Changing Face of Libraries

Changing Face of libraries
Ayub Khan Head of Warwickshire Libraries (Strategy) 28th Jan 2009 West Midlands Branch – Members’ Day & AGM

Social Inclusion
Why Social Inclusion ?
Social inclusion in context
Libraries for All
Challenges for Libraries
Example – Migrant workers

The World Today….
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 from the Western hemisphere, both north and south
8 Africans
52 would be female
48 would be male
70 would be non-white
30 would be white
70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian
89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth
and all six would come from the United States
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death, 1 would be near birth
1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education
1 would own a computer

Even the Most…
"Even the most misfitting child
Who’s chanced upon the library’s worth
Sits with the genius of the earth
And turns the key to the whole world".
Ted Huges - Poet

Key Facts – Diversity
BME
Disability
Older people
Gender
Religion & belief
Sexuality

Skills & Economy
Today, the British economy has just 9 million highly skilled jobs.
By 2020 it will need 14 million highly skilled workers
And of the 3.4 million unskilled jobs today, we will need only 600,000 by 2020
HM Treasury, UK 2006

It’s probably one of the best anti-poverty, anti-deprivation, anti-crime, anti-vandalism policies. Prime Minister, The Right Honourable, Gordon Brown National Year of Reading event, January 2008 The message…..Reading

Why Social Inclusion?
Public libraries are local, highly respected institutions, 60% of the population of England are Library members (3,600 access points). Changing population..decline use
Public Library and Museums Act 1964
Review of Annual Library Plans concluded “Social inclusion was scored poorly”
DCMS Policy Action Team Social Inclusion
Cabinet Office Social Inclusion Unit
Top of Governments agenda

Business Sense : Diversity
Changing Population / needs
Ageing Workforce (new employees from a broad a pool as possible)
Increase employee retention and satisfaction
Knowledge and Understanding in the organisation
Helps avoid claims of unlawful discrimination
Legislation
Skills & talent

The Law
Equal Pay Act (1970)
Sex discrimination Act (1975)
Race relations Act (1976)
Disability discrimination Act (1995)
Human Rights Act (1998)
Disability Rights Commission Act (1999)
Race Relations Amendment Act (2000)
Employment Equality (religion or belief)
Employment Equality (sexual orientation)
Age discrimination – EU due 2006

Social exclusion or inclusion?
Definition
A short-hand label for what can happen when individuals or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low income, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown."

Context
Social Exclusion linked to problems with :
Poor educational achievement
Poor employment prospects
Poor Health and mobility
Bad housing

Groups such as…
Prisoners
Black & Minority ethnic Groups
Refugees & asylum seekers
Travellers
(Children in Care)
Basic Skills/ESL
People with disabilities
Elderly
Unemployed
(Children & Young People)
Rural Isolation
Gay and Lesbians
People with Mental Health

New Perspective
Not just black and white
Refugees – including European
Mixed race (single biggest group)
Religion & Culture

Libraries for All: Social Inclusion in Public Libraries Policy Guidance for Local Authorities in England OCTOBER 1999 Department for Culture, Media and Sport Libraries for All : Social Inclusion in Public Libraries

Barriers to keeping people away
Institutional e.g opening hours, staff attitude, rules and regulations, charges, book stock policy, facilities e.g disabled access access
Personal and Social e.g lack of basic skills (reading, writing), low income and poverty, lack of permanent address

Barriers to keeping people away
Perceptions and awareness e.g people who are educationally disadvantaged, people who don’t think libraries are relevant to their lives or needs, lack of knowledge of facilities and services, or how to use them
Environmental e.g difficult access to building, poor transport links, institutional nature of building

Libraries should:
Make services mainstream
Consult groups
Develop new services
Co-locate with others services
Provide free ICT access
Improve opening hours to meet needs
Locate libraries where there is a demand
Work in partnership with others

