Information Scotland The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland ISSN 1743-5471 Issue contents | Journal contents | About the online edition of the journal June 2003 Volume 1 (3)

CILIPS conference 2003 - Presidential address

The Ongoing Adventure

To secure the future of the profession and the recognition of its true worth are what concern Alistair Campbell most in this important anniversary year.

Scotland's economic base was rapidly changing, the population moving away from traditional ways of life and work. New communications systems were stretching across the country. The divide between rich and poor was pronounced and there were significant challenges of health, welfare, education and democratic disengagement.

This was mid nineteenth-century Scotland moving from agriculture into industry. Or could it be Scotland today, moving from the industrial to the global information society?

The Public Libraries (Scotland) Act of 1853 allowed free public libraries to be funded from the public purse. To modern Scottish libraries comes the People's Network funded also from the public purse, but by a somewhat different method.

This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Public Libraries Scotland Act and the completion of the network part of the People's Network. But how should we celebrate?

Should the people observe two minutes of pandemonium at their local library? I must confess, this particular Norman McCaig legacy rather appeals to me. Perhaps, more appropriate would be to highlight the work and importance of all libraries, because a key component of a successful People's Network provision is the partnership element with other types of libraries and information services.

And this year isn't just about celebrating libraries, it's about celebrating the achievements and relevance of library and information staff. And it should also be about promoting and developing career pathways in library and information work, because if we don't start doing that now, we may face a less then secure future.

We have a proud past. And this past and our present services have been expertly encapsulated in the Cilips display which is touring Scotland with the story of a key public service that is central to enhancing the lives of Scotland's people and Scotland's communities.

The 1853 Act to establish public libraries for the Instruction and Recreation of the people "was not a response to public demand, but rather the work of philanthropists and reformers who saw it as an ameliorating moral and educational force." How closely might these intentions relate to the social justice and lifelong learning initiatives we participate in today?

In our age of rapid change, it is interesting to note that it was not until 1946, with the inclusion of Argyll, that all Scotland had access, the familiar "torch of learning" sign being displayed on scores of buildings across Scotland. Now there was an effective brand identity! It was Carnegie's millions that melted away much of the opposition to adopting the Acts, the capital investments procuring municipal commitment to maintaining and developing the service. But this commitment was not always able to sustain adequacy.

The challenge of sustainability after significant capital investment is mirrored 100 years later by the People's Network provision. The 50 years since the centenary of the Act are characterised by rapid development in response to social, economic, governmental and technological drivers. The role of the public library widened as post war Scotland took advantage of increased leisure time.

There was a continued acceleration of new library provision, a significantly increased emphasis on cultural and extension activities and an ever increasing uptake of the services until the late 1980s when the unprecedented borrowing levels began to stutter and since 1986 have shown a persistent decline, as has funding in real terms.

And while it is clearly a matter of deep concern, and cause for urgent action, that in the majority of our library services less then 30% of the population borrow books, we should take pride that 150 years after the passing of the Act, the vast majority of the population use our services and that according to the government, "our public library service is one of our most important and respected public services, offering levels of customer usage, satisfaction and brand loyalty that most private organisations can only dream about."

The English Audit Commission's Building Better Libraries report states, "Libraries hold an important place in people's hearts, but they are losing their place in people's lives." Let us ensure this doesn't apply to Scotland. But we cannot be complacent in the light of changing social habits.

Let us pay tribute to the services delivered by libraries libraries to citizens, learners, children, Scotland's businesses, community organisations, housebound, prisoners, those in hospital and increasingly our virtual visitors. And we should celebrate the diversity of materials and methods we use in supporting and in changing people's lives.

But in so doing we must not lose sight of the centrality of the book and its unique, enfolding, simple, subtle power, or of our mission to promote reading as an essential lifelong pleasure and skill. Today's libraries still offer that pool of awe, and wonder for taking, so eloquently expressed by William McIlvanney. But his acres of promises have been overtaken by the new technology whereby you literally can hold "infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour".

I quote from Advocating Libraries, "Who speaks for Scottish Libraries? Who can make the profession and the public listen, believe and commit to the ongoing adventure? In the late 60s, 70s and early 80s, it was people like Peter Grant, Alan White and Alex Howson. In the early 80s, 90s and into the 21st century it has been Robert Craig." Well I think we all have a role in speaking for Scottish Libraries. And in the immortal words of Robert Craig "nobody ever said it would be easy."

Libraries and information services have never been as important as they are now and for the foreseeable future. The Government's response to New Library the People's Network in April 1998 identified that libraries contribute to four of this government's most important policy objectives. They underpin education and lifelong learning; they enhance public access to knowledge and information; they promote social inclusion; and they have a role to play in the modernisation and delivery of public services.

Five years on I believe we are more than exceeding the expectations of the People's Network, but progress is uneven. It is, I believe, the best thing that has happened to public libraries in the last 100 years and it also should be a pretty big thing for other types of libraries. And I cannot accept William McIlvanney's views that "computers have arrived in the library like an electronic fifth column in the citadel of Gutenberg. At the moment they inhabit the same space in uneasy truce." Computers are not the enemy, they are allies of other library materials, services and skills.

