Those nice folk from the Welsh Assembly Government have given us some money to refurb the lovely but rather dated library at Pontarddulais.
As ever, you can look forward to a brighter and more welcoming space, a review of opening hours, modern and user friendly shelving and layout and of course (what Swansea libraries do best) - loads of new BOOKS!
Hurrah!
Roll on September.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Brum Brum!
I read here that there is a new £193 million library proposed for Birmingham. Being a good librarian ;-) I have validated this information, and you can read more about it here
I wonder if it's the same library that was being project managed ooooh, around 5 years ago now by the delightful Ayub Khan.
Anyway - it's going to be great I'm sure. Either enormously HUGE or made of solid platinum. Hope it's the former.
Mr. Coates thinks they should spend £20 million on new books, which is around 10% of the toal budget (maths not my strong point). Sounds reasonable - the book suppliers could pre-order their lear jets now - but I'm not sure how big it's going to be.
Being a much 'umbler city, our new library cost around £6 million and we had around £700,000 to spend on new books to add to the decent stuff from the old place that we bought along with us.
When I say new books I mean newly bought, not newly published i.e. we were able to get spanking new sets of brilliant backlist as well as new titles.
I was at Birmingham central library a while ago (undercover on covert ops) and counted 3 spine labels on one fiction book (author surname lead letter, number corresponding to the row of shelves in which book was to be shelved, and genre). It would probably have been easier to shelve and find if the labels hadn't obscured the author's name!
Still, I'm sure that's why the good librarians of Birmingham are desperate for a new library and best wishes to them in their endeavours!
I wonder if it's the same library that was being project managed ooooh, around 5 years ago now by the delightful Ayub Khan.
Anyway - it's going to be great I'm sure. Either enormously HUGE or made of solid platinum. Hope it's the former.
Mr. Coates thinks they should spend £20 million on new books, which is around 10% of the toal budget (maths not my strong point). Sounds reasonable - the book suppliers could pre-order their lear jets now - but I'm not sure how big it's going to be.
Being a much 'umbler city, our new library cost around £6 million and we had around £700,000 to spend on new books to add to the decent stuff from the old place that we bought along with us.
When I say new books I mean newly bought, not newly published i.e. we were able to get spanking new sets of brilliant backlist as well as new titles.
I was at Birmingham central library a while ago (undercover on covert ops) and counted 3 spine labels on one fiction book (author surname lead letter, number corresponding to the row of shelves in which book was to be shelved, and genre). It would probably have been easier to shelve and find if the labels hadn't obscured the author's name!
Still, I'm sure that's why the good librarians of Birmingham are desperate for a new library and best wishes to them in their endeavours!
Monday, 7 April 2008
The Story so far...
We have joined 1500 new library members.
We have loaned out over 20,000 items.
80% of customers are using the self service machines (and most seem to like them)
95% of customers tell us they love the library and many have written complimenting the staff :)
We have walked and walked and walked... 2 pedometers have already cracked under the strain!
We love our new library - come and see us!!!
We have loaned out over 20,000 items.
80% of customers are using the self service machines (and most seem to like them)
95% of customers tell us they love the library and many have written complimenting the staff :)
We have walked and walked and walked... 2 pedometers have already cracked under the strain!
We love our new library - come and see us!!!
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
We have lift off!
Central Library is now open! I think it's fabulous - what do you think? Please leave any comments here.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Ok, it's a bit late
but I have been busy.
What books did you get for Christmas?
I got these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Do-Tales-Everyday-Craziness/dp/0330453734/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202478699&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dawn-Dumb-Dispatches-Idiotic-Frontline/dp/0571238416/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202478727&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Estates-Intimate-History-Lynsey-Hanley/dp/1862079099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202478778&sr=8-1
http://www.libraries.swansea.gov.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/sSO01Ogehc/HQ/125100003/8/743064/Affluenza+(,aeflu'enza)
What books did you get for Christmas?
I got these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Do-Tales-Everyday-Craziness/dp/0330453734/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202478699&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dawn-Dumb-Dispatches-Idiotic-Frontline/dp/0571238416/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202478727&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Estates-Intimate-History-Lynsey-Hanley/dp/1862079099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202478778&sr=8-1
http://www.libraries.swansea.gov.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/sSO01Ogehc/HQ/125100003/8/743064/Affluenza+(,aeflu'enza)
Monday, 7 January 2008
Happy New Year!
