Small community library
I work in a small community library about the size of a small… well, it’s seven paces one way by fourteen paces the other in a sort of L shape. Friday night (the only night I work here – from 2-7) is so quiet. In fact it is so quiet that I have just realised I should have closed 25 minutes ago for my afternoon break. Normally I set my alarm, but obviously I forgot today…
We are considering a change to the opening hours, after a period of public consultation, that would mean that instead of opening in the evening, we would open in the morning instead. I’m in several minds about this.
- We don’t have many people in after 5pm, maybe 18 on a busy night, so from a cost perspective it is not particularly viable.
- On the hand the very fact that we are able to open at this time means that Mr H_____ can use the library as he works shifts.
- Could the hour from 5 til 6 be marketed as a Homework Hour, when the helpful library supervisor can help yuo find out all you need to know about the Victorians, Tudors, Greeks, Romans, Inventions, etc…
- It also could provide somewhere for activities aimed at teenagers.
- As the community centre’s room is not booked this time of night, then we could use it for some sort of library evangalism events
But, have we got the time, motivation or funding to do this? Have we got a vibrant support network of volunteers who would be willing to provide aditional help? Have we got the community on side? Is there a road sign pointing people to the library? Is there a sign highlighting the existence of the libray to all the shoppers regularly walking to Tesco, or driving by on the main road? Do we find that as a result of continual reorganisation of the last three or more years, the libray service staff are ready and willing to give their last ounce of blood?
I’ll let you guess the answers…