If You Could Change One Thing?

A friend asked me the other day if I could change one aspect of our library service what would it be and after a bit of thinking I answered publicity and marketing... yes I know this covers quite a broad area but in my opinion publicity is not something we are brilliant at as a profession. Don’t get me wrong advocacy for the profession has taken the spotlight in the last two years, you only need to look at Twitter and websites such as Public Library News  or Voices For the Library to see the different campaigns against budget cuts in the public sector. But we are an ever evolving profession; we have to be dynamic to stay relevant whilst still delivering essential core services. Before you start worrying this is not another tirade on CILIP re-branding although I do side with the majority in the necessity that a professional body that represents information and library professionals should have both information and library in their title. This is a look at what we already do and how we can evolve our marketing strategies – both the simple solutions and the more dynamic.

As a profession I think we are very good at preaching to the converted; very good at publicising the library within library walls but how do you reach the thousands of people who walk past the door without ever venturing inside?

Social media has filled that gap in the last decade for some with Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, blogging and Pinterest to name a few. Wiltshire Libraries has an online presence both on the council website and with the use of Twitter to advertise different services such as Health Matters (nurses in libraries), online resources, reservations, new titles, library events etc.  But we have to also be aware that we live in a country where 14% of the population have yet to use the internet.  There is still a digital divide in Britain and rural counties have ongoing issues with internet access and broadband strength. We have to realise that we can’t rely just on online marketing, we have to have a presence in the communities that we serve.

Simple solutions can be found, for instance most libraries in Wiltshire have notice boards on their exteriors and in the towns they are based in, but not every library has a colour printer. At the moment things can be printed at HQ and sent out but this means a delay of days. We also use local newspapers to promote events but we never advertise the core services we offer in print. Simple solutions such as leaflet drops have become a thing of the past with budgets being cut but are a simple and effective way of getting our message out there to those who feel the library has nothing for them.

You would not believe the amount of people who don’t know that it’s free to join the library or use our people’s network computers. We need to get out into the community and let people know this but with staff reductions across the service time is limited for community outreach. We don’t have the time to cultivate relationships, to approach groups that would benefit from using the library and putting to bed all the myths and stereotypes. Partnerships are such a key publicising tool but it falls to the bottom of to-do lists.  

Another simple solution: In my limited research most libraries that have a Twitter account also have an online presence in the form of a blog – these online tools work hand in hand to target potential users and share information about new developments and events. We could also promote services and future events to users through an online newsletter as we ask for email addresses as part of our registration process. Wiltshire is quite a cautious service and I understand the need for this; you don’t want to sign up for everything digital, you need to be selective but by the time online tools have been researched and justified there the fashion for them has often passed and they are no longer current.

So I think the point I’m trying to make is that we need to invest in publicity, we need to get out to our communities and make ourselves heard as the threat to our profession have become very real very fast and if we do not advertise our worth and breadth of services we are in danger of losing budgets further and in extreme cases closing libraries. We have to learn to do more with less, to economize and use the resources at our disposal to reach as many people as possible.

May Book Reviews

The sequel to McKenzie's Falling Fast - River and Flynn have made it through Romeo and Juliet, now real life is posing all the problems. Flynn can't handle his temper, rumours at school are getting worse. River's friends are worried about her and after one too many incidents Flynn drops a bombshell that tears River's life apart... can the star crossed lovers make it through? When you're in love if you're not in the relationship you just can't understand - An easy absorbing read that teenagers will be able to relate to.

My guilty pleasure - A Bank Holiday read in the sun, just shows how much you don't know about people. This biography chronicles McFly from inception to present day, following the highs and lows of Tom, Danny, Harry and Dougie. A must for all fans who I'm sure have all got their signed copies already. There's much more to these boys than their public image and you should never judge a band by their photo shoots!

