Start your Own Business with the Help of your Local Library" was the surprising email I received this week. It advertised West Sussex Libraries' Business Information Service. It is typical of a range of ways that Libraries are evolving their service – as I discovered visiting Billingshurst, Southwater and Horsham Libraries as part of National Library week.
Traditionally we knew what libraries provided – silent, forbidding repositories of dusty knowledge. The world has moved on. 100 years ago every newspaper printed was, on average, read by over 20 people as public libraries provided a prime source of news. This week witnessed a national newspaper foregoing entirely its print version in favour of "on line", books going “on line” is hardly new:
Libraries need to evolve to ensure they continue to be valued: hence the free wifi and daily internet usage to local residents. Billingshurst acts as a "work information and support hub" providing assistance - especially computer based - to job-seekers. Through its "computer buddy" scheme many residents of all ages have been helped to access computer services for the first time.
Providing services to every generation is core and every Library has popular activities for children. I met two keen younger readers in Southwater - a library where having, in the last year, changed their opening hours to better suit the village, borrowing has increased over ten per cent.
My last visit was back to Horsham - the third busiest library in the County. Out the back was the Mobile Library - about to do its rounds of the villages. A less familiar sight are lockers - provided through an agreement with an on-line retailer - from which Library members can pick up deliveries: it works well for members and the Libraries earn rent.
All in all local libraries are providing a great service and one which goes beyond the traditional offering to encompass community activities and the opportunities of the internet age. The future will not be easy, it rarely is but they are mapping out how they will continue to add value to our lives in the years ahead.