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 2006 Volume 4(3)

Information & society

Following a Best Value Review in 2004 to address manual handling issues for the staff and improvements in the service, it was decided to change the system of delivery from one where a selection of books was taken to each user, from which they could choose. This involved the assistant carrying two heavy wire baskets, which was cumbersome and time consuming as time had to be allowed for the user to look through the selection. After a great deal of research and consultation, it was decided to switch to a pre-selected bag of books which is delivered and left with the user until the next visit. Where the client is a heavy reader more than one bag can be provided. The service is also being devolved to the library in each area in order to provide a closer link with the local library for the users. The clients are all visited to produce an up to date profile of their wants.

We also looked at ways in which we could enhance the service to the Homebound users in an attempt to provide a more inclusive service with at least some of the choice that is available in the libraries themselves. Bidding for funding from the Innovation and Development Fund offered the possibility of providing that enhancement.
We bid for funding to buy six laptops and software. Matched funding purchased six mobile phones with a Bluetooth connection which gives us good coverage in this area and covers the running costs for the internet connection. The laptops were configured by DS, our LMS supplier, to run the public access software. The Homebound assistant can use the laptop to access the library catalogue, search for particular titles and request them for the borrower. We have added useful websites including Ulverscroft and BBC Books in order to check for large print and spoken word material that we may not have in stock, Whichbook.net for the reader who doesn’t know what they want, the RNIB website for information and various bibliographic sites. Books are now issued to the reader’s ticket in the library before delivery so that the assistant can also check what books they currently have for them.

The borrower history has been turned on for this category of user which means that if a title is issued a second time staff are alerted.

As the provision of the laptops is an add-on to major changes within the service, the roll-out has been slower than we had hoped. Providing the service from individual libraries has meant changes in their way of working, provision of space to make up and store the bags and some staff training. The libraries have put in a great deal of work in providing leaflets and book lists in order to ensure that users get the best choice possible in the limited circumstances. As the laptops are brought into use, this can only enhance the choice we can offer and bring our Homebound users closer to the level of service provided in the libraries.
We hope that possible future developments in the enhancement of the catalogue with jacket images and audio clips will improve the service – although we did have to disappoint the lady who wanted to keep the laptop!

Gil Vick, Principal Librarian (Support Services)

Information Scotland Vol. 4(3) June 2006

Information Scotland is delivered online by the SAPIENS electronic publishing service based at the Centre for Digital Library Research. SLAINTE (Scottish libraries across the Internet) offers further information about librarianship and information management in Scotland.