The Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) has published Social Media Toolkit: a practical guide to achieving benefits and managing risks, a 73-page overview of social media, supported by specific guidance for particular types of user and scenario. The press release notes that "This Toolkit stems from growing interest in the use of social media within the UCISA community. With institutional stakeholders looking increasingly to their information services departments for support in this area, our members sought a reference guide to help them answer a range of questions on related topics. More than that, however, they were seeking practical, contextual examples of use that would inspire others within their institution to take advantage of the affordances of a set of tools that offer new forms of engagement and ways to enhance many aspects of everyday business practice. We would like to thank the numerous UCISA colleagues, and others within the wider higher education community, who have contributed to the production of this Toolkit by providing examples and reviewing content. We hope the examples given here will encourage many more of you to try new approaches to supporting core university functions via social media tools."

The Guide can be found on the UCISA web site.

The latest Taking Part report [1]  from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport illustrates why reducing public library services will have a disproportionate impact on communities who depend on them for learning, social spaces, groups and activities and access to the Internet.

The Government’s Taking Part statistics measure use of a range of sectors in England including museums and galleries, sport, arts, heritage, archives and public libraries.

The overall trend highlighted by the report is that adult visits to libraries have decreased across all demographics since data collection began in 2005/06. 

However, behind that larger trend, the statistics show a more nuanced picture of who uses library services. Some of the key findings are summarised below. 

Deprived areas:

• Adults living in the most deprived areas visit the library more. 36.8% of those living in the most deprived area visit their library, compared to 31.5% in the least deprived.

Ethnicity and gender:

• An increasing proportion of adults from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups used the library more than adults from white ethnic groups. The latest statistics are 49.3% (BME groups) compared with 31.8% (white ethnic groups) - but the gap between ethnic groups is increasing. In 2005/06 there was a difference of 10.3 percentage points between the groups, this year the difference is 17.5 percentage points.
• More women visited a library in the past twelve months than men, 38.1% compared to 29.4%

Non-working adults:

• More non-working adults visit libraries compared with working adults. Up to September this year 37.8% of non-working adults visited a library compared with 31.3 per cent of adults who are working. Whilst the term “non-working” adults used in statistical data is not synonymous with the unemployed, it is a fair assumption that a proportion of those “non working” adults will be the unemployed and account for some of the adults in this higher figure. 
• These figures describe the situation in English libraries only and not for the whole UK but it is worth noting that (in the UK) the unemployment rate was 5.5% in April- June 2015 but unemployment rates amongst BME groups is higher -10.2% compared to 4.9% for white people [2]. 

My Library By Right

The CILIP My Library My Right campaign highlights the duty of local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient public library service which complies with the public sector equality duty (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). 

One of the things local authorities have to do is to encourage people who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life, eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity. In addition, the Equality Act 2010 also places a new duty on public bodies to consider socio economic disadvantage when making strategic decisions about how to exercise their functions. 

These latest Government statistics provide a warning that reducing public library services is likely to have a disproportionate impact on people who need libraries the most. 

Sign the petition

Find out more about the campaign

The DPC press release notes: "The DPC, Gabriela Redwine and Charles Beagrie Ltd are delighted to announce the public release of the latest DPC Technology Watch Report ‘Personal Digital Archiving’, written by Gabriela Redwine, Digital Archivist at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

This free peer-reviewed report is aimed at individuals who are concerned about how best to manage and preserve their own personal digital archives, as well as professionals who advise people on how to select and best preserve such digital content.

‘The term personal digital archiving refers to how individuals manage or keep track of their digital files, where they store them, and how these files are described and organised’, explained Gabriela Redwine. ‘People keep personal archives for many different reasons and the ubiquity of personal computing devices and the ease with which files can be duplicated often means that the same digital files can exist in multiple locations simultaneously.’

The report provides an overview of the key issues related to personal digital archiving, arguing for the importance and urgency of preserving personal files, while also acknowledging the difficulty of managing digital files that include a combination of digitised and born-digital materials. There is a short introduction to the role of cultural heritage organisations, in the history of personal digital archiving, as well as current initiatives, which sets the stage for resources and recommendations for individuals who want to be proactive about saving their own digital materials.

‘Our Technology Watch Reports are available open access as a distinctive contribution to the dissemination of good practice in digital preservation, but are framed directly around the needs of our members who help suggest topics and help us turn ideas into sustained and significant advice that addresses their requirements, explained William Kilbride of the DPC.

Neil Beagrie, managing editor of the Technology Watch Report series on behalf of the DPC added, “Personal archiving is where digital preservation most directly affects non-specialists as well as curators. This title in the Technology Watch Report series is likely to be of interest not only to DPC members and the digital preservation community but also to a wider public internationally.’

Personal Digital Archiving’ is published by the DPC in association with Charles Beagrie Ltd. Neil Beagrie, Director of Consultancy at Charles Beagrie Ltd, was commissioned to act as principal investigator for, and managing editor of, this Series in 2011. He has been further supported by an Editorial Board drawn from DPC members and peer reviewers who comment on text prior to release: William Kilbride (Chair), Janet Delve (University of Portsmouth), Marc Fresko (Inforesight), Sarah Higgins (University of Aberystwyth), Tim Keefe (Trinity College Dublin), and Dave Thompson (Wellcome Library)."

