Filton Library Users' Group Minutes: 6pm Tuesday 11th October 2011 at Filton Library
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
1. Public Session: Nothing to report.
2. Present: Dolly Garland, David Bell, Sue Lonsdale (Filton Chair), Cllr Anne Kenyon, Jane Tozer (Filton Vice-chair), Chris Etheridge, Emma Fisher (Librarian, Patchway & Filton), John Abraham (Library Team Manager, North Area), Christine Harris, Cllr Adam Monk.
3. Apologies: Stanley Sims.
4. Report from the Chair 2010 – 2011
During my first year as Chairman of Filton Library Users’ Group I have tried to involve myself in as many as possible of the library’s activities. Many thanks to out vice-chairman, Jane Tozer, for keeping me informed of forthcoming events.
I was especially pleased to attend the event on Saturday 5th March, which was held in support of World Book night. My husband, Geoff had left Frenchay Hospital only two days previously after surgery to remove a brain tumour. He really enjoyed the pleasant company and the interesting conversation around the books that were being given away.
Since then, we have regularly visited the library together. Our next interesting encounter came on a day later in the spring when a group of children from Charborough Road School sang a delightful selection of songs. I couldn’t resist singing along with them!
More recently, Geoff & I visited the new Patchway Library, on the open day 20th September. Our son and his girlfriend joined us; we were all made very welcome. Alan was delighted to take out a library card having not been a library member for some years; he can now try out any DVD before deciding whether or not to buy his own copy. Our libraries are doing a grand job catering for a wide variety of tastes!
I enjoyed the challenge of writing a poem about a particular aspect of Filton, as did Geoff. We both made the most of the visit of the poet, Sarah-Jane Arbury, on 24th September. Our “Magic Chest” entries included the BAWA playing field, and our own garage. I look forward to viewing all the poems that Filton people have contributed over the last few weeks.
Geoff & I were very keen to support the MacMillan coffee morning on 30th September. It was interesting to compare our experiences with other people who have benefited from the work of this organisation. My thanks go to the library staff for enabling us to enjoy this social occasion.
An interesting comment from Geoff: the current exhibition of plans for the new development at Airbus places emphasis on the title “Pegasus House”. Is this a new name for the Filton House he used to work in? Let’s hope the refurbishment does justice to that name!
Since the last AGM, we have said a fond farewell to Barbara Jones, with heartfelt thanks for all her help and support over many years. Stan Sims has also had to resign, for health reasons. We wish him well. New members have joined us: Cllr Anne Kenyon, Cllr Andy Chubb, Cllr Janet Hillier and Dolly Garland. Your support is much appreciated. Fresh faces bring new ideas; always welcome!
My thanks go to all the members of the Users’ Group, and to the hard working library staff. I’m sure we are all united in wishing our library to continue to be a vibrant centre of social activity for the whole of Filton.
5. Minutes of previous AGM & matters arising: Agreed as a correct record. No matters arising.
6. Election of Officers: Sue Lonsdale (Chair), Jane Tozer (Vice Chair)
ORDINARY MEETING
1. Public Session: Nothing to report.
2. Present: Dolly Garland, David Bell, Sue Lonsdale (Filton Chair), Cllr Anne Kenyon, Jane Tozer (Filton Vice-chair), Chris Etheridge, Emma Fisher (Librarian, Patchway & Filton), John Abraham (Library Team Manager, North Area), Christine Harris, Cllr Adam Monk.
3. Apologies: Stanley Sims.
4. Matters arising from minutes of the meeting 12th July
Plasma screen: It was suggested that the position of the screen could be improved so that it was more noticeable. This may be looked at during the refurbishment.
Library Users’ Survey: This will take place at the beginning of November. Changes have been made to the questionnaire following feedback from Library Users’ Groups. For example, people will no longer be asked to grade services from 1 -10, rather they will be asked to rate them from poor to very good. It was suggested that users are asked about the refurbishment at the same time. Members of the group were asked if they would like to help hand out the questionnaires. There will also be an online version of the form.
Refurbishment: Suggestions include opening up the room at the front, IT suite with a plasma screen, improving the soft furnishings. There will be 2 self service kiosks. The shelving will be kept. Suggested that there is a board for the public to add their suggestions to. The work will be done this financial year. Tesco vouchers could be collected towards an interactive whiteboard. It is too early to say if/when the library will be closed for the work to be carried out. The Committee were concerned about the disruption it may cause.
5. Correspondence: None
6. Librarian’s Report: The number of people visiting Filton library has increased by 11.9% compared to this time last year. We have worked hard to raise the profile of the library which has contributed to this increase and now regularly feature in Filton Matters and on MyFilton and will also feature in the new magazine Filton Voice. We’ve also started getting publicity in church and school newsletters and putting posters of forthcoming activities in the library windows. Activities such as the regular Knitting Group are also helping to draw people into the library.
