“the physical library in the 2.0 age and beyond - a uk perspective”

The Physical Library in 2.0 Age and Beyond: A UK Perspective

Bridging Worlds 2008

www.southwark.gov.uk

• Environment and Housing Department

Linda Foster

Area Manager

London Borough of Southwark

Setting the Context:The London Borough of Southwark

• Population 257,700 and estimated to increase to 282,500 by 2029

• 17.9% of residents aged under 15

• 72.2% aged under 45

• 47.8% ethnic minority population

• 16.1% Black African

• Extremes of affluence and poverty

• More than 100 languages spoken in schools and 43% of pupils speak English as an additional language




• Population – 23,928 (2001 census)

• 64% ethnic minority population

• 88% ethnic minority school population

• 41.7% Black African school population

• Attainment below national average - reading 12%, writing 11%, maths 5%

• 16% of people have a limiting long term illness

• 66% of population lives in social housing

Peckham: Area and Community




Regenerating Peckham

• Major regeneration mid-1990s to address issues of poor housing, high crime rates and social deprivation

• £265 million identified by Government as part of a Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme to regenerate Peckham

• Improved housing

• Peckham Pulse

• Public realm

• Public safety

• Library




Peckham Library Headlines

• 60,000 stock items (books and audio visual)

• 60 study spaces with 27 PCs and Wi-Fi access throughout

• 366,458 library visits in 2007 / 08

• 223,495 items issued 2007/08

• Literature Development Officer based at Library and a programme of cultural events

• A weekly programme of events for all ages

• Multi-use building




Peckham Library Membership by Age




8%

12%

9%

3%

66%

2%

0-4

5-10

11-15

16-17

18-59

60+

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

14 or under 15 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 to 74 75 or over

Age

Perc

enta

ge

PeckhamWeighted total




Peckham Library Membership Compared to Southwark Totals

Peckham Library Membership by Ethnicity

Black Caribbean5.02%

Other Ethnic Group2.37%

White Other11.15%

Cypriot Greek Speaking0.01%

Cypriot Turkish Speaking0.27%

Chinese/Vietnamese1.87%

Mixed White & Black African1.66%

Other Mixed Background1.64%

White Irish0.98%

Black African27.31%

Asian Pakistani0.77%

Cypriot Other0.03%

Mixed White & Asian0.61%

Asian Indian0.78%

Asian Bangladeshi0.88%

Mixed White & Black Caribbean2.07%

Declined To Respond2.09%

Other Asian Background2.08%

Asian British1.24%

Other Black Background1.09%

White British18.50%

Black British17.57%

Cypriot Greek SpeakingCypriot OtherCypriot Turkish SpeakingMixed White & AsianAsian PakistaniAsian IndianAsian BangladeshiWhite IrishOther Black BackgroundAsian BritishOther Mixed BackgroundMixed White & Black AfricanChinese/VietnameseMixed White & Black CaribbeanOther Asian BackgroundDeclined To RespondOther Ethnic GroupBlack CaribbeanWhite OtherBlack BritishWhite BritishBlack African




Customer Comments

• “I would like to voice my views that Peckham Library is indeed a great place to relax and unwind away from your busy daily schedule of work. Loads of books catering to each and every individual need and of course the computers are there for one and all to get onto the net and go global. Helpful and courteous staff. A big thank you to the management and staff of Peckham Library.”

• “This is the only library I enjoy coming to. The atmosphere is great due to the way it looks. I enjoy learning when I am in Peckham Library. When I go to any other library I want to do my thing then get out; But when I come here I actually want to see what else I can learn so I don't have to leave. Great stuff. Great staff. LOL.”

• “The facilities are excellent but is it possible to include a small café in the building?”

• “Peckham Library is a great place to relax and unwind away from your busy schedule, with loads of books and computers catering for all needs.”

• “This is the best library I’ve been to so far. Thank you.”

• “I am a Business Management student that would like to see a lot of Business Management books available in Peckham Library.”

• “You don't have enough books about sports in my opinion: e.g. no books about scuba diving…”




More Customer Comments

• “I am a relatively new customer to Peckham Library and I would like to make a couple of points. Firstly; generally the library is quiet -depends on the time of day. I find the level of disruptions sometimes with children and mobile phones ringing very distracting. It can be frustrating not having a very quiet area.”

• “I think there should be rooms or more enclosed areas available for quiet study, so people who want to do group study or use their mobile phones can conveniently do so in the non-quiet study areas without distracting other people.”

• “More books and DVDs, magazines, newspapers to reflect the diversity of the area it serves. There are no African periodicals or newspapers. There are no magazines of African news or events yet these are available at good newsagents.”

• “As a student studying for professional course like ACCA; I can't make in depth search when studying at this library. So I am left with the materials I bring from home.”




Canada Water Library




From Peckham to Canada Water: Lessons Learned

• Library design needs to enable and encourage synergies between different services in a multi-service building

• Materials need to be able to be sourced locally and sustainability built in to design

• Comfort issues must be addressed to enable people to stay longer in the building and to support use by families and small children... toilets, refreshments, buggy park…

• You have to provide quieter zones for study and learning activity as space is valued for this and attracts a new kind of library user

• A responsive and dynamic programme needs to be developed to maintain and increase the use of libraries and reflect cultural diversity

• Continued community consultation and engagement is effective in informing future provision

• Make the architects understand what it will feel like to use and work in the building!




Canada Water Regeneration

• Multi £million project• 3,500 new homes• 30,000 square metres of office provision• Improved retail• High quality public realm• Ecological habitat protected and enhanced• New school• New library




Proposed New Design for John Harvard Library




Revitalising John Harvard Library




John Harvard Library: New Space and New Services




The Physical Library in the 2.0 Age: A Wish List

• An iconic building – not essential but can be useful in kick starting regeneration and attracting the 2.0 generation

• The latest IT and Wi-Fi capacity are essential as is the ability to offer our services 24/7

• The space for a programme of activities to engage all ages and all sections of the community

• A Library Service that continues to be responsive to its community

• Flexibility – we really don’t know what demands there will be on us in the future




In Conclusion…

“Public libraries are safe places, where everyone is welcome and receives equal respect. You can read for pleasure, study, look for jobs, learn a new skill…They bring people of all ages, genders and political beliefs together. They provide free access to information and ideas and are an important bastion of democracy. Planners and developers recognise this unifying role and many have put a public library at the centre of new build and regeneration projects.”

The Little Book of Public Libraries, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council 2005




“the physical library in the 2.0 age and beyond - a uk perspective”

Education

social housing environment

peckham library membership

staff of peckham library

peckham library headlines60

building environment

library visits

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