircotes, Carlton-in-Lindrick, Forest Town, Ladybrook, Langold, Mansfield Woodhouse, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Warsop and Worksop, were identified as having the greatest social need and therefore a higher level of homework support may be needed.
• 4 of the 10 libraries stated that children’s PCs were not well used after school.
• 6 of the 10 showed an increase in the number of homework enquiries as opposed to the trend for a decline in other libraries. Carlton-in-Lindrick, where local staff established a homework club in 2009, showed a rise in enquiries from 20 to 138.
• 2 of the 10 libraries have neither a photocopier nor scanner, which may cause problems if children need be able to take away information from reference books.
3.5 Models of homework support including ‘homework clubs’.
• Of the 172 library authorities we looked at 41 ran homework clubs in at least one of their libraries. The majority of these are run by dedicated homework club staff; some are recruited specifically for the post, while others are existing library staff timetabled to cover the core club opening times. To reflect the specialist nature of the work most pay homework club staff on a higher scale. E.g. Shropshire pays Higher Level Teaching Assistant (Hay Grade 8), Islington offer SO1 while others pay the equivalent of Teaching Assistants or Learning Support Assistants.
• 55 authorities offer access to online subscription resources
• 35 have links to homework related websites
• 8 have obvious homework links to the ‘Ask Libraries’ service
• 3 have access to downloadable ‘topic packs’ produced by librarians.
3.6 Providing virtual homework support.
Many schools are moving towards ‘Moodle Virtual Learning Environments’ where students access and complete homework online. In addition to student access, there is password protected staff access to lesson plans and schemes of work. Parents can also access the site to see future homework assignments. Of the schools who responded to the survey:
• 51 schools currently have their own Virtual Learning Environment, with a further 15 expected to have a website up and running in the near future.
• 59 schools would consider having a link to the library website through the school website, enabling children with a library card to access library resources through school PCs. A further 5 schools would consider having a link but required more information.
• 69 schools would allow library staff to provide training to children in accessing a virtual homework support service with a further 4 schools willing to consider it after more information was given.
• The Nottinghamshire Learning Centre, which caters for the authority’s out of school provision for 5-16 year olds and the specialist Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties provision, use the Fronter VLE, as do several of the County’s schools. There may be scope for investigating use of the library virtual support by these agencies.
• Links can be set up to relevant websites on the library gateway. A team would be needed to identify and monitor these websites.
• ‘Topic packs’ can be produced and accessed as downloadable PDF files to provide age appropriate material on difficult to find topics, e.g. local studies material aimed at adults. A team would be needed to create and monitor these packs.
4. Recommendations
If the recommendations are accepted a Homework Support Task and Finish Group should be set up to deliver them. This group should consist of members from the Learning Support Team, Information Team and Children’s and Youth Team plus a representative from Locst. Other members from development teams could be co-opted onto the group as required. Claire Brown should also be involved on relevant items regarding training. The role of the group is to oversee strategy delivery and to monitor quality.
4.1 The Core offer
All libraries to provide an appropriate environment for homework support.
• Access to printed and online resources.
• A designated space where children can work. Depending on the size of the library, this may be one table and chair.
• Free printing and photocopying for homework. Limited to 5 sheets per person.
• All libraries to have access to virtual homework support.
4.1.1 Kirkby Homework Centre
Maintain the Homework Centre at Kirkby. Reduce opening hours to 3.30-5.30 on all four nights. The 1.5 hours saved to be used by the Homework Centre Assistant to take on extra duties identified by the Learning Support Team.
4.1.2 Websites
• Set up ‘homework help’ pages for relevant websites on the Children’s Library Gateway, divided into Key Stage 2 (primary age 7-11) and Key Stage 3 (secondary age 11-13).
• Set up links to websites for GCSE (age 14-16) and ‘A’ Level (age 16-18) students through the adult library homepage.
• Set up links for parents on both the children’s and adult gateways to promote the service and offer tips for helping their children with homework, safe surfing etc.
• Learning Support Team to be responsible for identifying, monitoring, adding and updating websites in consultation with Information Team.
• All staff to contribute suggestions for relevant websites.
• The Homework Centre Assistant at Kirkby to monitor websites with children to assess suitability and ease of use.
• Consider joint working with other library authorities e.g. Leicestershire to share content.
• Timescale – to coincide with re-launch of website in August 2010
• Information Team to have oversight of the homework portal
4.1.3 Online Resources
• Create ‘homework help’ pages for links to online subscription resources.
• Create ‘homework help’ pages for links to downloadable ‘topic packs’ as PDF files. Files to have a watermark to prevent children handing them in as their own work.
• The Homework Centre Assistant at Kirkby to produce ‘topic packs’ as identified by the Learning Support Team.
4.1.4 Links to school websites
• Set up a link on schools’ websites and Moodles to the library gateway, giving them access to Nelib, recommended websites, online resources, Ask Libraries etc.
• Create a webpage of links to school websites that children can access from Newlink PCs.
4.1.5 Training
• All front line staff to be given basic training by the Learning Support Team on homework enquiry techniques plus use of websites, online subscription resources, ‘topic packs’ and Ask Libraries.
4.2 The Advanced Offer
4.2.1 Homework Clubs
• Set up Homework Clubs in the 10 libraries identified as having the greatest level of social need on a 5 year rolling programme. Review after each phase.
• Clubs to be:
o held in an appropriate area of the library
o aimed at 8-13 year olds
o run for 1-1.5 hours per session, depending on the size of the library and local circumstances.
o held one or two nights a week, depending on the size of the library and local circumstances, term time only.
• Consider establishing Homework Clubs in the remaining 25 libraries identified as having high levels of social deprivation at the end of the 5-year programme.
4.2.1.1 Staffing
• Kirkby Homework Centre to be double staffed at all times. Guidelines for staffing ratio for 7-16 year olds is 1:15
• Homework Clubs to be single staffed using existing library staff, timetabled at set times to be dedicated ‘Homework Helpers’.
• Explore the possibility of recruiting volunteers to work alongside staff in Kirkby and the other Homework Clubs to meet demand.
• All Homework Clubs and Kirkby Homework Centre staff to have enhanced CRB checks. The current cost for this is £36 per person. CRB checks are free for volunteers.
• Homework Club staff to receive advanced training from Learning Support Team.
