60 seconds with… Phillipa MacInnes, East Ayrshire Libraries

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!

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

In the most challenging of periods in relation to community health and wellbeing throughout the pandemic, we wanted to ensure we could provide a library service that could reach across our region and support those most in need. To that end, four of our venues became hub locations for reserve and collect, and alongside Culture Perth and Kinross were first in Scotland to reopen after Lockdown One, followed closely by our remaining static venues a fortnight later. Our two Mobile Libraries and one Homewords service also reactivated at that time. Each time our region has been permitted to operate we have reactivated our library service in part and within the ScotGov guidelines, and at points where browsing was reintroduced, we were able to offer digital and printing services too. All fees in relation to our services were withdrawn at the outset and continue to be waived. Our library memberships grew significantly and use of our digital resources also increased substantially. We secured a role within the Digital Champions network and distributed digital devices to our most isolated customers, and we support them with telephone contact in the use of their devices. When we were not permitted to operate, our van was used for food distribution and the mobiles performed roles as mobile testing units.

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

Our relationship with our main stakeholder East Ayrshire Council supports many areas of economic recovery and we will continue to work with them to provide access to our digital suites to support employability and digital literacy. We are also supporting the Council’s Customer Contact Service while their receptions remain closed and when permitted to do so, assist claimants with scanning, printing and submission of paperwork. Our services remain free for the time being although this will continue to be reviewed.

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

This is really important to us. We are looking to ensure our libraries provide welcoming and safe spaces for customers and that our venues offer a wide range of services and comfort. We want more of our cultural spaces to become destinations for social recovery as we have seen in our shared use venues.

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

Our organisation is working towards going cashless which presents us with some challenges and will change the way in which we deliver our services and the way in which customers pay for them (if at all). We are considering the type and number of stock we purchase, and the shift in preferred format of material. For example, we are withdrawing DVD format and increasing digital stock to meet the online demand for titles.

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

If our budgets increased significantly, we would invest in capital redevelopment to ensure all our venues became destination shared use hubs and we would increase our staffing levels accordingly to prioritise engagement, participation and social health and wellbeing.

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

It is likely we will continue to use social media and digital methods to promote our services. Partnership working also assists with this, as does external funding and peer recognition.

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

Yes, two of our libraries are set to move to newly renovated heritage assets which will provide shared use venues in line with our vision for the future. There are further opportunities like this on the horizon.

What do libraries mean to you?

Knowledge, inspiration, communication, friendship and entertainment.

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

A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman

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