The report can be downloaded from: http://tinyurl.com/jh47pl8.

Discover the inner workings of the British Library, learn more about how you and your library users can access BL resources and enjoy the history of this national institution.

To book your place contact PMLG Chair Jacqueline Widdowson: j.h.l.widdowson@gmail.com

Places are limited so hurry to avoid disappointment.

We are very sad to learn of the passing of author and poet Peter Dickinson. A giant of writing and poetry for well over half a century, Peter won the then Library Association Carnegie Medal for his books Tulku (1979) and City of Gold (1980), and was the very first writer to win two Carnegie Medals. The quality of his writing also won him a highly commended accolade for Eva in 1988 and four further Carnegie commendations, along with the translation of his books into many languages. Peter has made a huge impact on the world of literature for both children and adults and his work continues to be to be read and loved to this day. On behalf of CILIP we send sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

Sioned Jacques, CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway 2016 Chair of Judges

 

This workshop is aimed at those who have embarked on the Certification, Chartership or Fellowship process, or who are thinking about it. Booking in advance is essential as places are limited.

The London Member Network Christmas Social was held at the Crown and Anchor Pub in Covent Garden this year and this being my first social for the London Member Network I was glad to meet other members from the area. The pub was a very good choice and provided a charming atmosphere and delicious food! It was nice to be able to speak to other MA students and also other professionals to talk about their experiences in the library sector. Overall, it was a lovely evening and thanks must be given to all those who organised the event. I would certainly go again next year. 

Event write-up by Hannah Groom, MA student UCL   

 

The RA Research Library and Archive is a significant collection and specialist resource of books, documents and other materials on British art and the history of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Karen George, Chair of the Government Information Group, has written to Nick Poole, Chief Exec of CILIP, outlining GIG's response to the 'Shape the Future' consultation on CILIP's Strategic Plan 2016-2020.

My Library By Right is a new campaign from the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP) that champions the public’s right to libraries.

Public libraries received more than 265 million visits in 2014-15 but despite this many library services are being put at risk through a combination of neglect, short-term thinking and the failure of HM Government to carry out their legal duty to the public.

Under English law, everyone has a right to quality public library services provided by Local Authorities using guidance that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is obliged to provide.

However, these rights are not widely understood and for too long the statutory nature of library services has been ignored.

My Library By Right builds on legal advice received pro bono from celebrated Human Rights Barrister Eric Metcalfe of Monckton Chambers. This advice highlights the legal duty of DCMS Secretary of State John Whittingdale to provide clear statutory guidance on the definition of a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service.

Nick Poole, CILIP Chief Executive, commented, “Public libraries are not a luxury. Their provision is not discretionary - Local Councils have a statutory duty. For millions of people every year library services are a lifeline. That is why the statutory right to a quality public library service was established under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act.

“Through My Library By Right we will hold the Government to account for these legal duties, including working with the Secretary of State to provide a clear and meaningful statement of the characteristics of a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service for Local Authorities to follow.

“We urge all Authorities currently considering or implementing changes to their library services without statutory guidance to put these plans on hold pending the outcome of these discussions with DCMS. Changes made to library services without reference to an appropriate statutory guideline may not be lawful, not only under the 1964 Act, but also in respect of the requirements of the 2010 Equality Act.”

Martyn Wade, Chair of CILIP Board, said: “For too long, the statutory nature of England’s public library network has been neglected. We need to remind the public of their rights, and work with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Local Authorities to ensure that these rights are respected.

“Our investigations and the legal advice we have received have highlighted a disturbing lack of legally-compliant guidance, in the absence of which many Local Authorities have taken discretionary decisions about their services which risk flouting the law.

“Not only this, but the Secretary of State’s duty to issue statutory guidance must be exercised in compliance with his duty under section 149 of the Equality Act – to have due regard of the need to  eliminate discrimination and to advance equality of opportunity among protected groups. Over one hundred public libraries closed last year, 443 since 2010. The widely-reported cuts to library services risk contravening these rules and we are particularly concerned that protected groups are likely to be disproportionately affected by any further reduction in library services by Local Authorities.

 “The Secretary of State’s duty to issue statutory guidance is reinforced by the obligation to act compatibly with Convention rights under the Human Rights Act. Arguably the lack of guidance means there is not sufficient legal certainty about how reductions in library services are compatible with Local Authorities’ duty to provide ‘comprehensive and efficient’ services to support the rights of library users under the Human Rights Act including respect for their private lives, to receive information and to non-discrimination.”

The campaign calls for:

• The public’s rights to libraries to be recognised and respected
   
• Public libraries to be treated as the statutory services they are
   
• The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to carry out their legal duties under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act
   
• Statutory guidance for local authorities on their duties under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act from DCMS, with support from CILIP and the library and information profession

Campaign activities:

CILIP will hold DCMS accountable for carrying out their duties under the 1964 Act including providing statutory guidance for Local Authorities, to superintend the statutory guidance with the Local Government Association, and to develop robust policies that support the development of public libraries in England.