Achieving Social Inclusion
Identify those socially excluded
Reviewing current practice
Set objectives and priorities
Develop & train staff
Implement action plans
Marketing & promotions
Evaluate & review services

About the County

Warwickshire has a rich heritage and is the home of many famous people, places and historical events About the County

Warwickshire has over half a million people Households and people are projected to rise faster than the national average The County has large numbers of people over 85 About the County

There are no cities in Warwickshire but there are eight settlements with more than 10,000 people Atherstone Bedworth Kenilworth Royal Leamington Spa Nuneaton Rugby Stratford-upon-Avon Warwick About the County

Most settlements are villages with less than 10,000 people About the County

Warwickshire is one of the fastest growing regions in the UK with many national and international companies About the County

Warwickshire has numerous attractions and the visitor economy exceeds £600 million per year Source: UKTS/IPS About the County

and Library Services in Warwickshire Migrant Workers

“ What are the future challenges?” migrant workers?” “ What do we know about library services?” “ How do migrant workers interact with Migrant Workers

What do we know about Migrant workers?

What do we know about migrant workers? The number of migrant workers in the West Midlands has increased since 2002 when people from the A8 Accession countries were granted access to the UK labour market Rates of Increase

Rates of Increase From 23,400 in 2003 National Insurance registrations of overseas nationals have almost doubled in the past four years: to 48,000 in 2007 (a similar rate of increase to the UK average) What do we know about migrant workers?

Economic motives for coming to the UK predominate amongst migrants in the West Midlands Migrant Worker Survey Economic Incentives (Conducted by Advantage West Midlands and the LSC) What do we know about migrant workers?

Migrant workers are disproportionately clustered in low-wage sectors and occupations Low Pay Conditions What do we know about migrant workers?

Three-quarters of people in the West Midlands Migrant Worker Survey had not brought family members to the UK and few planned to do so in future. Single What do we know about migrant workers?

In general there are around 3 males to every 2 females. Gender Bias What do we know about migrant workers?

40% are aged under 25 years Young People Migrant workers are predominantly young: and a further 40% are aged 25-34 years What do we know about migrant workers?

Poles account for the largest single national group of labour migrants in the West Midlands, followed by Indians. Polska? What do we know about migrant workers?

Three largest overseas nationalities registering for a National Insurance Number (NINo) in 2006/07 Warwickshire’s Workers What do we know about migrant workers? 6.3 3020 Pakistan 8.6 4130 India 38.8 18630 Poland 48030 West Midlands 3.8 50 Portugal 10.8 140 Slovakia 52.3 680 Poland 1300 Rugby 4.3 50 Germany 8.7 100 India 33.0 380 Poland 1150 Warwick 10.9 230 India 13.7 290 Slovakia 57.5 730 Poland 1270 Stratford-on-Avon 11.9 70 Nepal 11.9 70 India 47.5 280 Poland 590 Nuneaton & Bedworth 5.3 10 South Africa 10.5 20 India 52.6 100 Poland 190 North Warwickshire % Nos. 3 rd Largest % Nos. 2 nd Largest % Nos. Largest Total District

Warwickshire’s economic landscape is conducive to the settlement of migrant workers and the County has ‘migrant-dense’ industries Warwickshire’s Economy What are the future challenges?

Warwickshire’s Economy The Northern half of Warwickshire has traditionally been dominated by manufacturing industries and the Southern half is largely agricultural What are the future challenges?

The median duration of stay for the migrant workers surveyed was 17 months Short Stay What do we know about migrant workers?

Migrant workers from the New Commonwealth are amongst the most likely to contemplate permanent settlement Citizenship What do we know about migrant workers?

..interact with library services? How do migrant workers..