• A list to be drawn up of library assistants who have received training and have enhanced CRB checks, who are willing to provide cover for absences at Kirkby Homework Centre and the 10 proposed new Homework Clubs.
• A rota to be drawn up of Learning Support Team Librarians to provide back-up cover for absences of Homework Centre and Homework Club staff.
4.2.1.2 Resources
• Each Club to have a ‘toolbox’ of equipment, e.g. calculator, compass, ruler, pencils, handwriting pens, paper, memory stick etc. Estimated cost of £400 for all 10 clubs to be funded through Learning Support Team budget.
• Each Club to have a core reference collection e.g. dictionary, thesaurus, student atlas etc. Estimated total cost of £300 to be funded through Learning Team budget.
• Learning Support Team to be responsible for ordering all ‘toolbox’ supplies and for distributing them to relevant Clubs, to allow for cost savings through bulk buying.
• Learning Support Team working with Resources Team to be responsible for core reference collection.
• In addition, a small selection of stock (between 10-50 titles depending on size of library) to be leased from Education Library Service with unlimited exchanges, at the cost of £2.90 per item. Leasing stock in this way ensures the Homework Clubs always have resources relevant to current curriculum topics. Total cost for 10 libraries would be £319 - £1595, depending on the number of titles. As each item will be exchanged every time the curriculum topic changes this represents better value for money than investing in a general homework collection which would lie dormant for most of the year.
• ELS stock to be selected by Learning Support Team with input from Homework Club staff.
4.2.1.3 Promotion
• Kirkby Homework Centre and the 10 new Homework Clubs to be promoted in school assemblies by members of the Learning Support Team with input from local staff.
• Flyers and bookmarks with the ‘homework help’ offer, including a list of Homework Clubs and details of online resources and websites, to be given out in all libraries.
• ‘Homework help’ to be promoted through other County Council websites e.g. CYP, Foster Care, Education, Study Support, SEN, Nottinghamshire Out of School provision etc.
4.3 Ask Libraries
• Offer ‘homework help’ sessions to cover peak homework periods. Each session to be for 2 hours (3-5pm), 5 nights a week term-time only.
o Establish a rota of all librarians to staff these sessions with extra sessions provided by the Learning Team.
o Part time staff to cover 4 sessions per annum. Learning Support Team to cover 8 sessions per annum.
o Full time staff to cover 8 sessions per annum. Learning Support Team to cover 16 sessions per annum.
• Enquiries to link to normal Ask Libraries but be flagged up as homework. Simple ones to be dealt with by Ask Libraries staff, others to be passed through to the librarian on duty on the homework rota.
• Staff on the rota to work from normal base (Beeston, Retford, Newark, Arnold and Kirkby) to save on travelling time and expenses.
• Each base to have a selection of age-appropriate National Curriculum-related resources to help with enquiries.
• The idea of providing homework help is to not just to give children the answer but enough information so they can find the answer themselves. We do not want children to get the idea that we will do their homework for them! In addition to the homework query, the following information is needed to ensure appropriate information is given:
o Age of the child
o Ability of the child
o Deadline for handing in the homework
o Amount of work to be produced
o What the child already knows about the topic
This could be done:
o By local staff through the ‘asklibraries’ email on a specially designed form, similar to a CL74
o by local staff via telephone with a checklist of relevant questions to ask
• Consider the option for children and young people to access Ask Libraries Homework Help through online chat. Assurances may need to be given to parents about child security while using chat.
• Librarians staffing ‘homework help’ sessions to be given study support training to ensure they are familiar with age appropriate material.
4.4 Homework Doctor
• Librarians to do drop-in sessions at Kirkby Homework Centre and the 10 Homework Clubs to promote the service to children and parents/carers and assist with homework enquiries. Minimum of 30 sessions (1 per librarian) to be coordinated by the Learning Support Team.
4.5 Branding
• ‘Toolbox’ equipment to have ‘homework help’ logo
• Homework Club staff to wear ‘homework help’ T-shirts or badges to identify them.
• All Homework Clubs to be branded with corporate identity.
5. Evaluation
• Increased use of Newlinc PCs
• Increased uptake of Ask Libraries service
• Increased number of homework enquiries in all libraries as recorded on PIF form
• Increased library membership and borrowing
• Measure against the 5 MLA Generic Learning Outcomes
• Impact measures e.g. comments from children, parents, teachers to identify positive outcomes from attendance at Homework Clubs.
• Consider the Quality In Study Support (QISS) process to inform our code of practice. While formal public accreditation can be time consuming, using aspects of the self evaluation process without going for validation could encourage good practice and provide key indicators for evaluation.
The following websites give details of the QISS process:
http://www.qissnationaldatabase.org.uk/
http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/education/quality-in-study-support/Home.aspx
6. Final conclusion
Research has shown that Homework Clubs in public libraries offer a neutral and welcoming environment, providing support, encouragement and one to one attention. Homework Club staff make an important contribution to pupils' learning and achievement; they help foster self esteem and aspiration and increase confidence; they enable children to develop independent learning skills and improve literacy and numeracy. This is especially important to those children who do not receive this in the home or school environment. The example of Kirkby Homework Centre and those from other authorities suggests that even those schools that do run their own homework clubs actively encourage children to attend clubs run by the library.
Links with schools have shown that attending a homework club can encourage independent learning, improve the standard of a child’s work, increase their academic ability and encourage them to become regular library users. Clubs have also been found to contribute towards easing the transition from primary to secondary school and, because they attract a mix of pupils from different schools, they help towards integration and community cohesion.
While we appreciate that it may be difficult to set up Homework Clubs in the current climate, they are a proven way of delivering effective homework support and encouraging library use. The five year plan in the appendix enables us to manage the development of this service.