Key campaign activities will include:

• A petition calling on the Government to fulfil their statutory obligations;

• Engagement with the Leadership for Libraries Taskforce to develop robust proposals for the improvement of public libraries;

• Publication of a Public Libraries White Paper in early 2016 setting out realistic and achievable options for investing in the public library network;

• National Libraries Day on the 6th of February celebrating public libraries and encouraging the public to Join It, Use It, Love It!

• A parliamentary lobby organised by Speak up for Libraries (SUFL) whose members include UNISON, CILIP, The Library Campaign, Voices for the Library and the Campaign for the Book

-ends-

Press contacts

Mark Taylor
Director of External Relations, CILIP
Email: mark.taylor@cilip.org.uk
Tel: 020 7255 0654
Mobile: 07792 635 305

Cat Cooper
Communications and Campaigns Manager, CILIP
Email: cat.cooper@cilip.org.uk
Tel: 020 7255 0653

Notes for editors

1. Key legislation

Public Libraries & Museums Act (1964)

Governs public library services in England and Wales. Local authorities have a duty to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service, to promote the service and lend books and other printed material free of charge for those who live, work or study in the area. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of State has a duty to superintend Councils’ role providing library services and promote the improvement of the public library service.

Equality Act (2010)

Protects the rights of individuals and advances equality of opportunity for all. It brought together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. Under Section 149 it establishes a public sector equality duty for all public bodies, including public library authorities.

Human Rights Act (1998)

Sets out the fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals in the UK have access to. It codifies the protections in the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. The most relevant sections for the provision of public library services are Respect for private and family life (article 8), Freedom of expression (article 10) and Prohibition of discrimination (article 14).

2. CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. CILIP’s vision is a fair and economically prosperous society underpinned by literacy, access to information and the transfer of knowledge. CILIP is a registered charity, no. 313014. Visit www.cilip.org.uk for more information.

3. Figures from the Chartered Institute for Public of Public Finance and Accountancy show that more than 100 libraries closed from 2013-14 to 2014-15, bringing the total number of public libraries to 3,917 - down 2.6%, on last year and a reduction of 14% since 2010. Wales has seen the biggest impact, losing 11% of its libraries since last year. Visits to libraries across England, Wales and Scotland fell by 3.9%, last year, down from 276 million in 2013/141 to 265 million in 2014/15, equating to nearly 14% fewer visits over a five year period. CILIP response to the CIPFA figures. 

On December 2nd 2015 CILIP Ireland successfully held our annual Open Day for Library and Information workers. The event provided an opportunity for members and non-members to listen to speakers, contribute to discussions, network and attend the CILIP Ireland AGM.

This year’s Open Day was held in Parliament Buildings, Stormont and was kindly sponsored by the Culture, Arts and Leisure (CAL) Committee. Chair of the Committee Mr Nelson McCausland MLA delivered an Opening Address where he welcomed attendees and highlighted the Committee’s support for libraries as “hubs for the arts, culture and learning".

The CILIP Ireland Committee welcomed Mr McCausland’s assertion that “the CAL Committee supports the continued access of our communities to a local library that is properly staffed with skilled and professional librarians”.

Nick Poole, the recently appointed CILIP CEO followed this positive and timely Opening Address with an equally thought provoking and inspiring discussion on the future vision of CILIP. Nick invited attendees to contribute to “Shape the Future”, the open and collaborative consultation which is currently ongoing to develop CILIP’s strategy to 2020. He began by sharing some of the ideas and views that were emerging as a result of the consultation which he stated have tended to cluster around the areas of optimism, resilience and relevance. Nick addressed each area in detail before looking ahead with optimism to answering the question as to “what is the role of a modern, forward-facing professional association in helping you to achieve your goals?” Nick’s presentation generated a lively discussion during the question and answer session which followed and the full text of his speech can be accessed here.

The morning session concluded with a fascinating presentation on Open Access from Eimear Blee, Institutional Repository Officer at Queen’s University, Belfast. For many of us Open Access is a relatively new development we may be aware of but have little knowledge in the subject area. Eimear delivered a very clear and easy to understand overview of what Open Access is and explained why it is so important to the research community before describing the impact that it is having on UK universities and libraries. 

The morning sessions had all offered some food for thought and lunch provided an excellent opportunity to network with other information professionals and to discuss the key themes of the day.

After lunch Naomi Korn, Copyright Consultant and Chair of the Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance delivered an afternoon master class in the form of a workshop on copyright. This was an extremely engaging and practical session focusing on copyright legislation for Library and Information Workers.

The Open Day concluded with a tour of Parliament Buildings and an opportunity to visit the Assembly library. Feedback from the event has been extremely positive and we welcome any suggestions for future events. Please contact the CILIP Ireland Development Officer Gerardine Blee by email at Gerardine.blee@cilip.org.uk.

Photographs from the Open Day can be viewed below, please note that all photographs are the property of CILIP Ireland.

Facet Publishing have announced the release of the fourth edition of Richard Rubin’s classic LIS textbook.

