KEEPING A LOOKOUT - Analysis of Survey to Library Staff
As part of our research we decided to survey public libraries and the State Library Victoria to find out:
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if they currently had relationships or partnerships with external agencies
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what training has been offered recently to staff around empowering or connecting with socially isolated people
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what innovative outreach programs are currently in place
The responses were a mixture of delightful, disappointing and surprising.
Here’s what delighted us:
58% of respondents said that their library has connections or partnerships with non-government agencies that involve outreach services to socially isolated people
“We work very closely with council organisations and other organisations in the community to make our outreach service relevant and successful in our community. People love the library and love that they are able to be a part of the service even if they cannot reach a branch.”
What feedback have you received about your successful community outreach?
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“People really appreciate having someone to stop and chat, not just drop books and run.”
“Many of our volunteers …have developed great friendships with their recipients.”
“Being a small country community it has brought attention to the community members who are forgotten due to illness or being within an aged care facility.”
“The programs that have worked have been about enhancing the wellbeing of people…”
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Here’s what disappointed us:
63% of respondents said that they had not been offered training recently around empowering/connecting with socially isolated people
Are there any barriers that have stopped connections/partnerships from forming?
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“Not aware of any groups that function in our shire. Also staff resources are limited.”
“Outreach is difficult to fund in our current branch system.”
“Time, resources.”
“Limited staff time to make connection with other groups.”
“No, but our library has undergone immense internal changes in the last few years leaving little time for making external connections. We are now much more settled and are looking towards future developments that would see us partner with a number of internal (council) and external organisations.”
Here’s what surprised us:
Of 43 respondents, it appears that only a handful of public libraries are currently providing outreach programs beyond that of the traditional home library service.
What have we learnt from the survey?
Some clear and important messages from this survey include:
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Staff training is a key area for improvement - especially in relation to how library staff can empower/connect with socially isolated people
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85% of respondents know of organisations who are sending clients/customers into their library service
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A template needs be developed to allow for consistent evaluation of outreach programs.
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A platform needs to be developed to help library staff share innovative outreach successes and ideas