Tuesday 6 April 2010
Useful websites for General Election enquiries
General Election – Some useful websites
Political Parties
BNP http://bnp.org.uk/
Conservatives http://www.conservatives.com/
Greens http://www.greenparty.org.uk/
Labour http://www2.labour.org.uk/home
Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/
Respect Party http://www.therespectparty.net/
UKip http://www.ukip.org/
Newspapers
Financial Times http://www.ft.com/home/uk
Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/
Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/
Other news sources
BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/default.stm
Channel 4 http://www.channel4.com/news/news_category/vote_2010
ITV http://www.itv.com/News/
Reuters http://uk.reuters.com/
Sky http://news.sky.com/skynews/
Local News
Newark http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/
Retford http://www.thisisretford.co.uk/
South Notts to Mansfield http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news
Worksop http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/
Polls
ICM http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/media-centre.php
Mori http://bit.ly/dCgdfQ
Opinium http://www.opinium.co.uk/
Yougov http://today.yougov.co.uk/
Registering to vote
http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/
Steve Baker
6.4.10
Political Parties
BNP http://bnp.org.uk/
Conservatives http://www.conservatives.com/
Greens http://www.greenparty.org.uk/
Labour http://www2.labour.org.uk/home
Liberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.uk/
Respect Party http://www.therespectparty.net/
UKip http://www.ukip.org/
Newspapers
Financial Times http://www.ft.com/home/uk
Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/
Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/
Other news sources
BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/default.stm
Channel 4 http://www.channel4.com/news/news_category/vote_2010
ITV http://www.itv.com/News/
Reuters http://uk.reuters.com/
Sky http://news.sky.com/skynews/
Local News
Newark http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/
Retford http://www.thisisretford.co.uk/
South Notts to Mansfield http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news
Worksop http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/
Polls
ICM http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/media-centre.php
Mori http://bit.ly/dCgdfQ
Opinium http://www.opinium.co.uk/
Yougov http://today.yougov.co.uk/
Registering to vote
http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/
Steve Baker
6.4.10
Thursday 1 April 2010
Library Enquiry Centre Policy Document
Nottinghamshire Libraries Enquiry Centre
“Ask Libraries”
1 Introduction
Nottinghamshire Libraries, Archives and Information Service’s Enquiry Centre will be called “Ask Libraries”.
1.1 Vision/mission statement
To provide a consistently high quality enquiry service to the people and businesses of Nottinghamshire
1.2 Objectives of Ask Libraries
1.2.1 To introduce an Enquiry Centre service
1.2.2 To improve the quality of answering enquiries from customers
1.2.3 To maintain a consistently high quality of answering enquiries from customers
1.2.4 To reach new customers and enable them to access the service through different channels
1.2.5 To develop specialist knowledge to enable us to answer more complex enquiries
1.2.6 To support other library staff as they deal with enquiries
1.2.7 To support and contribute to the National Enquire service
2 Opening Hours and staffing
2.1 Ask Libraries opening hours will be:
Monday 8.30 – 6.30
Tuesday 8.30 – 6.30
Wednesday 8.30 – 5.00
Thursday 8.30 – 6.30
Friday 8.30 – 6.30
Saturday 9.00 – 4.00
2.2 Staffing
Weekdays will be staffed by 2 FTE Information Assistants (1 Information assistant on Wednesdays) plus an Information Librarian. Saturdays will be staffed by 1 Information Assistant with support from the librarians working at Mansfield and West Bridgford Libraries.
2.3 Learning and Development for Enquiry centre staff
The training needs of all staff working in the Enquiry Centre will be monitored by the Information and Learning Manager and the Staff Development Manager.
Special consideration will be given to identifying and providing training opportunities that will allow members of the team to develop specialist knowledge.
2.4 The main tasks of the enquiry centre staff
2.4.1 To answer enquiries
2.4.2 To deliver our National Enquire commitment
2.4.3 To be part of the libraries website team maintaining existing pages and creating new pages as required
2.4.4 To maintain, manage and add to the pinpoint database. Working with Information Librarians
2.4.5 To be part of the plasma screen project team. Managing the service and creating content
2.4.6 Future database development and maintenance as required
2.4.7 Contribute to the delivery of the leaflet service
3 Types of contact
The intention is to give customers a number of ways to reach Ask Libraries so that they can choose the way that suits them. We will monitor changes to telecommunications in order to keep the service in step with current trends.
Currently the service can be contacted
· From library staff and direct from customers
· Via email
· Via the online enquiry service
· Via a landline with 3 lines, plus answer phone (0845 026 7972)
· Via fax
· Via text (via mobile number 07979 704125)
4 Customer care standards
(In line with Customer service standards in Nottinghamshire libraries and NCC customer service code of practice and standards)
Telephone – to be answered using “Good morning/afternoon, this is Ask Libraries, X speaking, can I help you?” (Using member of staff’s name)
Aim to answer within 10 seconds, or 4 rings.
The answer phone will be set when staff are not available, to come in after 5 rings. Voice mail will pick up if necessary at other times.
Emails will be typed in Arial in 12 point. Users should regard this as formal communication and adhere to the same levels of formality as for paper correspondence.
Fax – to be sent using standard NCC cover sheet
4.1 Responses
§ Answer phone – message acknowledged within an hour of Ask Libraries opening in the morning.
§ Email – acknowledge within an hour of opening the email.
§ Aim to answer fully, or have referred elsewhere within 24 hours, or 48 hours for more complex enquiries. If the Enquiry Centre cannot answer within 24 hours, the customer will be contacted to advise how long it is anticipated it will take to find an answer.
§ Automated email response when the service is closed.
§ Response will be in same format as enquiry unless another format is agreed to
4.2 Equality in Service Delivery
Nottinghamshire County Council is committed to providing quality services with equality of access for all people in Nottinghamshire.
Some groups, communities and individuals suffer direct or indirect discrimination. This can be made worse where services and facilities are inappropriate, insensitive or inaccessible.
The County Council aims to act positively to reduce inequality, to work against discrimination and to promote and create access to services for everyone, irrespective of their age, disability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, cultural or social background, religion or belief.
The Enquiry Centre service is covered by the Library Service Equality Impact Assessment.
4.3 Inappropriate customer behaviour
Senior staff will use their discretion if a customer abuses the service, or limit access if unreasonable or excessive use of the service is made.
