60 seconds with… Lindsay McKrell, Stirling Council Libraries & Archives

Category: 60 seconds with..., Blog, Librarians During Lockdown

In 60 seconds with… PMLG Scotland ask senior figures in Scottish libraries for a short, sweet introduction to what the future looks like for their services post-pandemic. Enjoy!

60 seconds with… Lindsay McKrell, Stirling Council Libraries & Archives

How have your library staff contributed to the local authority’s pandemic response?

Around a dozen members of staff volunteered during the first lockdown as part of the Community Response Support Team. We also 3-D printed PPE visors when required and now other staff have stepped forward to act as Vaccination Marshalls.

What role will your libraries play in their communities’ economic recovery?

We will work closely with communities when physically back and will create a development plan for each library, engaging with local people to determine their needs. We have been re-organised in the Council into in a new team alongside Community Development and this will be a Service Aim for both of our teams. We will build on the current digital offer and in future offer activities and events on both physical and online platforms. We provide newspapers in all of our libraries and subscribe to the Press Reader service online. We have removed fines for children in recent years and hope to extend this to adults now too. We will build on the libraries’ role as community hubs and extend the range of our partnership working to bring more services to local areas. We are investing in the fabric of our estate with plans to refurbish or move several libraries and to create maker spaces in three of these over the next year. We will continue to offer free PC access and wifi with trained, friendly staff and to offer digital support wherever required. We will offer opportunities for volunteering and for learning ourselves and work with others to promote access to their opportunities and any help they can provide. We are co-locating with business hubs where possible and will encourage use of the services they offer.

What about social recovery: will your libraries make a difference to the social wellbeing of their communities, post-pandemic?

Libraries will be essential to the recovery of their communities, offering a safe space which is warm and welcoming and makes no demands on those visiting. We continue to offer some of our services, such as Bookbug, tech help and book groups online and will bring activities like this back into our libraries as soon as we can safely do so.

As a result of the past year, will you change anything about the way things used to run in your service?

Yes, we will look closely at what we can continue to offer online and consider building layout and design as we go forward. One positive has been the greater involvement of all staff in creating social media content such as book reviews, quizzes and activities and we aim to build on this.

If money was no object, what would be your top priority?

More staff.

In the future, how will you promote what your libraries do?

We plan to set up a Promotions working group to refresh our approach to this, renew web pages, get more people involved in our social media and build a bank of material for this. We plan to make greater use of our Library Management System to engage more directly with our readers.

Do you have plans to renovate or alter any of your libraries?

Yes! I’m delighted to say we are working on plans for several libraries. Bannockburn Library will be fully re-furbished from March, opening again in the autumn with a fantastic maker space and design suite which can be accessed out of hours. Cowie Library is moving to a new Community Hub on the main street of the village, incorporating a maker space and co-locating with a business hub and this is also due to open later this year. We are very proud of our two new mobiles which have satellite technology and a third seat so partners can come out on the bus to highlight their services. We are very grateful for the ongoing investment from our Administration who have committed to ensuring that 1) We will support our libraries with funding and resources to ensure they are 21st century community hubs that are digitally competent and 2) We will protect and adequately resource our mobile libraries.

What do libraries mean to you?

Everything. I think libraries can bring calm, joy, excitement, enlightenment and power. I believe we can deliver the aims of the Councils and Trusts we work for as no other service can. In Stirling we will help the Council support disadvantaged communities and target inequality and will open up opportunities for local people who can access a wide range of services through our doors.

Bonus Question: you’re stranded on a desert island and can only have one book with you. Which one do you choose?

Such a hard question! One by Katherine Rundell, she’s my favourite children’s author. The Good Thieves, I think.

Optional: Add a photo of yourself or one that sums up your library service!