 I've had a bit of reader's block lately and so returned to an old favourite. This is the third or fourth time I've read 1 Reasons Why and every time I get engrossed in the story and finish it within 48 hours. Hannah Baker committed to suicide a fortnight ago but no-one knows why... In the night that follows Clay Jensen finds out why. There are 13 reasons, 13 people responsible and on 13 sides of cassette tapes Hannah explains why. 

You can touch someone's life without even realising.. have an effect that snowballs or just catch someone on an off day but unless you realise how can you help?

John Crace writes a digested reads column for The Guardian. In this book he takes one hundred books, ten from each decade of the twentieth century and puts his twist on them. Unless you are very well read you won't know them all, especially those from the earlier decades but this does not stop you enjoying Crace's unique perspective on literary classics.

I don't like giving up on books and it's not something I will readily confess to but The Olive Route is an Everest that I will never conquer. In this episode of the Olive Farm series Carol leaves her own olive farm in France and travels through the countries of the Mediterranean learning the history of olives. 

This is a very dense read, Drinkwater jumps from political, historical and religious aspects at the turn of a sentence and I got no further than 3 countries in before I could take no more. 




This was my wild card of the month which was a bit of a flop in my opinion. The premise was interesting and thought provoking.. a romance for the 21st century - Marie falls in love with current events blog writer Jeff Brennan so when she meets him in person a relationship is fast formed. What she doesn't know is that he virtual Jeff Brennan and the Jeff she has moved in with are completely different people. 

There are 5 different voices through out the novel, physical Jeff, virtual Jeff, Marie, physical Jeff's grandfather and his best friend. I found the different voices confusing, and the layers of plot didn't interlock as smoothly as they could but props to the author for tackling such a contemporary subject which is very rarely explored for all it's importance in today's world.

The third in the Chemical Garden Trilogy sees Rhine find her brother and Gabriel and develop her relationships with her sister wife, Cecily and her husband Linden. But as with all stories there is always a villain of the peace - House Master Vaughan. No matter how much she tries Rhine cannot escape Vaughan's grasp, not when he threatens the lives of everyone Rhine holds dear, but there are secrets to revealed and friends lost as they hunt the elusive cure. A fitting end to the trilogy... I look forward to future offerings.

Catching up with my junior fiction whilst I am not enjoying reading as much and this is a cover that always stands out at me so I thought I'd give it a go.

"Dirk Lloyd" falls to Earth from his plain and is taken in by the Purejoie family. Convinced of his majesty and his need to return to the darklands he enlists the help of Christopher, his "brother", Sooz the "Night Walker" and Sal the "Cricket Overlord". What ensues is a humourous tale of trying to fit in and find your place, with a little magic for good effect.

Solid story for ages 7+

The Waves

This canvas sits on the wall in my front room and I often find myself entranced by it. I have written many things over the years inspired by this picture so I thought it was about time to share. I hope you like it...

The Waves

My perfect hideaway, my piece of heaven on Earth, a place to think, a place to make plans, a place to live and breath and be at peace with the natural world around you. Listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the shingle, like breathing in and out gives an overwhelming sense of being whole, that’s what I feel when I’m here. That’s why I return year after year and spend hours watching the water roll in and out, always moving across the shore, washing away the past so I can start afresh.

As the sun sets we sit on the rocks, blanket over our knees and hands wrapped around a mug of steaming hot tea watching swallows dive and somersault in a sky so full of colour, full of possibility. We set a fire using driftwood that has been dredged up during the day and a small amount from the pile behind the hut. As the dark descends the only sounds we hear are the crackle and spit of the fire on the dried out wood, casting shadows across the cliff face. There is no need for conversation, no need to fill the silence, as we lay in the darkness gazing up at the stars. We stay here under the blanket, the waves receding until we lose the feeling in our toes and surrender to the warmth of the cottage nearby.

In here can be found a warm change of clothes a roaring open fire and glass of wine to pass the evening. The smell of dinner fills the small room, stew and dumplings, a meal well deserved after a day of contemplation in the fresh air.  Dinner eaten by candlelight, memories shared, laughter encouraged and smiles so generous they could only be genuine. We fall into bed, exhausted by happiness, wrapped up in each other and fall asleep to the sound of waves... breathing in and breathing out.