5 Defining who should handle enquiries
5.1 Enquiries to be handled by Ask Libraries
Ask Libraries will handle enquiries received direct from customers
Libraries should refer any enquiries to “Ask Libraries” that:
o They don’t know how to answer
o That will take them more than 5 minutes to answer
If referred by a library, Ask Libraries needs to know
· nature of the enquiry
· if the customer is waiting
· if not, then contact details with preferred form of contact, including email address if available
· any time constraints
5.2 Enquiries that libraries should handle themselves
It is not practical or good customer care to refer all enquiries to “Ask Libraries”. In the first instance the following enquiries should be handled by the library and only referred if they can not be answered:
o Catalogue
§ Libraries to answer basic author, title and series enquiries
§ Libraries will help people who come in with booklists even if it is going to take longer than 5 minutes
§ Others may be referred
o Book/reading enquiries
§ Libraries to answer “Who else writes like …?” enquiries
§ Others will be referred to specialist teams as appropriate
o Local studies enquiries that require access to the resources held at that library and the staff have the expertise to help
o Straightforward homework enquiries
5.3 Enquiries that require the input of specialist librarians
If an enquiry requires the input of a member of staff with specialist knowledge (i.e. a more complex local studies enquiry) the following protocol should be followed:
o The library should refer the enquiry to Ask Libraries
o Ask Libraries will answer the enquiry if they can
o If specialist knowledge is required then the enquiry will be referred to all members of that specialist team i.e. Local studies Librarians, Children’s Librarians etc.
o One team member to pick up the enquiry and notify other members that they are handling it, cc Ask Libraries
o This team member takes over query and responds direct to user, cc Ask Libraries
o The Librarian adopting the enquiry should reply to the customer within 24 hours, even if only with a holding message
o If Enquire Team do not receive a response within 24 hours of emailing team members, the query is escalated to relevant Development Manager
6 Use of licensed databases, acknowledging sources and copyright
When used to answer enquiries, licensed databases which the library service subscribes to will be credited as appropriate.
Other sources will be acknowledged as appropriate.
Copyright forms will be sent out direct, or faxed to and from the local library. Standard NCC charges apply to postal responses (£1.20 per sheet, plus an admin charge of £1.68) No material will be faxed or photocopied without first receiving a completed, signed copyright declaration form and appropriate payment. It is a legal requirement that these forms are kept for six years.
7 Marketing
As Libraries will be marketed in three phases:
Phase 1 will focus on promoting the service to library staff, to use on behalf of their customers. It is vital that the service and its benefits are explained to our staff to ensure that they recognise how it can support their work.
This phase has already started with the self service project but all opportunities for awareness raising will be taken, e.g. staff conferences. There will also be monitoring of use of Ask Libraries by all libraries and targeted awareness sessions where necessary.
Phase 2 will be a managed promotion to target client groups as outlined in Appendix 1.
Phase 3 will be the wider promotion to the general public. The timing of this is unclear at present as there needs to be consideration of the sensitivities around the relationship of Ask Libraries with the corporate customer service strategy. The refurbishment at Mansfield will also have an impact on the Enquiry Centre, for example the need for a temporary/changing phone number.
8 Performance Measurement
8.1 Requirements
Total enquiries are measured on PIF 17. These figures are collected as a “local measure” of performance and are recorded on the PRIDE system, table CC36 Total Enquiries
There is no CIPFA requirement to collect enquiry data
8.2 Statistics to be collected by Ask Libraries
Ask Libraries will collect total enquiry figures and submit a PIF 17 monthly return
From 1.3.10 until 28.2.11 a separate statistical form will be kept by enquiry centre staff to monitor the types of enquiries, how those enquiries are coming to us i.e. email, telephone etc., our success rate in answering enquiries and the libraries using the service (see attached form appendix 2).
These statistics will provide data to help us to evaluate the service and set targets.
The monitoring form will be reviewed in February 2011 and adapted as necessary
8.3 Targets
Targets will be set for 2011 onwards. 2010 will provide a benchmark to assist in the setting of realistic targets
9 Remaining tasks to be completed
9.1 Agree protocol for relationships with other NCC information providers
9.2 Discuss with colleagues in Nottingham City Libraries the relationship between Ask Libraries and Nottingham Central Library
9.3 Consider enquiry provision at West Bridgford Library
Appendix 1
Promotion to client groups – first year plan
The project objectives specified the need to reach new customers and meet the information needs of specific client groups. The table below sets out groups identified as a priority for this coming year together with a start date for contact and promotion of the service to them. An action plan for delivery will be devised by the Information Team and delivered in consultation with other development and operational teams.
CATEGORY
IDENTIFY VIA
CONTACT
Homework clubs
Learning team
September 2010
Job seekers
Connexions, Job Centre Plus
October 2010
Community groups
Pinpoint
Scoping exercise
Mapping exercise
CVS (see below)
November / December 2010
CVS
Local CVS offices:
November 2010
Senior citizens
Pinpoint, www.notts50plus.co.uk/
CVS
Notts County Council services
January 2011
People with disabilities/Mental health issues
Disability Nottinghamshire, Disability Support Team, Pinpoint
MIND
Notts County Council
February 2011
Businesses
Local business clubs
(Bingham, Newark, Nottingham, Retford, Nottingham City) Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce DNCC, Notts County Council link: Business support/advice groups
Business Link
March 2011
Notts County Council
Via website/personal contacts
April 2011
Health authorities
Nottinghamshire Healthcare for mental health and learning disability
Nottinghamshire County NHS Trust (primary care)
May 2011
“Ask Libraries”
1 Introduction
Nottinghamshire Libraries, Archives and Information Service’s Enquiry Centre will be called “Ask Libraries”.
1.1 Vision/mission statement
To provide a consistently high quality enquiry service to the people and businesses of Nottinghamshire
1.2 Objectives of Ask Libraries
1.2.1 To introduce an Enquiry Centre service
1.2.2 To improve the quality of answering enquiries from customers
1.2.3 To maintain a consistently high quality of answering enquiries from customers
1.2.4 To reach new customers and enable them to access the service through different channels
1.2.5 To develop specialist knowledge to enable us to answer more complex enquiries
1.2.6 To support other library staff as they deal with enquiries
1.2.7 To support and contribute to the National Enquire service
2 Opening Hours and staffing
2.1 Ask Libraries opening hours will be:
Monday 8.30 – 6.30
Tuesday 8.30 – 6.30
Wednesday 8.30 – 5.00
Thursday 8.30 – 6.30
Friday 8.30 – 6.30
Saturday 9.00 – 4.00
2.2 Staffing
Weekdays will be staffed by 2 FTE Information Assistants (1 Information assistant on Wednesdays) plus an Information Librarian. Saturdays will be staffed by 1 Information Assistant with support from the librarians working at Mansfield and West Bridgford Libraries.
2.3 Learning and Development for Enquiry centre staff
The training needs of all staff working in the Enquiry Centre will be monitored by the Information and Learning Manager and the Staff Development Manager.
Special consideration will be given to identifying and providing training opportunities that will allow members of the team to develop specialist knowledge.