Foundations of Library and Information Science offers a firm underpinning of knowledge and guidance for LIS students and professionals alike. It will prepare LIS students and professionals to cope with and effectively manage their many complex responsibilities by:

• providing an introduction to the LIS field
• identifying and discussing the current major topics and issues in LIS that will continue to affect the profession for years to come
• providing librarians and information professionals with an opportunity to refresh their knowledge through a systematic review of the major issues and topics that have changed the field
• placing LIS in a larger social, political, economic, political and cultural context
• inviting readers to further explore topics raised in the book.

Responding to the many changes occurring both in the field and in society at large, this text includes comprehensive coverage of:

• the impact of digital devices and social networking
• the impact of digital publishing and e-books
• the evolution of library services including virtual reference, embedded librarianship, digital access and repositories, digital preservation and civic engagement
• the new efforts to organize knowledge including FRBR, RDF, BIBFRAME, the semantic web and the next-generation library catalogue
• the significance of the digital divide and policy issues related to broadband access and network neutrality
• legal developments including new interpretations of copyright related to mass digitization of books and scholarly articles
• the continuing tensions in LIS education between information science and library science
• new initiatives to integrate libraries, archives, and museums.

Spanning all types of libraries, from public to academic, school, and special, this book illuminates the major facets of library and information science for aspiring professionals as well as those already practicing in the field.

Foundations of Library and Information Science; December 2015; paperback; 648pp; 9781783300846; £54.95; is published by Facet Publishing and is available from Bookpoint Ltd | Tel: +44 (0)1235 827702 | Fax: +44 (0)1235 827703 | Email: facet@bookpoint.co.uk | Web: www.facetpublishing.co.uk. | Mailing Address: Mail Order Dept, 39 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4TD.  The US edition is available in North America through ALA Editions.

Press contact:

James Williams, Marketing Manager, Facet Publishing
Tel: +44 (0)20 7255 0597
Email: james.williams@facetpublishing.co.uk 

Book Aid International is a UK charity which exists to help people to discover the joy and value of reading. Through working in close partnership with African library services, we provide up to one million brand new and carefully selected books, which are donated by publishers, to over 3,400 libraries each year. We estimate that our work benefits around 35 million people each year, through the provision of books, library development, teacher support and librarian training. 

Across Africa millions of people are unable to reach their full potential because of a basic lack of books, reading materials and information. We know that literacy, education and access to information are instrumental in the fight against poverty, but in sub-Saharan Africa 48 million young people (between the ages of 15 and 24) are functionally illiterate [1]. 

In many of the communities where we work, books are scarce and many people do not have books at home, either because they are prohibitively expensive or very difficult to obtain. Children in school often lack reading materials and books, and thus they lack the tools with which to learn enjoyably and effectively. 

Libraries are often the only places where people can learn

All of this makes public and community libraries all the more important. Libraries are often the only places where people can further their education and learn skills for life as well as read for pleasure. They are places for children to come and study and discover the joy of reading. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to read and we work to make this possible for as many children as we canby providing access to books. 

Book Aid International has been proud to support children in their reading journeys for many years. As well as sending over 600,000 children and primary level books to libraries in 2014 (our most recent available stats) we also support the establishment of spaces within libraries for children to enjoy reading, playing and learning. We do this by setting up Children’s Corners in public libraries – vibrant and designated spaces for children with a collection of over 2,500 brand new children’s books. We supply small grants for the purchase of locally published children’s books and to refurbish the space with brightly coloured walls, murals and child-sized furniture. Two librarians from each Children’s Corner attend training to help them engage children in reading activities, reach out to their wider community and help children get the most from their new collections. 

In 2014 we launched a programme called Open Doors which aims to set up 60 Children’s Corners in libraries in seven African countries over four years. The programme is progressing well with 22 new Corners already established in five countries and thousands of children benefiting from their new library space each day.

The growth of digital information

In Africa as in the rest of the world, the amount of digital reading material is increasing, although in many areas this is not yet widespread. Here at Book Aid International, we believe in the power of the written word in all its forms, so we started to think about how we could reach more children by providing digital resources for use in libraries. 

In order to help children access reading materials in a variety of ways we piloted a digital project with Kenya National Library Service (knls) in three Children’s Corners (Meru, Isiolo and Kisumu) in Kenya. Each library was provided with tablets and e-readers which were pre-loaded with around 200 books as well as word and maths games to support the Kenyan curriculum. We provided training for the librarians in these Children’s Corners to help them get to grips with the technology themselves and to support children to make the most of it. This gives children the opportunity to access educational content and reading resources online as well as to develop their skills in information technology. 

This project has been well-received by librarians, children and the wider community. The librarians have developed innovative activities in their libraries to help children engage with the tablets and e-readers, including developing a team of ‘tab wizards’ – older children who support their younger peers in using the technology. 