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The chimney was smoking, the kettle whistling as he took it off the aga. Cocoa was poured into three tin mugs, the kind you always used to use for camping and taken out to the lean-to. He sat there on the bench with his cocoa in hand, watching them play on the pebbles.  He’d just come out of the water, freezing though it was there was no way he could be stopped and his enjoyment was plastered over his face. A grin so large you couldn’t help but fall into it.

She was kneeling on the shingle, towel opened out ready to embrace him in all his damp glory. Watching on it reminded him of that day in hospital, the first time she could hold him, his face the only part of him not swaddled in towels, hair thick and stuck to his head. He sat there watching her cuddling him, warming him through, wiping the drips of his nose whilst simultaneously reliving that moment in the hospital. The first time he set eyes on his son, he didn’t realise how much love he could possess until he saw them both in the bed; him yawning, her smiling down at the little bundle which would change their whole world. He wasn’t sure how he would feel but this was too much for one human heart to hold, the joy was overflowing, the love overwhelming and yet he didn’t want to step away from the door, he just wanted this moment to live on.

She turned to the cottage and seeing him there her smile grew, they were still as in love as they were back then, the first time they came here and laid on the shingle. So much had happened, more than they thought they could ever be ready for but she knew she’d made the right decision. The little boy in her arms wrestled free, running for his father. She chased after him, laughing as she went and as the man stooped to grab him up her heart ached a little; ached with love, with admiration, with joy. They sat on the bench side by side sipping their cocoa whilst watching the waves... breathing in and breathing out.

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She sat on the rocks, staring at the horizon, the waves crashing closer and closer to the hut. Years of water bashed against the rocks, changing the landscape entirely and yet nothing had really changed.  The memories filled her up, the warmth of the sun on her face as she stared into the vast expanse in front of her. Her hair was greying, her skin wrinkled and spotted but those memories were as fresh as yesterday.

Summers spent traipsing the coastal path, exploring the caves further down the beach and picking crabs from the rock pools. She remembered toasting marshmallows in the hut whilst it rained outside, finishing jigsaws by candlelight. She also remembered the year he’d decided he was too old to go on holiday with his parents, when the hut became their little hideaway again, their solace in a world turned upside down. The hut would always be full of memories, but it was time for someone else to add their memories, another family to have their summers here.

It was a hard decision to make; they had all done a lot of growing up in this place. She had shared it with the two men who were most special in her life and they in turn had loved her as best they knew how before leaving her all alone again. She spent most of her days now being nostalgic, longing for what had been, and waiting for the stars to come out night after night. But throughout this place had been her safe haven, her shelter, her hideaway. This was her place to think, her place to live, her place to be. Utter calm washed over her as it always did when she watched the waves... breathing in and breathing out.

April Book Reviews

A very different kind of book for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Fans of The Thick of It will enjoy Nobbs' satire of the modern world and his take on those with all the power. Our "hero" like all brilliant protagonists is horribly flawed but I can't help liking him as he explores his newly found humanity. He realises that he seems to love his children and care for his wife... by this point we may as well say that all is lost! 

This has been sitting on my book shelf for at least 18 months and so I selfishly put it on my reading group programme and I'm so glad I did!

The Outcast is Lewis Aldridge - as a young boy he is witness to his mother's tragic demise, an event which affects the rest of his life. Part of a family that does not know how to be a family in a village where appearances can be deceiving Lewis will do anything to feel human, anything to not be alone, anything to find the love he cannot have at home... a stunning debut novel.

Zoe did a bad thing, a very bad thing. The only person she can tell is Mr Harris... a prisoner on death row.

The second YA novel from Annabel Pitcher is no less emotive or absorbing than My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece. 