2.4 The main tasks of the enquiry centre staff
2.4.1 To answer enquiries
2.4.2 To deliver our National Enquire commitment
2.4.3 To be part of the libraries website team maintaining existing pages and creating new pages as required
2.4.4 To maintain, manage and add to the pinpoint database. Working with Information Librarians
2.4.5 To be part of the plasma screen project team. Managing the service and creating content
2.4.6 Future database development and maintenance as required
2.4.7 Contribute to the delivery of the leaflet service
3 Types of contact
The intention is to give customers a number of ways to reach Ask Libraries so that they can choose the way that suits them. We will monitor changes to telecommunications in order to keep the service in step with current trends.
Currently the service can be contacted
· From library staff and direct from customers
· Via email
· Via the online enquiry service
· Via a landline with 3 lines, plus answer phone (0845 026 7972)
· Via fax
· Via text (via mobile number 07979 704125)
4 Customer care standards
(In line with Customer service standards in Nottinghamshire libraries and NCC customer service code of practice and standards)
Telephone – to be answered using “Good morning/afternoon, this is Ask Libraries, X speaking, can I help you?” (Using member of staff’s name)
Aim to answer within 10 seconds, or 4 rings.
The answer phone will be set when staff are not available, to come in after 5 rings. Voice mail will pick up if necessary at other times.
Emails will be typed in Arial in 12 point. Users should regard this as formal communication and adhere to the same levels of formality as for paper correspondence.
Fax – to be sent using standard NCC cover sheet
4.1 Responses
§ Answer phone – message acknowledged within an hour of Ask Libraries opening in the morning.
§ Email – acknowledge within an hour of opening the email.
§ Aim to answer fully, or have referred elsewhere within 24 hours, or 48 hours for more complex enquiries. If the Enquiry Centre cannot answer within 24 hours, the customer will be contacted to advise how long it is anticipated it will take to find an answer.
§ Automated email response when the service is closed.
§ Response will be in same format as enquiry unless another format is agreed to
4.2 Equality in Service Delivery
Nottinghamshire County Council is committed to providing quality services with equality of access for all people in Nottinghamshire.
Some groups, communities and individuals suffer direct or indirect discrimination. This can be made worse where services and facilities are inappropriate, insensitive or inaccessible.
The County Council aims to act positively to reduce inequality, to work against discrimination and to promote and create access to services for everyone, irrespective of their age, disability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, cultural or social background, religion or belief.
The Enquiry Centre service is covered by the Library Service Equality Impact Assessment.
4.3 Inappropriate customer behaviour
Senior staff will use their discretion if a customer abuses the service, or limit access if unreasonable or excessive use of the service is made.
5 Defining who should handle enquiries
5.1 Enquiries to be handled by Ask Libraries
Ask Libraries will handle enquiries received direct from customers
Libraries should refer any enquiries to “Ask Libraries” that:
o They don’t know how to answer
o That will take them more than 5 minutes to answer
If referred by a library, Ask Libraries needs to know
· nature of the enquiry
· if the customer is waiting
· if not, then contact details with preferred form of contact, including email address if available
· any time constraints
5.2 Enquiries that libraries should handle themselves
It is not practical or good customer care to refer all enquiries to “Ask Libraries”. In the first instance the following enquiries should be handled by the library and only referred if they can not be answered:
o Catalogue
§ Libraries to answer basic author, title and series enquiries
§ Libraries will help people who come in with booklists even if it is going to take longer than 5 minutes
§ Others may be referred
o Book/reading enquiries
§ Libraries to answer “Who else writes like …?” enquiries
§ Others will be referred to specialist teams as appropriate
o Local studies enquiries that require access to the resources held at that library and the staff have the expertise to help
o Straightforward homework enquiries
5.3 Enquiries that require the input of specialist librarians
If an enquiry requires the input of a member of staff with specialist knowledge (i.e. a more complex local studies enquiry) the following protocol should be followed:
o The library should refer the enquiry to Ask Libraries
o Ask Libraries will answer the enquiry if they can
o If specialist knowledge is required then the enquiry will be referred to all members of that specialist team i.e. Local studies Librarians, Children’s Librarians etc.
o One team member to pick up the enquiry and notify other members that they are handling it, cc Ask Libraries
o This team member takes over query and responds direct to user, cc Ask Libraries
o The Librarian adopting the enquiry should reply to the customer within 24 hours, even if only with a holding message
o If Enquire Team do not receive a response within 24 hours of emailing team members, the query is escalated to relevant Development Manager
6 Use of licensed databases, acknowledging sources and copyright
When used to answer enquiries, licensed databases which the library service subscribes to will be credited as appropriate.
Other sources will be acknowledged as appropriate.
Copyright forms will be sent out direct, or faxed to and from the local library. Standard NCC charges apply to postal responses (£1.20 per sheet, plus an admin charge of £1.68) No material will be faxed or photocopied without first receiving a completed, signed copyright declaration form and appropriate payment. It is a legal requirement that these forms are kept for six years.
7 Marketing
As Libraries will be marketed in three phases:
Phase 1 will focus on promoting the service to library staff, to use on behalf of their customers. It is vital that the service and its benefits are explained to our staff to ensure that they recognise how it can support their work.
This phase has already started with the self service project but all opportunities for awareness raising will be taken, e.g. staff conferences. There will also be monitoring of use of Ask Libraries by all libraries and targeted awareness sessions where necessary.
Phase 2 will be a managed promotion to target client groups as outlined in Appendix 1.
Phase 3 will be the wider promotion to the general public. The timing of this is unclear at present as there needs to be consideration of the sensitivities around the relationship of Ask Libraries with the corporate customer service strategy. The refurbishment at Mansfield will also have an impact on the Enquiry Centre, for example the need for a temporary/changing phone number.
8 Performance Measurement
8.1 Requirements
Total enquiries are measured on PIF 17. These figures are collected as a “local measure” of performance and are recorded on the PRIDE system, table CC36 Total Enquiries
There is no CIPFA requirement to collect enquiry data
8.2 Statistics to be collected by Ask Libraries
Ask Libraries will collect total enquiry figures and submit a PIF 17 monthly return
From 1.3.10 until 28.2.11 a separate statistical form will be kept by enquiry centre staff to monitor the types of enquiries, how those enquiries are coming to us i.e. email, telephone etc., our success rate in answering enquiries and the libraries using the service (see attached form appendix 2).
These statistics will provide data to help us to evaluate the service and set targets.