Digital Futures

Following the success of this pilot project in Kenya, we have developed a project together with Worldreader called Digital Futures, which is part funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Digital Futures, which was launched in Uganda in the summer of 2015, provides established Children’s Corners with e-readers, pre-loaded with titles from Africa and around the world. As with the pilot project in Kenya, Digital Futures includes a training element (provided by Worldreader in Uganda) for librarians to increase their own skills with e-readers and to pass this knowledge on to children. There are currently five Children’s Corners in Uganda taking part in Digital Futures and we plan to expand to a further five in Uganda next year. Digital projects are also planned for five Children’s Corners in Malawi (supported by ICAP) and we will be expanding the work of the pilot project in Kenya to other Children’s Corners. 

Judith Henderson, our Project Manager who specialises in training said,

“Including a digital element in our Children’s Corners projects really helps us to bring the joy of reading to more children. We have found that the digital element really complements the printed books we send and that children who are introduced to the library through the digital projects then go on to use the whole library collection. 

“Children are all different and they learn in a variety of ways. Providing more ways for children to explore books, to develop their own reading tastes and to practice their reading skills means that the opportunities provided by our Children’s Corners can reach a wider group of children.”

The training element of this project includes modules on outreach in the community. The librarians not only run activities for children who are visiting the library but have also trained local teachers to run lessons from the library. The e-readers provide an opportunity for a whole class  to read the same story at the same time, which widens the range of story-based lessons that can be taught. An in-built dictionary also helps children to acquire new vocabulary – especially important as English is the second language for children in most areas that we work. 

Peter Balaba, the Head Librarian in Nakaseke, Uganda, said:

“The number of children who are visiting the library has shot up [since the start of Digital Futures Uganda] from the usual regular users of 30 per day to almost 80 children each day. The children say that the e-readers have nice stories which are very easy to understand and they are able to use the dictionary to find the meaning of new words. Because of this we have started seeing children visiting the library over the weekend, unlike in the past.” 

The librarians are key to the success of this project

The librarians are key to the success of this project and that’s why Digital Futures involves a training element. In many of the libraries involved with Digital Futures, children will never have used a tablet or e-reader before so having a librarian who can confidently help them to explore the functions of the e-reader is vital. More than that though, the librarians also run outreach activities for schools, teachers and parents, ensuing that the wider community can benefit from the new resource. They run activities in the library based around the e-readers or tablets, giving children the opportunity to explore and experiment with the technology as well as to enjoy the wider space and collection in their Children’s Corner. 

Stella Nekuusa, National Librarian for the National Library of Uganda said,

“We believe that our work of promoting a reading culture has received a real boost because children that have accessed stories on e-readers are now picking printed books to read whenever it’s not their time to use the e-readers.”

Book Aid International sends up to one million books to libraries in Africa each year and the printed book will always underpin the work that we do. But by supplying digital content to libraries that we are already supporting with books, we are providing another route for children to learn to love reading. So long as children are deriving the skills, pleasure and knowledge that can come from reading, we are happy to support their reading journeys in whatever ways we can. We will always look for new ways that we can help more people access the books and reading materials that can help them to change their own lives. 

Adult colouring books are incredibly popular in the UK at the moment. One book or another will sometimes top the Amazon chart for weeks on end, and even if an adult colouring book isn’t taking the first-place spot, one won’t be far behind. I can’t remember a single day this year when the Amazon top 100 list wasn’t awash with adult colouring books. 

It was an eye-opener to us that colouring books, even though traditionally for children, can really be objects of beauty that will appeal to anyone who loves gorgeously produced books. Many adults are drawn to especially beautiful children’s picture books and I feel this is the next level of that. Since then it’s just been a whirlwind and very exciting to be a part of. 

Why have they become so popular? 

The main thing I hear is how relaxing and stress-relieving colouring in is. I think that is the real heart of the matter in terms of their popularity. Many people find it very difficult to relax – they might sit down in front of the TV after work with their iPads in their lap and their smart phones in their hands, but their brains are on overload all the time and they never switch off. 

What’s great about colouring in is the way it forces your mind to slow down and focus on just one thing. And what’s important about this type of focusing is that it is not mentally taxing. It’s simple but absorbing all at the same time. And if you aren’t colouring alone, it’s great to chat to others who are doing it with you. 

Coupled with that, I think readers love that they can easily be creative when they might ordinarily assume that they’re not. They can be proud of producing something artistic, either privately or out loud.  The majority of titles out there are also gorgeous books to own – many are covered in colourful foils and bright neons with high-quality covers, so if you like a beautifully produced book, they’ll be really appealing. 

I think a large proportion of customers tend to be females aged 15-30, though I don’t think that’s indicative of the kind of person that will enjoy them. They are produced for adults of all ages and genders. Many are also purchased for children who really like a challenge. 

How effective are colouring books as a therapeutic tool?

It is commonly said that there is a crossover with mindfulness and also with meditation, in that colouring is an activity in which the brain is engaged just enough to inhibit circular, anxious thinking, but not so much that it’s draining. There has also been some indication from reviewers that those who struggle with dexterity in their hands find it physically beneficial. 

I can’t comment on the findings of scientific or academic research.  More research needs to be conducted into the health benefits, as I believe right now it is very anecdotal. While that’s encouraging, for colouring books to be introduced as a professionally recommended therapy, publishers would first need to start collaborating more closely with health professionals. 