A robust ICT network, locally and nationally is in place offering free internet and learning access, albeit the universal broadband envisaged has not been possible and there are still challenges in connecting up mobile libraries.

Let us trust that the Digital Scotland initiative will remove the remaining inequalities. And let us seek to ensure, that provided we deliver, the increased communications costs of the People's Network will be met by increased national funding. But I would stress, we must demonstrate our ability to deliver that which is required. Staff have been trained in ICT, developed to assist others in its use, but I would suggest that on its own, NOF ICT training is insufficient to meet the learning and information needs of our communities.

Essential in many services has been the enhanced focus on learner support development with staff becoming qualified, for example, in coaching skills, and online tutoring. Already in several services, we are seeing that essential shift in the role of library staff from provider to adviser, tutor and support to those accessing learning and information opportunities. The fundamental challenges of high quality content are being addressed. We are already viewing excellent heritage material and approaches, for example, Enrich Scotland.

The challenge is not in making all of these resources available to the already interested, but in using them to energise local community involvement and in parallel, exploiting their tourism potential, in partnership with the key agencies.

The NOF residue funded online reference provision is an excellent boon in achieving geographical equity, with key information available via every Scottish public library. This funding will further ensure all public library catalogues should be web enabled and incorporated within a national framework.

The effective work by some authorities in creating key topic gateways and 'white lists', children's and teenage gateways, forms the nucleus of a nationally co-ordinated provision which still allows each service to retain its own local look and emphases.

The Scottish Cultural Portal managed by SLIC sets the quality interoperability standards for all future developments and clearly asserts the importance of libraries and librarianship to the information agenda at a national level. Services are identifying and preparing online learning content using, for example, the SUfI skillnet platform or benefiting from partnerships with colleges and universities.

There is still much to be developed in this area, but significant advances are being made. North Lanarkshire's Log-in-to-Learn could, conceivably, form a core element of a national provision which might also ensure a 24/7 help facility for learners in libraries across Scotland. This development of virtual learning environments demands co-operative approaches across the sectors.

And a further key content strand is that of reader development to encourage greater use of traditional services. Surely this is a priority area for public and school libraries to work together, as is family literacy.

What has the People's Network meant?

Libraries as Learndirect Scotland centres, as SQA centres, as ECDL centres, often in partnership with local colleges and other providers. Libraries working with Careers Scotland to ensure guidance and support. Libraries, as in Glasgow, becoming again "the learning places of choice". Library Learning Centres which dovetail with local learning plans, literacy and numeracy programmes and which support the objectives within the Scottish Executive's Lifelong Learning Strategy. Learning Centres which are based on sound marketing, clear targeting of potential users, which are committed to genuine equality of access.

And finally the understanding that it is the Library, with all of its services, resources and staff capabilities which is the learning centre for life, the welcoming place, the learning place, the magic place. Libraries with a retrained and re-energised staff, with a clear focus on the new learning support requirements - and even with new salary structures.

If our staff are delivering these new opportunities, then we must pay the market rate for them, otherwise we will be on that two year cycle of recruit, train and lose. Libraries as community resource points, encouraging and co-ordinating community websites as with Barrhead.com. Libraries acting as welfare and tax surgeries, as co-ordinating points for community information and consultations, delivering services at times and in a manner that suit citizens' needs.

A new recognition within organisations of the importance and power of well organised, high quality information, and who better to grasp this territory than our profession. I believe that such involvement in delivering corporate priorities is the cornerstone of future sustainability. And this role is certainly not exclusive to the public library sector.

Absolute recognition of the power of partnership, particularly in getting to the hardest to reach. This shows what is achievable when all library services; public, schools, colleges, universities and health, work together in a common commitment to developing a culture of lifelong learning across their communities and seek to ensure local best access for all. And tellingly, it seeks to fit this local initiative within a national framework through active participation in Cosmic - the confederation of Scottish mini clumps. Surely we can all build on this experience to achieve a genuine National Grid for Learning.

And the core elements of enhanced applications of ICT, refocused services, re-trained staff, the management of change typify other sectors within the library domain in recent years.

The impact of the People's Network thus far

Resource's first findings published in December 2002 talked of the "quiet revolution" taking place. What's quiet about it? Wide usage was identified under the six headings of learning, finding work, personal identity, community enrichment, social inclusion, and culture and creativity. That wide usage included many, across all age groups, who had no experience of computers and who were not traditional library users.

Scotland's experience would endorse these views. In short, our libraries are attracting those target groups that other providers just cannot engage with. This is surely a key role for libraries, giving confidence and competence to the less sure, the isolated, through supportive, committed staff. Many libraries are experiencing a significant increase in membership among the 18-24 age group.

In many of our libraries, 80% usage is the norm, 100% usage and booking systems not untypical. This is an incredible response to the 8.5 million hours of free access available each year.

But will this new response arrest the continued decline in book borrowing? I remain optimistic that the People's Network offers the opportunity to do so, provided other elements are in place including effective marketing, relevant stock selection policies, an interested and informed staff, appropriate reader development programmes, and opening hours that reflect citizens' needs.