The monitoring form will be reviewed in February 2011 and adapted as necessary
8.3 Targets
Targets will be set for 2011 onwards. 2010 will provide a benchmark to assist in the setting of realistic targets
9 Remaining tasks to be completed
9.1 Agree protocol for relationships with other NCC information providers
9.2 Discuss with colleagues in Nottingham City Libraries the relationship between Ask Libraries and Nottingham Central Library
9.3 Consider enquiry provision at West Bridgford Library
Appendix 1
Promotion to client groups – first year plan
The project objectives specified the need to reach new customers and meet the information needs of specific client groups. The table below sets out groups identified as a priority for this coming year together with a start date for contact and promotion of the service to them. An action plan for delivery will be devised by the Information Team and delivered in consultation with other development and operational teams.
CATEGORY
IDENTIFY VIA
CONTACT
Homework clubs
Learning team
September 2010
Job seekers
Connexions, Job Centre Plus
October 2010
Community groups
Pinpoint
Scoping exercise
Mapping exercise
CVS (see below)
November / December 2010
CVS
Local CVS offices:
November 2010
Senior citizens
Pinpoint, www.notts50plus.co.uk/
CVS
Notts County Council services
January 2011
People with disabilities/Mental health issues
Disability Nottinghamshire, Disability Support Team, Pinpoint
MIND
Notts County Council
February 2011
Businesses
Local business clubs
(Bingham, Newark, Nottingham, Retford, Nottingham City) Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce DNCC, Notts County Council link: Business support/advice groups
Business Link
March 2011
Notts County Council
Via website/personal contacts
April 2011
Health authorities
Nottinghamshire Healthcare for mental health and learning disability
Nottinghamshire County NHS Trust (primary care)
May 2011
Tuesday 16 March 2010
Even the Dogs - Jon McGregor
Occasionally a book comes along that stops you in your tracks, makes you think and you just know it will stay with you for a long time. Jon McGregor's Even the Dogs is such a book.
The story begins with the discovery of Robert's body. Robert is an alcoholic who lives alone in a squalid flat that has long since had all it's amenities cut off. Although he has lived alone his house was shared by a series of addicts who came and went. The flat was a sanctuary, where people could find others like themselves, a place of shelter and a place to find company.
The story goes from the discovery of Robert's body to his burial. Mixing the present, police scene of crime examination, autopsy, inquest etc, with flashbacks to his last few days. The story is told by the addicts that shared Robert's life, the police who discover his body etc.
It sounds a grim book and in many ways it is, but it is beautifully written in a staccato style that echoes the breathless lives of the addicts. The first chapter is stunning and probably the best chapter you will read this year.
Highly recommended
The story begins with the discovery of Robert's body. Robert is an alcoholic who lives alone in a squalid flat that has long since had all it's amenities cut off. Although he has lived alone his house was shared by a series of addicts who came and went. The flat was a sanctuary, where people could find others like themselves, a place of shelter and a place to find company.
The story goes from the discovery of Robert's body to his burial. Mixing the present, police scene of crime examination, autopsy, inquest etc, with flashbacks to his last few days. The story is told by the addicts that shared Robert's life, the police who discover his body etc.
It sounds a grim book and in many ways it is, but it is beautifully written in a staccato style that echoes the breathless lives of the addicts. The first chapter is stunning and probably the best chapter you will read this year.
Highly recommended
Sunday 7 March 2010
The Man in Beijing by Henning Mankell
This novel begins with a grim discovery. All but 3 residents of a small hamlet in Northern Sweden are found brutally murdered. There is no obvious motive and no suspects.
Birgitta Roslin, a judge takes an interest in the case when she realizes that two of those killed were her mother's foster parents. The only clue found at the crime scene is a strip of red silk that Birgitta discovers has been cut from a lantern in a Chinese restaurant.
This is a complex but easy to read novel that moves from modern day Sweden to 1860's America (via the device of a set of diaries discovered in one of the murder victims home) to modern day China. Mankell has always been interested in politics and the section of this novel that deals with the complex politics of China, the emergence from communism into a sort of state controlled capitalism, is absolutely fascinating.
I always enjoy Mankell's novels and The Man from Beijing is a pleasurable read but is ultimately unsatisfying. For me there are a number of problems with this novel. The various strands in the story are interesting but they don't come together in a believable and satisfying way. The central character Birgitta is not in the story for a good third of the novel and while the central character is not in the story it lacks focus and drifts. Finally, it wasn't clear if this novel was driven by the characters or the storyline, in the end it fell between the two.
Worth reading for the quality of the writing but The Man from Beijing isn't vintage Mankell.
Birgitta Roslin, a judge takes an interest in the case when she realizes that two of those killed were her mother's foster parents. The only clue found at the crime scene is a strip of red silk that Birgitta discovers has been cut from a lantern in a Chinese restaurant.
This is a complex but easy to read novel that moves from modern day Sweden to 1860's America (via the device of a set of diaries discovered in one of the murder victims home) to modern day China. Mankell has always been interested in politics and the section of this novel that deals with the complex politics of China, the emergence from communism into a sort of state controlled capitalism, is absolutely fascinating.
I always enjoy Mankell's novels and The Man from Beijing is a pleasurable read but is ultimately unsatisfying. For me there are a number of problems with this novel. The various strands in the story are interesting but they don't come together in a believable and satisfying way. The central character Birgitta is not in the story for a good third of the novel and while the central character is not in the story it lacks focus and drifts. Finally, it wasn't clear if this novel was driven by the characters or the storyline, in the end it fell between the two.
Worth reading for the quality of the writing but The Man from Beijing isn't vintage Mankell.
Thursday 25 February 2010
Item list for folk music display
Old English Music
In recent years there has been an increase in the profile of English Folk Music. The 1970’s saw great success for Folk Rock bands like Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, but after those heady days’ folk music slowly retreated to the clubs and pubs.
A new generation of artists has re-energized folk music and along with artists from the past they have generated a new interest in English Traditional music. They have taken traditional songs and reinterpreted them as well as writing new songs that follow the storytelling traditions of the past.
This list is mainly made up of those contemporary artists that have had such an impact, but there is still a nod to those who had an impact decades ago (many of whom are still going today).