You can read a little more about this issue here:

• Coloring books for adults: we asked therapists for their opinions – The Guardian
• Why adults are going back to colouring books - Psychologoies 
• The Therapeutic Science Of Adult Coloring Books: How This Childhood Pastime Helps Adults Relieve Stress - Medical Daily

Tips for libraries

Many colouring in fans have started colouring groups, so naturally it would be beneficial for both the group and the venue to have a public space in which to do this. They have the added bonus of bringing certain people in the community together, particularly seniors who may need more social opportunities. 

Libraries could also extend this to groups aimed at parents who want to colour in with their children, or perhaps to adults who want more of an artistic angle and want to learn colouring techniques. Adding to that, a library could host a colouring in competition, perhaps with the opportunity to display pieces. In an academic setting, they could even be used to teach students about anatomy!

Judging by the increase in blogs and articles on this topic, there are a growing number of libraries trying this out. It makes sense to learn from their experience too:

• Karissa Alcox, a public librarian in Ontario, has shared some fantastic adult colouring library resources that she’s used 
• Irene Kim Shepherd from Chronicle Books has blogged about how to throw a colouring party 
• American Libraries Magazine have reported on how one US public library run an adult colouring book group
• Jennifer Peterson shared some tips for how to sell the idea to library management on OCLC WebJunction

The future

In our experience, the popularity of adult colouring is certainly unique to printed rather than ebooks. To colour in digitally, you need an interactive programme, such as an app. While there are plenty of colouring apps on the market that are fun and doing very well, I don’t think the digital versions offer the pleasingly tactile element of a physical book. And you don’t get to use all the fantastic colouring pens and pencils that the customers seem to love so much. It might also be the case that a digital version would have an impact on any therapeutic benefit of ‘screen down-time’.

We know the majority of these books on the market are of high quality and have been well thought out, but that still doesn’t mean we aren’t surprised that the popularity has continued for as long as it has. Many crazes of this type typically don’t last more than a year, but we have surpassed that with little sign that it is tailing off. The challenge for us is to keep thinking of new and innovative ideas for content that will keep fans interested. 

I suspect, like anything that is in fashion, the current heights of the colouring craze will pass. Will it still be just as popular in 10 years’ time? Probably not, but colouring in for adults is certain to have gained many loyal fans who will be buying books long into the future.
 

The annual BIALL, CLSIG and SLA Europe Graduate Open Day will be taking place on Wednesday 6th April 2016 at CILIP for all library and information students, trainees and new professionals.  As usual there will be speakers from a wide variety of disciplines, library tours and a great networking opportunities.

Watch this space for a full programme and booking details in the new year.

The day is generously sponsored by Sue Hill Recruitment, a Progility Company.

#1Lib1Ref (One Librarian, One Reference) is a campaign during the week of January 15–23, 2016, calling on librarians around the world to apply their special expertise in research to add just one more reference to Wikipedia. The campaign is part of Wikipedia's 15th anniversary celebration.

#1Lib1Ref

Imagine a World where Every Librarian Added One More Reference to Wikipedia.
Wikipedia is a first stop for researchers: let's make it better!

Everything you need to start can be found on The Wikipedia Library 1Lib1Ref page... which starts:

"Wikipedia is an invaluable part of every researcher's process: every reference added by a librarian means one more reference in any Wikipedia article that helps the next researcher, or librarian helping a researcher, ensure that the best information gets shared with the public. Join us, and make a small contribution to the sum of all human knowledge!

Because anyone can edit Wikipedia, the Wikipedia community developed a core strategy for ensuring quality of information in its articles: including footnotes to reliable sources to allow Wikipedia readers to "verify" the information. This strategy helps the global volunteer community effectively work towards meeting Wikipedia's vision: "the sum of all human knowledge."

On English Wikipedia, and many other language Wikipedias, readers and editors who don't feel confident about the information in an article will add a "citation needed" tag next to that statement. In many ways, these tags are reference questions you would expect at a library reference desk: members of the public asking for that information to be backed by reliable research. English Wikipedia alone has over 350,000 such statements. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of articles just need more references, with 200,000 articles having no references at all. Globally there are hundreds of thousands of librarians. Imagine if every librarian in the world took 15 minutes to solve one of the citation needed queries! Wikipedia would no longer have these gaps."

For more information or to start: see The Wikipedia Library 1Lib1Ref page.

As a profession we must start to debate and form our own vision of social justice, argues David McMenemy, as he looks at how ideas of social justice have evolved over the past decades. The political focus is shifting from individuals to community, and no profession is better placed to help this culture develop. Our profession should place society’s needs at the forefront of its thinking, and not the needs of any single party of government.

One of the key challenges facing every profession is how they navigate the prevailing political winds of the day. From government to government it can seem that priorities change, and the temptation for professional bodies is to try to be all things to all political parties. In this piece, I will try to argue that we need a more holistic approach that is grounded in a deep understanding of the overarching approaches to social justice that inform all the main political parties in the modern era.