An easy throw-away read. Luisa Perez is one of ten Luisa's at Colonel Dunfield, counting down the days until she can leave "Dumpfield" and start her real life. When the school gets embraces the city wide literacy competition things start to heat up. Luisa's favourite teacher asks her to write a column for the school paper chronicling the schools efforts under the pseudonym Newshound, whilst an anonymous male counterpart, Scoop, does his best to undermine her at every turn. Humourous and realistic, Luisa has to deal with life, love, school and work whilst trying to figure out who Scoop is and how to beat him!   

A stunning debut from Hannah Richell exploring the family dynamic when it is shaken by tragedy. 

Helen and Richard married after only 3 months when Helen was pregnant with Cassie. After the death of Richard's parents they decide to move from London down to the family home - Clifftops in Dorset. As the family grows cracks start to appear in the dynamic which Richell explores with emotion and honesty.  Looking forward to the next offering!

Dermot is overweight, starting big school and in need of friends... roll on a humourous and witty diary novel complete with doughnut count! In much the same vein as diary of a wimpy kid, this is an easy read for ages 9+ with stock characters including the bully, the lovable misfits and crazy parent figure. Will Dermot survive his first term at big school? Will he have to spend half term at camp Fatso? Complete with fart and poo jokes to amaze children the nation over - The first in a series and one I'll be recommending over the Summer!   

A selection of short stories by the master himself which have made it to the big screen. I read the short story Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. I obviously already knew the plot from the amazing 1994 adaptation starring Tim Robbins as the unsuspecting Andy Dufresne to Morgan Freeman's lifer Red. I was happy to find out how faithfully the film had kept to the story, at just over 100 pages King is able to pull the reader into life at Shawshank and all the colourful characters therein. Happy to be able to finally tick this off my list.and may need to watch the film again soon!

March Book Reviews

Published by The Reading Agency, The Library Book is a celebration of the institution from authors, celebrities and self-confessed bibliophiles. Published during the height of library closures personalities ranging from Alan Bennett to Caitlin Moran share anecdotes on their library adventures, lessons learnt, friends made and beliefs made possible by the power of books and the dark grey buildings that house them. 

Uplifting and humorous at times - a good addition to any bedside or coffee table.




When Kendra moves back to England from Australia she leaves a turbulent past behind to be confronted with a new problem. Becoming an inadvertent nanny to her new landlord's children, she is embraced by the whole family.. not as happy as you may think she'd be by this turn of events. Kendra tries to strike a balance in her new life whilst trying to fight her own demons and come to terms with what happened in the past.

An unusual choice for me but I'm glad I persevered with it. I wasn't aware till very recently that one of our prime ministers had been assassinated and once I found out, I wanted to know the whole story. Ready for the history lesson... Turns out it's all rather dull and British really. John Bellingham had had enough in 1812 after a long dispute with the British government regarding a wrongful and long stay in a Russian prison. having no aide to afforded to him by the government of the day he did what he believed the last possible act of justice by shooting Spencer Perceval in order to gain an audience for his grievances.

For the novice historian this was very easy to follow with extracts from the trial and background of both the principles well explained. A must for any history buffs.

A Monster Calls is Patrick Ness' fourth novel after the Chaos Walking trilogy. Built upon from the original idea of Siobhan Dowd, this tells the story of 13 year old Connor coming to terms with his mother's fatal illness. This story is beautifully illustrated by Jim Kay and won both the Carnegie and Greenaway awards in 2012 (the first o do so in the medals history).

An emotional and heart wrenching story, easily read in one sitting when the monster comes calling he helps Connor to admit the truth and share his story, his fears and hopes. A coming of age story for this generation which will resonate for years to come.

 A zombie story with a twist.... R is a zombie but when he meets Julie, things start to change. As they get to know each other and share their stories, R is changing, memories are returning, life could be getting back to normal but the boneys don't think that way. 

It's so nice to read a zombie story with an original perspective and I thoroughly enjoyed Warm Bodies.. can't wait for another instalment.








