A Visit to Papamoa library was first up. This was really exciting as this library is very new and is a model library in many ways. The building itself is a lovely and incorporates a lot of good ideas in the design – including “smart ” climate control with the windows opening and closing in response to internal temperature etc.
The library was built incorporating the Papamoa community centre as well and there are 6 rooms for community use with kitchen facilities available as well as a toy library, council information station and the local Plunket rooms.
The library uses RFID for issues and returns and has found considerable savings on staff time through this technology. As they have the money to incorporate more of the RFID technology such as the belts and bins there will be more time savings to be made. This technology is of course not easily compatible in libraries with charges.
After the site visit we returned to the meeting venue and heard library news from around the country.
The Highlights:
- Sucessful writing competitions held at a few libraries around the country including Rodney district.
- Auckland libraries have started an Active Movement Programme; a new interactive web site, have put in Overdrive – for enabling the downloading of MP3 audio books – They’ve got 500 titles and have targeted their older customers with this service. They’ve also incorporated Web 2 training for all their staff.
- Porirua libraries are moving onto Spydus 8.4 and Brian their librarian is very positive and enthusiastic about the product and all its Web 2 functionality. Their OPAC now contains records for all their Museum’s collections and will soon include their entire photo collection. Evidently MARC is a useful tool for cataloguing Museum Artifacts as well as books.
- Taupo library have a new building including a Fabulous new chidlren’s area
- Tauranga libraries have a new Learning Centre and a “Smart People Project” in collaboration with their local tertiary education centre.
- Fielding libraries have digitised their large collection of old photographs and made them available via the internet
- Franklin libraries are experiencing increases in use everywhere and are planning for 2 new buildings and large increases in their book budgets. They have moved onto Symphony software 2 weeks ago.
- North Shore libraries are battling in the environment court to get thier new Birkenhead library built. They have initiated a postal delivery service to their customers. They are sending out courtesy email notices to advise borrowers of their due dates.
- Whakatane libraries have finally rid themselves of an onerous “user fee” but have had to put plans for a new library on hold indefinitely whilst they await plans for redevelopment of their entire downtown!
- Masterton – Weeded 1/3 of their Non Fiction and changed their layout, increasing their face out shelving to 1/3 of all their fiction. They have also created a high demand collection. These measures have had a marked positive impact on the use of their library.
- Horowhenua – have found that they have had large increase in library use due to the free computers but there has been a corresponding increase in the number of anti-social behaviours and children being chucked out – including one 12 year old girl who then climbed on to the roof of the neighboring building and then fell through the roof of the library!!!! breaking her arm.
- Manakau libraries – are converting to RFID, are planning a new Central library for Manakau in partnership with the Tertiary education centre.
- Wangarei library – New building, 10% increase in usage / month. The library is becoming a “destination” in their community!
- Puke Ariki – People’s Network has been a highlight for them
- Kapiti – Programmed Kapiti Writes and Off the Page two writing events
- Many if not most of the North Island libraries have found that the trend of decreasing issues has stopped and have plateaued and many are experiencing increases in circulation again.
When I find time I will write another post with information from the presentations.