Conceptualising social justice 

Firstly, it is important to realise just how much in agreement the main political ­parties actually are with regards the overarching themes of social justice. The political classes in the UK, including many MPs, media figures, and many of the people who run think tanks, are educated in the same understanding of how the world turns, namely the curricula of the Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) degree at Oxford and its variations from other major universities. This combination of concepts results in much of the political class sharing a theoretical playbook that explains society, even when they propose solutions that may seem vastly different. In reality, the variations they then put into practice in politics are essentially tweaks on that worldview.

What political parties present to us as key differences often are not so. Perhaps more importantly for us, the overarching themes they present are distilled from the same or similar philosophical belief systems. In his recent bestselling summary of the themes of social justice, Michael Sandel[1] neatly highlights the three prevailing approaches to social justice that have impacted through the ages:

• Maximising welfare
• Protecting individual freedom
• Promoting virtue.

It is these concepts that those who run government, think tanks etc, are taught in PPE and their variants, and thus it is these themes we must begin to wrestle more deeply with if we are to be effective in our advocacy.

The three themes 

The theme of maximising welfare has had a major impact on the development of ­libraries. Through the application of its main tenet, the Jeremy Bentham-devised concept of utilitarianism, where the ethical duty was to maximise happiness for the largest number, great social programmes were developed throughout the Victoria era and into the 20th century. We saw an expansion of libraries, public museums, parks, healthcare, welfare systems, all introduced to maximise the utility of the majority of citizens. Arguably, utilitarianism helped create our profession as a force, and as a result many within it are still wedded to its tenets, believing that the motif that libraries are a good thing for society is enough in and of itself. Utilitarianism was a neat fit for our profession, but it is the other themes of social justice that have posed larger challenges for us, as we will see below.

The era of utilitarianism had a good innings, but political philosophers began to argue that in maximising welfare, governments were not suitably respectful of individual autonomy.  For instance, taken to its extreme, a utilitarian approach to social justice could allow some in society to have their interests minimalised if it meant that overall utility was the result. An example of this in the area of libraries is the free lending of books at the potential expense of authors and publishers, a debate recently sparked by Terry Deary, author of the Horrible Histories series.

Individualism

As the focus after the Second World War moved towards individual rights, the tenets of utilitarianism became less palatable for political philosophers, and then by extension, the political classes. Thus we entered a period of history where individual autonomy became the ultimate arbiter of social justice, and the variations on that theme have occupied politics for much of the ­period from the 1960s onwards.  

This was no straightforward battle; individual autonomy can mean anything from the Libertarian-inspired notion that taxes are a form of slavery, as posited by philosopher Robert Nozick, to the notion that individual autonomy means cultural and religious beliefs should no longer be a private interest but a public one, as posited by multiculturalist philosophers like Will Kymlicka.  There is not time in this short piece to explore all of these concepts and their many implications (though those who wish to could consult Parvin and Chambers for an excellent overview) [2] but the key point is that within the debates around what individual autonomy meant in practice, even though the free-market approaches of Hayek and Friedman seemed to win out, as evidenced in the success of Thatcherism, there were more egalitarian elements that could have formed a basis for a modern librarianship. Foremost of these was the work of John Rawls who transformed political philosophy with the publication of A Theory of Justice in 1972.  

A Theory of Justice set the agenda for political philosophy for the next generation.  It finally put to bed utilitarianism as a viable political philosophy by focusing on an egalitarian approach that guaranteed each citizen a core set of rights that empowered them in society.  Rawls emphasised positive rights, i.e. rights the citizen could expect to be provided by the state to enable them. For the library profession, this is a concept we could have engaged with more fully, proposing access to information and knowledge as a positive right to enable citizens to achieve their potential. Largely however, the era of individualism is one where the ­library profession in the UK allowed itself to be led by government priorities and ­focus on a more commercialised approach to service delivery, where individualism was interpreted in a reductive, market-oriented way rather than one based around autonomy as a means of empowerment. This was a strategic error in my view.

Communitarianism

The key debates in political philosophy from the 80s onwards have been related to community and were largely a response to Rawls. Philosophers such as Michael Sandel, Alasdair MacIntyre and Michael Walzer dubbed with the label of communitarians, argued that the focus on individual autonomy meant that citizens were viewed as atomised individuals, all involved in maximising their own position in opposition to others. The communitarians believed that this was a ­reductive way of looking at ­human beings and it ignored major influences such as family, community, and country that were a major part of their identity. Importantly for communitarian philosophers, the Aristotelian concept of virtue was inherent in a more community-focused approach to social justice.  The idea was that forming the good citizen to be a part of a strong and functioning community was a vital component of social justice.

This approach began to have influence in the mid to late 90s in the UK, firstly with some elements of Blairism, but in the most recent past we have seen communitarian philosophy majorly influence both Conservative and Labour politics through the movements around The Big Society and Blue Labour.  Increasingly we are seeing the political focus switch to community rather than individuals, and we need to be more ready to react to this new era.

Navigating the claims of community 

Like the other ethical approaches discussed above, the philosophies of community and virtue when applied to social justice pose both potentially progressive and regressive dimensions. For instance, there are clear dangers to intellectual freedom in a situation where religious organisations can organise and manage public libraries and their collections. We need to be equally mindful of the potential of non-religious community groups to impose their own values on library collections where these values may be regressive or discrimina­tory. Among the many arguments for local authorities to manage libraries is that they did so impartially on behalf of the entire community. We need to guard against that important value being lost in any rush to community solutions.