The increase in visits is reflected in the issues which have increased by 2.4% overall. This includes an increase of 3.9% for adult non fiction. Staff have also been doing a lot of promotional work by creating face-on displays and in particular doing a lot more of the ‘Quick Choice’ which seems to be popular. We also did the mystery book to encourage readers to try new authors. Enquiries have also increased, again reflecting the increase in visits.
ACTIVE MIND MONTH
Active Mind Month is a series of events taking place throughout South Gloucestershire aiming to encourage people to become more active and involved with their local communities. Filton Library is taking part and using this as an opportunity to promote the library. Events at Filton Library have included:
The Great Poetry Postcard Project: poet Sara-Jane Arbury spent a day in the library talking with local residents creating poems from their memories. Library users were very enthusiastic and wrote some of their own poems too. The poems are displayed in the library.
Widen your Horizons: this was an international workshop run by students from the University of the West of England. It was a chance to sample exotic food, take part in a traditional craft and learn about another culture. 18 members of the public attended and the people running it were very good. They wore traditional clothing, brought in currency to show people, Nigerian food to taste and maps for people to look at. They did a talk about Nigeria and the public had lots of questions for them. Users commented on how well it went and that it was nice to have the chance do something different in the library.
COMMUNITY
Filton Library hosted a coffee morning on Friday 30th September as part of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2011 to raise money for Macmillan and staff and customers raised a fantastic £61.40.
People coming in for cardboard recycling sacks have also enabled us promote what we can offer to those who haven’t been in the library for a while and we even got quite a few of them who weren’t members to join.
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
The Summer Reading Challenge: The ‘Circus Stars’ theme captured the imagination of local children this summer. 242 children took part in the Summer Reading Game this year and 169 children completed the challenge. This is an increase on last year where 227 children took part and 140 completed. The activities were very popular, especially the circus skills session with Joshua where children learnt to juggle, spin plates and walk on stilts!
Children’s reading groups: The success of the Summer Reading Challenge has helped to increase the number children coming to Chatterbooks. We are also really excited with our new teen reading group - this was started due to popular demand! 6 young people came to last Saturday’s meeting. They have decided to call their group the ‘Baked Teenz’.
Pre-school children: We piloted a Makaton storytime earlier in September which was very well received by parents so we have started a Makaton Storytime every Monday morning. Thank you to Caroline Wheeler-Evans for running these sessions.
Schools: Relationships and links with the local schools are also developing, for example we hosted a display of art from Shield Road Primary school and featured in their newsletter.
COMMUNITY LEARNING & IT SUPPORT
Unfortunately the IT course on Wednesdays will not run this term as there wasn’t enough interest. However, we still offer one to one IT sessions and have recruited a new volunteer, Julie, who holds basic IT sessions on Saturday mornings,
COMING UP
The Great Active Mind Month Quiz, Tuesday 18th October, 7:30pm
Can you avoid winning the wooden spoon? Pit your wits against other teams in our Active Mind quiz evening.
Smoothie Bike, Saturday 29th October, 10:30am – 12:30pm
Come and use your pedal power to make yourself a super fruit smoothie on our smoothie bike. All ingredients provided. Just turn up and be prepared to have some fun and get a little bit active!
7. Performance News:
Overall issues are up 3% across all libraries. The biggest change is in online renewals where there has been a 25% increase. It has been a positive quarter for Filton and the free activities for children have been very popular this summer. The Committee praised the staff.
8. Library Staffing Review and Organisation of Library User Groups
Following the Council’s restructure, Libraries will work in a new section called Community Cultural Services to include Community Learning, Skills, Heritage & Arts. This all sits within a new Division ‘Safe and Strong Communities’ under the Environment and Community Services Department. John Abraham’s post changes to Operations Manager with responsibility for all branch, mobile and prison libraries. Clare Fletcher will be returning to Patchway & Filton in April (this post will be covered in the meantime) and Emma Fisher will become the Children and Young People’s Librarian. The Committee thanked Emma and wished her luck in her new post. The frequency of Library Users’ Group meetings will be reviewed in April.
9. Any other business:
Self Service Survey: Self service machines are used at Yate, Staple Hill, Downend, Emersons Green, Bradley Stoke and Patchway Libraries and between 75 – 82% of issues are now done through the self service machines. A positive response showed 88% of people surveyed on the day used the self service with 94% finding them easy or quite easy to use.
Stanley Sims is stepping down from the group. The Committee thanked him for his many years of support to both the Library Users’ Group and Filton Library.
Shelf dividers: it was suggested that it would be helpful to have these in the adult fiction area e.g. A, B, C etc.
UWE: members of the public will soon be able to access the PCs at UWE for research etc.
10. Date and time of next meetings:
24th January 2012, 6pm
24th April 2012, 6pm.