Seth Lakeman
Kitty Jay
http://www.sethlakeman.co.uk/
Kate Rusby
Ten
http://www.katerusby.com/
The Unthanks
Here’s the tender coming
http://www.rachelunthank.com/
Eliza Carthy
Red
http://www.eliza-carthy.com/eliza/index.cfm
Bellowhead
EP Onymous
http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/
Lau
Lightweights and Gentlemen
http://www.lau-music.co.uk/
Show of Hands
Country life
http://www.showofhands.co.uk/
John Tams
The Reckoning
http://www.johntams.co.uk/
Bella Hardy
In the shadow of mountains
http://www.bellahardy.com/
Jackie Oates
The Violet Hour
http://www.jackieoates.co.uk/
Chris Wood
Lark Descending
http://www.chriswoodmusic.co.uk/
Jim Moray
Sweet England
http://www.jimmoray.co.uk/
Sandy Denny
No more sad refrains
http://www.sandydenny.co.uk/
Martin Simpson
The Bramble Briar
http://www.martinsimpson.com/
Kathryn Tickell
Debatable Lands
http://www.kathryntickell.com/
Steeleye Span
The Best of Steeleye Span
http://steeleye.freeservers.com/
Fairport Convention
Liege and Lief
http://www.fairportconvention.com/
The Imagined Village
Empire and Love
http://imaginedvillage.com/
Mawkin:Cawsley
The Awkward Recruit
http://www.myspace.com/mawkincausley
Steve Baker
15.2.10
In recent years there has been an increase in the profile of English Folk Music. The 1970’s saw great success for Folk Rock bands like Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention, but after those heady days’ folk music slowly retreated to the clubs and pubs.
A new generation of artists has re-energized folk music and along with artists from the past they have generated a new interest in English Traditional music. They have taken traditional songs and reinterpreted them as well as writing new songs that follow the storytelling traditions of the past.
This list is mainly made up of those contemporary artists that have had such an impact, but there is still a nod to those who had an impact decades ago (many of whom are still going today).
Seth Lakeman
Kitty Jay
http://www.sethlakeman.co.uk/
Kate Rusby
Ten
http://www.katerusby.com/
The Unthanks
Here’s the tender coming
http://www.rachelunthank.com/
Eliza Carthy
Red
http://www.eliza-carthy.com/eliza/index.cfm
Bellowhead
EP Onymous
http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/
Lau
Lightweights and Gentlemen
http://www.lau-music.co.uk/
Show of Hands
Country life
http://www.showofhands.co.uk/
John Tams
The Reckoning
http://www.johntams.co.uk/
Bella Hardy
In the shadow of mountains
http://www.bellahardy.com/
Jackie Oates
The Violet Hour
http://www.jackieoates.co.uk/
Chris Wood
Lark Descending
http://www.chriswoodmusic.co.uk/
Jim Moray
Sweet England
http://www.jimmoray.co.uk/
Sandy Denny
No more sad refrains
http://www.sandydenny.co.uk/
Martin Simpson
The Bramble Briar
http://www.martinsimpson.com/
Kathryn Tickell
Debatable Lands
http://www.kathryntickell.com/
Steeleye Span
The Best of Steeleye Span
http://steeleye.freeservers.com/
Fairport Convention
Liege and Lief
http://www.fairportconvention.com/
The Imagined Village
Empire and Love
http://imaginedvillage.com/
Mawkin:Cawsley
The Awkward Recruit
http://www.myspace.com/mawkincausley
Steve Baker
15.2.10
Sunday 21 February 2010
Nottinghamshire Libraries Big Learning Weekend
Background
A partnership made up of Nottinghamshire Libraries, Adult Community Learning Services, local colleges et al with "transformational fund" support started planning "Nottinghamshire Loves Learning" weekend in October 2009.
The objective of the weekend was to provide a quality informal learning opportunity in all communities with a population of over 1000. The events would take place over the valentine weekend 13th -15th February 2010.
Libraries
A small project group was set up made up of members of both development and operational teams.
Our objectives were to:
The final programme actually included 35 events. Many of which were one offs but there were a series of Local History Events that we replicated at a few venues. There was also a mixture of events we created and delivered ourselves and events that we paid others to deliver.
The programmed included:
Results
We attracted 750 people to our events. The events were of high quality and evaluations were very positive. They attracted new library users. Our profile was significantly improved with items appearing on all local radio stations and in local papers. Unfortunately there was little interest from the television companies.
Lessons learned
Having a well known name to headline your programme is expensive but does pay off. Not only do people attend that event in significant numbers but:
Working with partners is valuable but have back up plans if they don't deliver or if they don't deliver on deadline
It is difficult to identify which sort of event worked best because similar events got different responses i.e. Swing Dance was well supported but tap dance wasn't. With variables like venue, community etc. it's not always easy to draw conclusions. However craft events where people could just "drop-in" on were universally successful. I think these events worked well because not only did they attract people to the event itself but they also appealed to people who had come to the library on other business but then felt free to join in. This didn't happen with the more structured events.
It goes without saying but the enthusiasm of local staff both in the run up to and during the event makes a huge difference. Make sure staff understand what the event is about, why we are doing it and what you need from them.
People are willing to travel so publicize all the events in one brochure, don't assume that they will only be interested in their local events.
Delivering quality requires imagination, enthusiasm, commitment and money. Don't try to do things on the cheap. If money is tight then concentrate it on an headline act and good marketing.
Our programme was too big i.e. it took a lot of managing especially when we were working to a tight series of deadlines.
Share the work as equally as possible amongst all members of the project team. As project manager this is something I could have managed better.
People will attend events on a Sunday even in a town where shops aren't open. We were told that people didn't come into town on the Sunday and it wouldn't be worth putting on an event. We proved that wasn't the case, we got good numbers on the Sunday
Don't underestimate people's ability to make even the most ambitious idea work. The biggest risks often have the most successful outcome. Don't play safe.
Conclusions
An excellent event that succeeded in raising the profile of Libraries
A partnership made up of Nottinghamshire Libraries, Adult Community Learning Services, local colleges et al with "transformational fund" support started planning "Nottinghamshire Loves Learning" weekend in October 2009.
The objective of the weekend was to provide a quality informal learning opportunity in all communities with a population of over 1000. The events would take place over the valentine weekend 13th -15th February 2010.
Libraries
A small project group was set up made up of members of both development and operational teams.