Well the season to be jolly has ended but 2008 will hopefully bring many other reasons to be jolly for all those involved with Swansea libraries.
First on the agenda of course is the opening of Central library in March. I did manage to sneak down for a few photos just before Christmas and it looks fantastic!
Just think of all these shelves filled with lovely books!!
Looks comfy too!
Who thought map cabinets could look so good?
and the view....
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Reading
Chuck Klosterman IV
I love Chuck Klosterman -he did the whole "eating nothing but McDonalds" thing years before Morgan Spurlock and Fargo Rock City is one of my favourite music books ever!
I love Chuck Klosterman -he did the whole "eating nothing but McDonalds" thing years before Morgan Spurlock and Fargo Rock City is one of my favourite music books ever!
shhhh.....
I hear on the grapevine that another refurbishment may be on the cards later this year in a Swansea library.
Watch this space for more news
Watch this space for more news
Phew
Well, we've finished buying books for the new library and things are really gathering pace. The fit out of the library is now complete bar all the electrical and ICT equipment and a few bits and bobs like blinds and signage.
We will be going in on 21st January to start stocking all the shelves and training our 20 or so brand new staff prior to opening in mid March.
I will try to get some updated photos soon....
We will be going in on 21st January to start stocking all the shelves and training our 20 or so brand new staff prior to opening in mid March.
I will try to get some updated photos soon....
Friday, 7 December 2007
Friday, 9 November 2007
Collective nouns
I can't find one for librarians. Suggestions in use include "a catalogue of librarians", " a stack of librarians" and "a shush of librarians"..
No matter.
Anyway - all Swansea libraries staff will be coming together next week for the 4th annual staff conference - the one day a year when we can all get together for training and development. This year the keynote speaker is none other than Sergio Dogliani of the Tower Hamlets Ideas Stores. In the tradition of Italians bringing excellent innovation to South Wales, we are hoping for a good day.
No matter.
Anyway - all Swansea libraries staff will be coming together next week for the 4th annual staff conference - the one day a year when we can all get together for training and development. This year the keynote speaker is none other than Sergio Dogliani of the Tower Hamlets Ideas Stores. In the tradition of Italians bringing excellent innovation to South Wales, we are hoping for a good day.
2000!
Yesterday evening at around 8.20pm (while I was complacently watching The Bill), this blog had it's 2000th visitor!
Seems like only yesterday I was announcing the 1000th visitor and I've beaten my self imposed target of 2000 visitors by the blog's first birthday.
It does help that I share a name with an (ahem) "adult entertainment star", but some of you are real... aren't you?
Seems like only yesterday I was announcing the 1000th visitor and I've beaten my self imposed target of 2000 visitors by the blog's first birthday.
It does help that I share a name with an (ahem) "adult entertainment star", but some of you are real... aren't you?
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Recommended reading...
Look!
Recommended reading for delegates at the recent Internet Librarian International Conference 2007 was (I kid you not), this blog!!
Here's the proof - http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/ili-2007/masterclass/
That's the trouble with this blinking internerd thing - do I see a penny in royalties or conference fees?
I do not.
Am I bestowed with great honours by that organisation - what's it called, CLIP?
I am not.
Still the professional recognition, the pride, the warm rosy glow that someone somewhere reads this stuff.........
Recommended reading for delegates at the recent Internet Librarian International Conference 2007 was (I kid you not), this blog!!
Here's the proof - http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/conferences/ili-2007/masterclass/
That's the trouble with this blinking internerd thing - do I see a penny in royalties or conference fees?
I do not.
Am I bestowed with great honours by that organisation - what's it called, CLIP?
I am not.
Still the professional recognition, the pride, the warm rosy glow that someone somewhere reads this stuff.........
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Cultural differences
I know a lot of librarians read this blog, but bear with me a few moments...
Imagine you're a customer. Yes, "customer", not "borrower" as they are small people who live behind the skirting boards. Not "user" - libraries are not heroin, nor even opiates for the masses. Not even "reader", as we all offer much more than that - don't we?