The reason why we have a smart, successful library community in Scotland is very much to do with the achievements of Robert Craig and his team in developing the SLA, then CILIP in Scotland (CILIPS) as a strong professional organisation, and particularly in recent years developing the Scottish Library and Information Council, SLIC, as an organisation that can do business at the highest level of government in Scotland.

It is to SLIC and CILIPS, under the leadership of Elaine Fulton, that we look to co-ordinate action in respect of the major future challenges. And there are three in particular:

1 The future well being of the profession. There are already genuine problems with recruitment of suitable professional staff at all levels, particularly in the public library sector. Local government reform of 1996 with its flatter structures, the rapid changes in services in the last three years, and changed imperatives within library schools, have all contributed. Recent senior posts have struggled to attract an acceptable short leet. One public library authority had three applicants for three vacant promoted professional posts. There is a genuine difficulty in finding suitable young library and information professionals to fill posts in public and school libraries. As identified by Judith Elkin courses "...on the whole still miss out the people skills, social awareness, in depth information handling and user concerns." Part of the answer lies with our professional organisation confronting library schools with the real needs of services, so that we can begin to get relevant courses. It's about time services, and not library schools, called the tune.

2 To ensure that as library and information professionals, what we do is professional and that the tasks carried out are seen to be professional. But what we do must be related to today's requirements and not to an historic qualification. And yes that does imply a structured CPD process, clearly stated, clearly assessed and reviewed on an ongoing basis and possibly with compulsory re-accreditation. And CILIPS must have input to this process.

This may mean accepting that some existing tasks are taken over by other staff and that we may have fewer professional posts in future, but at a higher level.

3 To ensure career structures for all staff in all library and information services, not just those with professional qualifications. Structures based on service needs and hence responsive to change. Progressive qualifications based on relevant competencies as well as current knowledge. Progress and rewards based on delivery and achievement and not on some traditional time serving ladder. In short, structures underpinned by a genuine culture of lifelong learning.

Information literacy

We have in the last 150 years moved from the industrial to the so called information society and yet many of our citizens lack the fundamental skills and confidence to find, organise, evaluate and use appropriate information. Information literacy is every bit as essential as literacy and numeracy skills and hence is equally deserving of the significant funding currently going to literacy and numeracy initiatives across Scotland.

And if the Executive cannot find the resources, may it at least find the will to persuade our friends in NOF that this is a key area for funding that is a natural extension of what has been achieved thus far via the People's Network.

There is existing good practice in the educational sector, for example the OU's Mosaic programme, and there is recognition within the DCMS ten-year vision for public libraries in England of its importance, but as yet there is no agreed agenda for co-ordinated action. Whatever is agreed must relate to the needs of Scotland's learners and citizens.

There is a need for a clear definition of the competencies required. A need to include its coverage in professional education and in the curriculum, core skills framework and student courses. And is there a case for an accredited qualification, equivalent to the ECDL?

Let's not delay on this, but through CILIP in Scotland and SLIC take information literacy forward as a fundamental issue in supporting national priorities and in underlining the relevance of Scotland's libraries to the wellbeing of the nation.

A national consistency

The quality of library provision across Scotland remains uneven, the current statutory framework allowing for wide variations in financial commitment from local authorities. The People's Network has brought the potential of consistent levels of access, information, technology, staff support and public expectation that are applicable across Scotland. And if delivered appropriately, the People's Network underpins the Executive's key priorities of lifelong learning, social justice and modernising government.

There is arguably a strong case for the ring fencing of library provision within an appropriate quality framework, and equally for stronger national direction and monitoring. And while some might argue for a National Public Library Service, funded and managed by the Executive, my personal view is that removing public libraries from local government would diminish the library service's potential.

While Best Value must form part of the essential framework it is insufficient on its own. Likewise while it is commendable that various services have gone down the quality routes such as Charter Mark or Investors in People in recent years, this doesn't offer the required national solution.

I would suggest that the solution lies within the Implementation of the National Cultural Strategy. Within it there is a clear commitment to review current library legislation to ensure it is appropriate to the 21st century. And more tellingly, within the recently published Guidance, recognition that there would be benefits in giving consideration to the development of a qualitative self assessment model which would apply to cultural provision in a similar way to HMI's "How Good is Our School".

And the inspectorate? Why not SLIC being tasked with developing the appropriate standards and requirements based on best practice. SLIC identifying where improvements and associated funding are essential. And SLIC awarding accreditation to those services attaining high quality delivery. Now there's an excellent opportunity to bring back the "torch of learning" as a brand of quality.

And it is the torch of learning which lights the way forward for all of Scotland's libraries - working in partnership to ensure best access to resources, information and a continuum of learning opportunities, within a national framework. A national framework that achieves appropriate quality standards for each sector, the sharing of best practice, effective interoperability standards, and the continued development of libraries and information services as essential to the wellbeing of Scotland's people.

We all have our part to play in this ongoing adventure

Information Scotland Vol.1 (3) June 2003

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