Our Libraries hold events and promotions relating to the root culture of migrant workers. Home Comforts Libraries and Migrant Workers Like this Polish evening at Nuneaton Library

Our Libraries provide a nurturing environment where migrant workers can network and integrate with local people Shared Spaces Libraries and Migrant Workers

Our Libraries help migrant workers to find their feet with access to impartial advice and practical information. Survival Skills Libraries and Migrant Workers

We have memberships forms and leaflets in 12 different languages Information in Other Languages Libraries and Migrant Workers

We have a wide range of books, newspapers and magazines in other languages (including fiction, non-fiction, children’s and large print) Products in Other Languages Libraries and Migrant Workers

Launch of collections

We provide collections of materials to support the ESOL scheme across the County ESOL and Dual Language Books Libraries and Migrant Workers

Customer Service Helpful staff with local knowledge Libraries and Migrant Workers

We provide help desks with information professionals who can refer migrant workers to useful organisations Information Professionals Libraries and Migrant Workers

We know from experience that our People’s Network computers are a vital means of communication for migrant workers People’s Network Computers Libraries and Migrant Workers

Work and Housing Our computers are used by migrant workers to find accommodation and jobs. Libraries and Migrant Workers

CVs and Printers Migrant workers can get help with writing CVs They also rely on our printers and fax machines Libraries and Migrant Workers

Personal Well Being Our computers are used by migrant workers to keep in touch with friends and family back home Libraries and Migrant Workers

Community Information Warwickshire Library & Information Service pioneered the Community Information Database Putting migrant workers in touch with local groups and organisations Libraries and Migrant Workers

Our Library website provides links to trusted organisations and services Virtual Library (24/7) Libraries and Migrant Workers

Some of the many resources migrant workers make use of in Warwickshire Libraries Our Support Services Integration Information Facilitation Communication Sociability Network Guidance Advice Libraries and Migrant Workers

..future challenges? What are the..

There is a need to address shortcomings in official statistics and improve information on international migration. Bridging the Knowledge Gap What are the future challenges?

The speed of change in some areas and uncertainty about migrant numbers poses ongoing challenges for service providers Speed of Change What are the future challenges?

There is an economic risk that the number of migrant workers will decrease in the future and lead to a change in demographic profile Dramatic change What are the future challenges?

There are emerging resources and websites that strategic policy makers need to tap into Emerging resources What are the future challenges?

Broader challenges What are the future challenges?

In terms of community cohesion, tensions have been noted between: Tensions
migrant workers and the indigenous population
migrant workers and refugees/asylum seekers
migrant workers and ethnic minorities
groups of migrant workers
established and new members of the same national group
permanent and agency staff
What are the future challenges?

An influx of migrant workers has led to increased pressure on private rented accommodation Accommodation What are the future challenges?

Housing Pressures Over time, migrant workers may seek accommodation in the social-rented sector where demand is high and supply is limited

Economic Pressures Migrant workers could have an impact on employment rates for other workers, especially those in the low-skills sector What are the future challenges?

Language Barriers The survey of migrant workers in the West Midlands reveals that many workers had not been offered help with improving their English language skills What are the future challenges?

Up-skill Many migrant workers are interested in developing new skills and improving their English. What are the future challenges?

Lost in Translation Making robust comparisons between the qualifications of migrant workers and the general population is problematic. What are the future challenges?

Lost in Translation Better utilisation of migrant workers’ skills is likely to involve:
qualification recognition
skills recognition
development of language skills
policies to facilitate progression in employment
What are the future challenges?

..the Library & Information Service Potential strategies for..

Improve signposting to learning providers and support agencies
Train staff so they can better understand and engage with migrant workers
Implement a customer service policy that is sensitive to the needs of migrant workers
Planning Ahead Potential strategies for the Library & Information Service to consider: What are the future challenges?

Offer work placements
Facilitate social activities in Library venues
Create a dedicated ‘welcome’ section on the Library website

Improve and update intelligence gathering
Respond to sudden changes in the demographic profile of migrant workers
Identify pockets of migrant workers at neighbourhood level

The End Thank-you for listening [email_address]

Changing Face of Libraries

by cilipwestmidlands on Jan 29, 2009

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