“The physical library in the 2.0 age and beyond - a UK perspective”

The Physical Library in 2.0 Age and Beyond: A UK Perspective Linda Foster Area Manager London Borough of Southwark • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

• Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Setting the Context: The London Borough of Southwark • Population 257,700 and estimated to increase to 282,500 by 2029 • 17.9% of residents aged under 15 • 72.2% aged under 45 • 47.8% ethnic minority population • 16.1% Black African • Extremes of affluence and poverty • More than 100 languages spoken in schools and 43% of pupils speak English as an additional language • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Peckham: Area and Community • Population – 23,928 (2001 census) • 64% ethnic minority population • 88% ethnic minority school population • 41.7% Black African school population • Attainment below national average - reading 12%, writing 11%, maths 5% • 16% of people have a limiting long term illness • 66% of population lives in social housing • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Regenerating Peckham • Major regeneration mid-1990s to address issues of poor housing, high crime rates and social deprivation • £265 million identified by Government as part of a Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme to regenerate Peckham • Improved housing • Peckham Pulse • Public realm • Public safety • Library • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Peckham Library Headlines • 60,000 stock items (books and audio visual) • 60 study spaces with 27 PCs and Wi-Fi access throughout • 366,458 library visits in 2007 / 08 • 223,495 items issued 2007/08 • Literature Development Officer based at Library and a programme of cultural events • A weekly programme of events for all ages • Multi-use building • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Peckham Library Membership by Age 2% 8% 12% 0-4 5-10 9% 11-15 16-17 18-59 3% 60+ 66% • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Peckham Library Membership Compared to Southwark Totals 35.00% 30.00% Peckham 25.00% Weighted total 20.00% Percentage 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 14 or under 15 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 to 74 75 or over Age • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Peckham Library Membership by Ethnicity Mixed White & Black African Asian British 1.66% Chinese/Vietnamese Cypriot Greek Speaking 1.24% Other Mixed Background Mixed White & Black Caribbean 1.87% Cypriot Other 1.64% 2.07% Other Asian Background Cypriot Turkish Speaking White Irish Mixed White & Asian 0.98% 2.08% Asian Pakistani Other Black Background Asian Indian 1.09% Declined To Respond Asian Bangladeshi Asian Bangladeshi 2.09% White Irish 0.88% Other Ethnic Group Other Black Background Asian Indian Asian British 2.37% 0.78% Other Mixed Background Asian Pakistani Mixed White & Black African Black Caribbean 0.77% Chinese/Vietnamese 5.02% Mixed White & Black Caribbean Mixed White & Asian Other Asian Background 0.61% Declined To Respond Cypriot Turkish Speaking Other Ethnic Group 0.27% Black Caribbean Cypriot Other White Other 0.03% Cypriot Greek Speaking Black British White British 0.01% Black African White Other 11.15% Black African 27.31% Black British White British 18.50% 17.57% • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Customer Comments • “I would like to voice my views that Peckham Library is indeed a great place to relax and unwind away from your busy daily schedule of work. Loads of books catering to each and every individual need and of course the computers are there for one and all to get onto the net and go global. Helpful and courteous staff. A big thank you to the management and staff of Peckham Library.” • “This is the only library I enjoy coming to. The atmosphere is great due to the way it looks. I enjoy learning when I am in Peckham Library. When I go to any other library I want to do my thing then get out; But when I come here I actually want to see what else I can learn so I don't have to leave. Great stuff. Great staff. LOL.” • “The facilities are excellent but is it possible to include a small café in the building?” • “Peckham Library is a great place to relax and unwind away from your busy schedule, with loads of books and computers catering for all needs.” • “This is the best library I’ve been to so far. Thank you.” • “I am a Business Management student that would like to see a lot of Business Management books available in Peckham Library.” • “You don't have enough books about sports in my opinion: e.g. no books about scuba diving…” • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

More Customer Comments • “I am a relatively new customer to Peckham Library and I would like to make a couple of points. Firstly; generally the library is quiet -depends on the time of day. I find the level of disruptions sometimes with children and mobile phones ringing very distracting. It can be frustrating not having a very quiet area.” • “I think there should be rooms or more enclosed areas available for quiet study, so people who want to do group study or use their mobile phones can conveniently do so in the non- quiet study areas without distracting other people.” • “More books and DVDs, magazines, newspapers to reflect the diversity of the area it serves. There are no African periodicals or newspapers. There are no magazines of African news or events yet these are available at good newsagents.” • “As a student studying for professional course like ACCA; I can't make in depth search when studying at this library. So I am left with the materials I bring from home.” • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Canada Water Library • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

From Peckham to Canada Water: Lessons Learned • Library design needs to enable and encourage synergies between different services in a multi- service building • Materials need to be able to be sourced locally and sustainability built in to design • Comfort issues must be addressed to enable people to stay longer in the building and to support use by families and small children... toilets, refreshments, buggy park… • You have to provide quieter zones for study and learning activity as space is valued for this and attracts a new kind of library user • A responsive and dynamic programme needs to be developed to maintain and increase the use of libraries and reflect cultural diversity • Continued community consultation and engagement is effective in informing future provision • Make the architects understand what it will feel like to use and work in the building! • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Canada Water Regeneration • Multi £million project • 3,500 new homes • 30,000 square metres of office provision • Improved retail • High quality public realm • Ecological habitat protected and enhanced • New school • New library • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Proposed New Design for John Harvard Library • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

Revitalising John Harvard Library • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

John Harvard Library: New Space and New Services • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

The Physical Library in the 2.0 Age: A Wish List • An iconic building – not essential but can be useful in kick starting regeneration and attracting the 2.0 generation • The latest IT and Wi-Fi capacity are essential as is the ability to offer our services 24/7 • The space for a programme of activities to engage all ages and all sections of the community • A Library Service that continues to be responsive to its community • Flexibility – we really don’t know what demands there will be on us in the future • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

In Conclusion… “Public libraries are safe places, where everyone is welcome and receives equal respect. You can read for pleasure, study, look for jobs, learn a new skill…They bring people of all ages, genders and political beliefs together. They provide free access to information and ideas and are an important bastion of democracy. Planners and developers recognise this unifying role and many have put a public library at the centre of new build and regeneration projects.” The Little Book of Public Libraries, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council 2005 • Environment and Housing Department Bridging Worlds 2008 www.southwark.gov.uk

“The physical library in the 2.0 age and beyond - a UK perspective”

by bridgingworlds2008 on Oct 15, 2008

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