Steering Group

[Aldeburgh Library Steering Grp]

The steering group was convened last night at the meeting in the Church. Members are Celia Leggett, Hugo Herbert-Jones, Tony Bone, David Grugeon, George Burroughs, Tony Mudd and Sally Jones.
Please let us have your views on the group and what it should be trying to achieve.

[Tony Bone]

I am pleased to be part of this steering group and will try and represent the views of the Aldeburgh Society of which I am Chairman.

I believe we should be doing two things.
1. Trying to get SCC to face up to its legal obligations and reverse its decision to close local libraries.
2. If 1 is unsuccessful, putting together a proposal for the community to take on the running of the library with a mixture of paid staff and volunteers.

[celia4000]

Thanks to Tony Bone for creating this forum. Look forward to seeing lots of great ideas appearing.

[stanleye]

I am a branch assistant at Aldeburgh Library and here are some of my ideas

My ideas for Aldeburgh Library
1) A small thing but I would move the coffee machine to a more prominent position perhaps fairly near to the children’s area (not too near obviously because of hot water) what parent doesn’t need a sit down with a coffee while their child colours! Or near the main counter It is just not being used in its position by the window apart from Maureen’s WI group.

2) Scrap the jigsaws as they are hardly ever used.

3) Get rid of some of the reference section as lots of it can be obtained online, so that we could have a larger IT section. Also move and increase by joining together with the Moot Hall museum the section on Aldeburgh’s history.

4)Sell off the CDs or give 1/2 to the county libraries these are seldom hired.
5)Put in some double glazing in certain areas especially the sitting area
6) Increase DVDs and talking books
7) Decrease non fiction for children, the war section, learning about computers and spirituality
8)Set up a small toy library: include educational toys and 2 large items for summer eg, ball pool and water slide and activities for the garden eg badminton and rounders set
9) Invest in a playstation 3 and charge £1 an hour to use it and you can swap for newer games fairly cheaply at a store in Ipswich. Whilst the children are there try to encourage their interest in books!
10) Have comics for kids to look at and sell old ones for a £1

11) Have regular events especially Summer and Christmas fairs. Our cake stall at the Christmas fair in 2010 raised £85 in 2 hours.
Diffferent groups could have a stall eg Aldeburgh playgroup and pay us say £5 for a position

12) I would still like to keep the reading challenge going (reading 6 books over the summer)
and as Maureen suggested find a sponsor. We could still have a presentation with a local teacher and library staff
My idea last year worked well, to keep the childrens’ interest I set up a lucky dip for their last book it encouraged them to try new authors.

13) If we still have a books on wheels service it ought to include DVDs to hire too.

14) Instead of bookstart we could run a short toddler group session with reading included and charge say £1 and have a teddy bears picnic on triangle wood once a year.

15) Get cash machine installed.

16) Encourage more reading groups

17) Have a book stall at table top sales

18) As the Slaughden sailing club event was such a success do more of these getting the school involved eg golf is another activity planned for the children at Aldeburgh primary school in 2012 we could host the event.

19) Advertise regularly in the Aldeburgh gazette.

[celia4000]

Some really good ideas, at some point the steering group should actually meet at the library and talk to the staff.

[tonybone]

I have met with Ian Rousham. Tony

[Aldeburgh Library Steering Grp]

Dear All,

Just so you know we haven't been asleep since the last library meeting!

Library Steering Group comprises:
Clive Fox (Chairman)
Tony Bone
George Burroughs
David Grugeon
Hugo Herbert-Jones
Mike Kiff
Celia Leggett
Tony Mudd

Between us we have experience in national charities, libraries, finance, retail, adult education, local charities and community projects. For the gaps in the Library Steering Group (LSG) we will call upon local experts to attend meetings.

Our first meeting was held on Saturday after the last public meeting, we planned another five meetings before the final public meeting on Thursday, 7th April at 7.30pm in the Parish Church. At that meeting we will present our proposal.

We had another meeting with Lynda Farnworth, Area Manager for Libraries, to ask for more detailed information about the consultation process and for more information on the figures, this will help in the presentation of the proposal to SCC.

We are working on a plan to develop the library and how it can be used more by the local community. The first and main consideration is that book-lending remains free. We considered if there were any benefits to moving to library to another site but decided the library should remain in its present location.

Our main intent is to find ways of generating income without limiting access to anyone who wishes to use the core library services. At the moment these are far from complete which is why there are no details to give you yet.

Please do contact any of Library Steering Group if you have any ideas. At the 7th April meeting we will ask for people who may be able to help in the library to give us their names, just so we have some idea of the voluntary help available.

PRESENTATION OF PROPOSALS AT THE PUBLIC MEETING ON
THURSDAY, 7TH APRIL AT 7.30PM IN THE PARISH CHURCH. (TBC)

[concernedlibrarian]

Greetings to you all. I have been a visitor to Aldeburgh for over 50 years and have a caravan on the Church Farm site. I use the Library regularly and really appreciate it. I am a Chartered Librarian currently working at an independent school and teaching rare books librarianship by distance learning. I really joined this group to offer my services in case there is anything I can do to help. I was delighted to read the support given to the Aldeburgh Library by Anthony Horowitz in his recent lecture. Good luck!

[Aldeburgh Library Steering Grp]

The Steering Group will be presenting its proposals for the future of the library at a meeting in the Church 7:30pm on Thursday 7th April. Do come.