Anyway, for the sake of argument, you're a customer and you're looking for Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cooking.
You walk into a bookshop - you look around at the headings on the bookshelves - you notice that there is an area headed "cookery" or "food and drink", you think - ah, yes, that sounds right. On closer inspection, you notice that every couple of shelves is a smaller sign "barbecues", "soups", "A-z by country" Ah-ha!!!! a,b,c,d,e,f - French cookery.
You take the initiative - you read the titles and author's names on the spines of the books - OK sorry, getting a bit controversial there. But hey - you did it!
Now the alternative scenario - you walk into a traditional library. There are no signs above the shelves. On the end of each run of shelving, you notice an array of numbers (340-385, 610-649 etc.) You walk further and may notice a decrepid poster filled with a list of these numbers and what they mean, written in arcane language. (If you're a kid, your poster may have a jungle theme but the language will be the same).
OK - you say - I get it, there's some sort of coded system in play here! But, I'm an intelligent human so I can work it out. Right, let's see:
000 - computers, information and general works (nope)
100 - philosophy and psychology (nope)
200 - religion (well Delia's a bit fanatical about eggs but...nope)
300 - social sciences (don't think so)
400 - language (non!)
500 - science (erm, no)
600 - technology (nope)
700 - arts and recreation (ah-ha! The culinary arts! Recreational activity - sounds good, just finish checking)
800 - Literature (nah!)
900 - History and geography (no - hee-hee! I've cracked it, now, off to find the 700 section!)
time passes.
slowly.
Give up.
Go home or ask the code master.
Of course 641.5944!! "Utilising the sciences to harness the natural world and it's resources for the benefit of mankind" = Cookery! Silly me.
By the way - helpful tip, when you do get to it, if you do get to it, hope there's not too may books on French cookery, because chances are, you won't be able to identify the book you want behind all the spine labels.
There ends today's anti-Dewey rant.
Imagine you're a customer. Yes, "customer", not "borrower" as they are small people who live behind the skirting boards. Not "user" - libraries are not heroin, nor even opiates for the masses. Not even "reader", as we all offer much more than that - don't we?
Anyway, for the sake of argument, you're a customer and you're looking for Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cooking.
You walk into a bookshop - you look around at the headings on the bookshelves - you notice that there is an area headed "cookery" or "food and drink", you think - ah, yes, that sounds right. On closer inspection, you notice that every couple of shelves is a smaller sign "barbecues", "soups", "A-z by country" Ah-ha!!!! a,b,c,d,e,f - French cookery.
You take the initiative - you read the titles and author's names on the spines of the books - OK sorry, getting a bit controversial there. But hey - you did it!
Now the alternative scenario - you walk into a traditional library. There are no signs above the shelves. On the end of each run of shelving, you notice an array of numbers (340-385, 610-649 etc.) You walk further and may notice a decrepid poster filled with a list of these numbers and what they mean, written in arcane language. (If you're a kid, your poster may have a jungle theme but the language will be the same).
OK - you say - I get it, there's some sort of coded system in play here! But, I'm an intelligent human so I can work it out. Right, let's see:
000 - computers, information and general works (nope)
100 - philosophy and psychology (nope)
200 - religion (well Delia's a bit fanatical about eggs but...nope)
300 - social sciences (don't think so)
400 - language (non!)
500 - science (erm, no)
600 - technology (nope)
700 - arts and recreation (ah-ha! The culinary arts! Recreational activity - sounds good, just finish checking)
800 - Literature (nah!)
900 - History and geography (no - hee-hee! I've cracked it, now, off to find the 700 section!)
time passes.
slowly.
Give up.
Go home or ask the code master.
Of course 641.5944!! "Utilising the sciences to harness the natural world and it's resources for the benefit of mankind" = Cookery! Silly me.
By the way - helpful tip, when you do get to it, if you do get to it, hope there's not too may books on French cookery, because chances are, you won't be able to identify the book you want behind all the spine labels.
There ends today's anti-Dewey rant.
Monday, 29 October 2007
Reading...
Recently finished The World Without Us by Alan Wiseman.
A great book - coming to a library near you soon!
A great book - coming to a library near you soon!
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