Nevertheless it is the claims of community and virtue that will loom large over our professional practice for the foreseeable ­future. We must seek to understand how this new era differs from the preceding one that focused on individual freedom if we are to be effective in managing its opportunities and dangers. We got much of that former period of history largely wrong, focusing too much on being more ‘business’ like and transforming citizen and societal needs into customer wants, and in doing so we weakened our profession by limiting our social mission. The era of community equally offers challenges to the profession, but also opportunities.

In the realpolitik of the 21st century, communitarian-inspired politics has seen policies that seek to reduce state solutions and make communities the ultimate arbiters of what services they seek to provide locally. We must begin to see even the handing over of public libraries to be managed by communities in this context if we are to understand and manage the process. While some might argue it is simply a right-wing, market-oriented government shrinking the state, the communitarian angle to it means that there is a prima facie link to social justice that is also driving it. We need to address both elements of this if we are to successfully advocate for the importance of both libraries and librarians.

The needs of society

On the positive side, the era of community arguably calls even more for a profession that can navigate ideas and public discourse, and help citizens become informed. As Sandel argues: ‘the hollowing out of the public realm makes it difficult to cultivate the solidarity and sense of community on which democratic citizenship depends’.[3]  No profession is better placed to help this culture develop, and it is community libraries and community librarianship that can help it do so.

We must start to robustly debate and form our own vision of social justice from within the parameters we will be working in, not from any specific political bent, but focused solely on the needs of society in an ­ever-confusing age. We need to gather ­robust evidence on how communities benefit from having libraries and librarians, and not just oppose community solutions but provide strong examples of good practice supported by our values. Our advocacy, then, needs to be grounded in the ethics of political philosophy.  While being mindful of the demands and obsessions of each ­individual government, our profession needs to steer for a longer journey; one that places society’s needs at the forefront of its thinking and not the needs of any single party of government. 

Formal visit - Opportunity to network afterwards in the cafeteria

Formal visit with possibility of extending the visit elsewhere for networking opportunities

Formal visit with opportunity to network afterwards in the cafeteria. 

View specific items from the collection on the day by selecting from catalogue link  and notifying Janet Lewis 1 month prior janet.lewis@wales.gsi.gov.uk

The Cromwell Road entrance provides the only step-free access to the museum, with steps and ramps on either side of the entrance.

A wheelchair accessible door is located between the revolving doors. The Cromwell Road entrance is the meeting point for group talks and tours.

Formal visit with opportunities to network afterwards in the cafeteria

The Yorkshire & Humberside Member Network are running a Portfolio Building Workshop aimed at existing candidates or those considering undertaking the qualifications of Certification (ACLIP) or Chartership (MCLIP).

During the workshop attendees will explore the elements required to successfully compile their portfolio. Information will be provided regarding the Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB) and CILIP’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

The workshop will include a presentation from Kath Owen (Chair of PRAB until Dec 2015). This will enable candidates to understand the requirements of the process from an experienced assessor’s perspective. There will also be the opportunity for candidates to pose questions and network with others.

Tea, coffee and cold drinks will be provided.

The event is free, but booking in advance is essential as places are limited. To reserve a place on the course please contact Mark Naylor.

St Peter’s School is about a 15 minute walk from the national rail station. As an alternative to walking, taxis or a public bus service are available from outside the station concourse. For those considering driving to York free on-site parking will be available at the school. Please note that the library is inside a medieval building and access to the main floor is via a short flight of stairs.

Optional Visit

Those attending the Portfolio Building Workshop will have the option to tour the school in the afternoon. Once the workshop has finished those who wish to stay on will be able to purchase food, if required, from a nearby bakery shop. There will then be a tour of the
school. It is expected to finish around 2.15pm.

Formal visit with networking opportunities afterwards in a local café

Our Annual Member’s Day and AGM will take place on Thursday 11th February 2016 at The Hive, The Butts, Worcester. The event will start at 10.00 am with registration from 9.30am and will close at 16.00pm.

Lunch will be provided. The theme of the event will be on Marketing with a keynote speaker and some workshop discussions. After lunch which will provide some networking opportunities there will be a speaker from CILIP and the West Midlands Network AGM followed by the ARLG West Midlands AGM.

Places are free to CILIP members and all are welcome.

Our booking form will available online soon.

Is your New Year's resolution to get better at recording and demonstrating your continuing professional development? Is it time to revalidate your Certification, Chartership or Fellowship? Come along to our informal event to find out more about Revalidation, make progress with your portfolio/reflective statement, or simply have a chat with some like-minded CILIP members! Bring along a laptop or mobile device if you'd like to access the VLE (virtual learning environment) using the venue's free wi-fi.

Date: Weds 27th January 2016
Time: 6.00 - 8.00 p.m. (drop in any time)
Venue: The Old Joint Stock, 4 Temple Row West, Birmingham, B2 5NY