Our objectives were to:
- Host a minimum of 30 events
- At least 3 of the events would be on the Sunday
- The events would either be aimed at just adults or would be aimed at intergenerational groups. No events would be for just children
- The programme would be made up of 3 themes:
- A Sense of Place
- Music and Performance
- Arts and crafts
- Events should aim to attract at least 10 participants even in very small communities
The final programme actually included 35 events. Many of which were one offs but there were a series of Local History Events that we replicated at a few venues. There was also a mixture of events we created and delivered ourselves and events that we paid others to deliver.
The programmed included:
- Antique Antics with Eric Knowles
- Sculpture workshops
- Dance workshops
- Fancy a crafty weekend
- Community singing
- Learn to play chess
- Guitar lessons
- Local history workshops
- Relaxation techniques
- Play music with a skiffle band
- Song writing
Results
We attracted 750 people to our events. The events were of high quality and evaluations were very positive. They attracted new library users. Our profile was significantly improved with items appearing on all local radio stations and in local papers. Unfortunately there was little interest from the television companies.
Lessons learned
Having a well known name to headline your programme is expensive but does pay off. Not only do people attend that event in significant numbers but:
- More people will pick up the brochure because of that person's face on it
- It increases the profile of the whole event
- It generates more interest in the media i.e. gives them somebody to interview, photograph etc
- It generates excitement amongst the staff and that excitement is conveyed to the public
- Non-library users are more likely to cross the threshold
Working with partners is valuable but have back up plans if they don't deliver or if they don't deliver on deadline
It is difficult to identify which sort of event worked best because similar events got different responses i.e. Swing Dance was well supported but tap dance wasn't. With variables like venue, community etc. it's not always easy to draw conclusions. However craft events where people could just "drop-in" on were universally successful. I think these events worked well because not only did they attract people to the event itself but they also appealed to people who had come to the library on other business but then felt free to join in. This didn't happen with the more structured events.
It goes without saying but the enthusiasm of local staff both in the run up to and during the event makes a huge difference. Make sure staff understand what the event is about, why we are doing it and what you need from them.
People are willing to travel so publicize all the events in one brochure, don't assume that they will only be interested in their local events.
Delivering quality requires imagination, enthusiasm, commitment and money. Don't try to do things on the cheap. If money is tight then concentrate it on an headline act and good marketing.
Our programme was too big i.e. it took a lot of managing especially when we were working to a tight series of deadlines.
Share the work as equally as possible amongst all members of the project team. As project manager this is something I could have managed better.
People will attend events on a Sunday even in a town where shops aren't open. We were told that people didn't come into town on the Sunday and it wouldn't be worth putting on an event. We proved that wasn't the case, we got good numbers on the Sunday
Don't underestimate people's ability to make even the most ambitious idea work. The biggest risks often have the most successful outcome. Don't play safe.
Conclusions
An excellent event that succeeded in raising the profile of Libraries
Friday 1 January 2010
David Peace, clever or annoying?
For Christmas I was bought the the first two parts of David Peace's Tokyo series. I'm a fan after the Ridings series. I'm a about a third of the way through the first part Tokyo Year Zero. The novel is set in post war Tokyo and superbly conveys the hardship, poverty and lawlessness of a city all but destroyed by war. This is a crime novel that begins with the discovery of two bodies.
The story is excellent but Peace's writing style is very idiosyncratic, with the thoughts of the main character interrupting the flow of the story and sometimes the dialogue as well. The book is to hard read and sometimes you want Peace to be less clever and to just get on with his marvelous tale. Anyway I'll stick with it for now and hope that the journey is worth the effort.
The story is excellent but Peace's writing style is very idiosyncratic, with the thoughts of the main character interrupting the flow of the story and sometimes the dialogue as well. The book is to hard read and sometimes you want Peace to be less clever and to just get on with his marvelous tale. Anyway I'll stick with it for now and hope that the journey is worth the effort.
Books I've read this autumn/winter - Larsson, Indridason, Theorin and Cotterill
i got a bit behind with my reading of Scandinavian crime fiction. So this autumn and winter I've been playing catch up. The highlight was the last installment of the Millennium series by Steig Larsson The Girl who kicked the Hornets' Nest. As good if not better than the first two books, a real pleasure to read. The third book continues immediately after the conclusion of The Girl who Played with Fire. Lisbeth is in hospital recovering from her injuries and Kalle finds himself having to save her from powers within the Swedish secret service who need her dead. The plot , more so than the previous books in the series, reflects Larsson's life long interest in politics and in particular how the establishment exploits power. An excellent series that every crime fiction fan should read.
Theorin's second novel "The Darkest Room" is set on the Baltic island of Oland. The plot is too complex to explain in a paragraph, but Theorin is a superb writer. His novels are full of atmosphere, menace and suspense. Cleverly playing on everybody's fear of isolation and the unknown. Place is extremely important in these novels, Oland is wild, beautiful, isolated and extremely dangerous when the weather turns. When things go wrong help is a long way away. Highly recommended.
Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason continues the series featuring the Icelandic Inspector Erlendur. Since the stunning debut Jar City the series has got better and better and Arnaldur more than anybody can be compared to Mankell for the quality of his writing and story telling. This novel revolves around the death of a woman who everybody, except Erlendur , believes to have committed suicide. A novel that explores the idea that a crime can be psychological not just physical. Simply brilliant.
Finally and away from Scandinavia. The Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill, set in Laos, is a much lighter crime novel with wonderful characters. Less twee than MacCall-Smith and a good choice if you want something that is well written but not too taxing or disturbing. An excellent series
Theorin's second novel "The Darkest Room" is set on the Baltic island of Oland. The plot is too complex to explain in a paragraph, but Theorin is a superb writer. His novels are full of atmosphere, menace and suspense. Cleverly playing on everybody's fear of isolation and the unknown. Place is extremely important in these novels, Oland is wild, beautiful, isolated and extremely dangerous when the weather turns. When things go wrong help is a long way away. Highly recommended.
Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason continues the series featuring the Icelandic Inspector Erlendur. Since the stunning debut Jar City the series has got better and better and Arnaldur more than anybody can be compared to Mankell for the quality of his writing and story telling. This novel revolves around the death of a woman who everybody, except Erlendur , believes to have committed suicide. A novel that explores the idea that a crime can be psychological not just physical. Simply brilliant.
Finally and away from Scandinavia. The Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill, set in Laos, is a much lighter crime novel with wonderful characters. Less twee than MacCall-Smith and a good choice if you want something that is well written but not too taxing or disturbing. An excellent series
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
