|
|
 |
| |
Librarians yet to be told the full story about jobs
Staff face uncertain future as ‘Grow’ programme changes take effect
LIBRARIANS say they have been left in the dark over possible job cuts and changes that will affect their roles in an overhaul of libraries.
The New Journal asked to see what discussions had taken place with staff but papers released under the Freedom of Information Act show only informal and unminuted briefings have been held.
Mike Clarke, the main architect behind plans for new-look libraries, has no extra details of what was discussed at these briefings and unions say he has yet to address to their concerns.
The proposals, under a scheme called Growing Your Library, have focused on changing the way librarians interact with library users, or “customers”, and staff. The plans are described in files released to the New Journal as aiming to change the “look, atmosphere and identity” of the buildings.
American firm Ideo, a private “design-thinking” company who also have contracts with Gap and Nike, have been brought in to help mastermind the rebranding.
“They will help us to stretch our thinking by challenging what we know, or think we know, about customers, residents and stakeholders and non-users,” Mr Clarke said in a letter to staff.
Controversially, plans to remove the familiar service counter and scrap the need to stamp books – thus giving librarians the freedom to roam the building offering advice and help – have been of little formal discussion with staff, according to the papers.
Privately, librarians say they are worried their jobs will change beyond all recognition when, as expected, Councillor Flick Rea, Camden’s elected libraries chief, rubber-stamps Mr Clarke’s plans in October. Cllr Rea has expressed public support for the programme of changes for a number of months.
Librarians believe any change to their job description will mean tearing up their current contracts, which many of them signed decades ago at their beginning of their careers. Though the papers reveal that Mr Clarke held an away-day at the British Library in March and workshops in June and July, librarians are still anxious about the changes.
Jonathan Marsh, who works at Highgate library and is a Unison steward, said: “We’ve been kept up to date in as far as we know there are going to be changes to the structure of the service and the introduction of RFID (self service machines), but what we don’t know as individuals is how that will impact on our everyday working life and we know some people are probably going to lose their jobs. We still don’t know specifically who they might be, and we don’t know what our job profiles are going to be. That’s causing a lot of anxiety across all levels of staff.”
Mr Clarke confirmed at a council meeting in June that some jobs will go due to the council’s need to make efficiency savings, but this appears to be the first official comment he had made on redundancies.
Staff are worried self-service machines, due to appear in Camden’s libraries imminently, will replace some jobs.
A council press officer said: “We have had meetings with staff, staff representatives and unions and have always been clear about the potential for changes to job descriptions and staff structures, and we have always said that we would work hard to minimise redundancies. We will continue to talk to and consult with staff.”
‘It’s nothing to fear! Self-service will make libraries better for all’
LIKE many of our residents I regard Camden’s libraries as a borough treasure and I am committed to making sure that they remain so, both as an avid user, and in my capacity as the councillor responsible for safeguarding their future. Camden’s residents deserve a modern, efficient and flourishing library service which gives the local community access to a broad range of services. Through the Growing Your Libraries programme, that’s what we intend to provide.
The work we’ve already carried out has received a positive reaction. People had told us that they wanted longer opening hours in the evenings and at weekends. We responded to this and provided additional hours at all Camden libraries. As a result we have seen visits increase by 6.8 per cent and issues increase by 3.6 per cent over the past year. We recently introduced WiFi to Swiss Cottage library and plan to do so elsewhere.
Libraries have always been, and I hope will always be, a place for contemplation, reading and learning, and a source of information. But I believe we can do these things even better. We want to improve our existing services, provide more, and make sure everyone knows what’s on offer and how to access it, including those who seldom, if ever use a library.
Camden’s libraries have a good reputation for keeping up to date with changes in customer expectations and improving technology – we will build on this to provide a broad range of services to a wider audience. As your survey showed (Library reform squad don’t use book service, August 6) libraries are many things to many people. We aim to provide the best possible service whilst ensuring we provide good value for money.
That’s why we’re introducing self-service technology. Self-service machines work well in other libraries across the country, are easy to use and mean less queuing. There will still be help and advice on hand for people who need it, but more importantly, self service will free up staff time so that we can really help residents get the most from the library service. We know that residents would value more face-to-face contact with staff, whether that’s by helping to find a book, running story-telling events for children or reading groups for adults. It will also mean that librarians will have more time to reach out to those people who are not so well engaged with library services. We may also be able to open earlier in the morning or offer more events, like rhyme-time and author events, which are over-subscribed.
I know that some residents have concerns, but I can assure them that our core services will remain the same. We have absolutely no plans to reduce library stock – we have actually increased stock levels, buying between 45,000 and 50,000 new books every year over the past four years.
People shouldn’t be frightened by these developments – they really will help us grow our libraries into a service fit for the years to come. Please help us decide the future for our libraries by emailing me your comments to: gyl@camden.gov.uk
FLICK REA
|
 |
|
|
|
Your comments:
IT seems that Camden's library service fails to understand or recognise the worth of those who are to be replaced by machines. These staff have years of local experience, know residents' reading tastes and are totally committed to their jobs. They seem not to be held in any esteem by elected officials nor by their own service, given the information in this report. Sadly this view is held in other areas of the country as well -- where the public, who know better, are told that self-service machines are a splendid blue-sky thinking invention, quite able to replace all the skills brought to the job by human beings. We who value library staff are not Luddites; we merely maintain that library staff are part and parcel of the personal service that elevates a room with books in it to a 'library'. The number and complexity of front line staff's duties, and the benefit of library staff skills to local communities, seem to be deliberately misrepresented here. An urgent reappraisal of the value of library assistants and their contribution to all libraries would have a highly beneficial effect on the standard of library services to be provided. A determination to change the current mindset, that is frankly shameful, should be supported by CILIP, UNISON, MLA and all others in positions of influence. "Good morning, machine. I wonder if you can help me find the 1924 edition of .... for my research project? Thank you very much. I'll see you on Friday." (Bring on the men in white coats) Front line staff have the wholehearted support of the public who already value them as others should. They are worth their weight in gold and are worthy of great respect.
S. Burnham
|
| |
|
|
|