An exploration of two teenage girls from very different backgrounds looking for love and acceptance in a world turned upside down.

When Jill's father died she lost all meaning to her life, closing herself off from family, friends, and her boyfriend Dylan she tries to find her new place in the world. Her mum is trying to do the same and invites Mandy into their loves.

Mandy is 33 weeks pregnant, fleeing from her mother who doesn't love her and a stepfather who abuses her, the only love she's ever known is an afternoon with a boy called Christopher.. who may or may not be the father of her baby. 

A story full of powerful emotion and self discovery, I couldn't put it down!

“A library once lost is lost forever”

The quote above is one of my originals with a hint of Jane Austen for good measure! I suppose this post is really about me putting in my penny’s worth about public libraries and the precarious state they find themselves in these days. I remember coming across a quote whilst I was writing my dissertation three years ago (which focused on 2008’s National Year of Reading) which stated that more people visited a library then went to a professional football match or the cinema (Framework for the Future­, 2003: 12).

I have to say three years on, it doesn’t feel this way. I work in three different level libraries in Wiltshire and there are increasingly times when the only people in the library are the staff. Now I’m not saying that I want the library to be choc-a-bloc full all day everyday, I’m realistic but it has recently started to feel like the media hype might be right. Visitor and issue figures for public libraries are suffering a downfall nationally which can be blamed on the use of eBooks and new technology or the nature of life these days; more people working longer hours, commuting longer and therefore not having enough downtime. This may be my naivety coming across but I would have thought with the national media coverage the library profession has had over the last couple of years this would boost our numbers, not have a negative impact.

Wiltshire have not been affected as drastically as neighbouring local authorities in terms of cuts and there is relatively little difference on the frontline between now and 2009. None of the 30 libraries in Wiltshire have been closed, our 5 mobile routes are still in existence and our smallest ten libraries are now volunteer led with library assistants working behind the scenes. There has been a reduction in opening hours and the introduction of self service RFID machines in all libraries have been the only public facing cuts, but this is to be expected. Behind the scenes there has been a reduction in staffing top down from management to admin staff, librarians and frontline staff and a cut to our stock fund and budget for three years running. Therefore for the public who do use us it feels like business as usual... behind the scenes we are still trying to provide the same level of service on limited staffing, time and resources whilst also trying to attract new members.

 Like many public services, we are all trying to learn quickly how to do more with less. It would be interesting to find out if different authorities have had the same reaction from the public, or are those that have had to fight more publicly picked up a new following? I do feel in Wiltshire for all the media attention libraries have had over the last two years there is little reflection in the visitor and issue figures. Of course there will always be the customers who come in and lend their support, those who you’ve never seen before come in to make sure you’re not closing and tell you that they will fight alongside if anything may happen but overall there has been no increase in membership or active borrowing and libraries are quieter than a year ago.

We also have to fight against those who believe the library has had its day – most recently the tirade from beloved children’s author Terry Deary (who coincidentally I had just put a display up in the library to celebrate his 20 years of Horrible Histories... thanks Tel!). Anyone who believes libraries are not an essential service are clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic. This comes down in my honest opinion to ignorance of the range of services which are now provided by libraries. In times of austerity, libraries become even more important, helping with services such as job clubs, CV workshops, benefits help and in its purest form providing a social space for people to interact. There are also those who believe eBooks and digital publishing has filled the void of libraries. Yes, many local authorities now provide an eBook service alongside print but the number of publishers who do not publish electronic material make an e-collection very limited (Wiltshire’s collection at the moment is just under 3000 titles which include non-fiction and children’s titles). Not everyone can afford an e-reader or want an e-reader and those that can and do in my experience still have a fondness for the printed word as well.

Librarianship has always been an ever evolving profession, staff and spaces have to be adaptable and willing to change and that’s how libraries have survived through history. If you think about a library even twenty years ago it was a completely different service... the imposed silence rule if nothing else... I’d love to know if anyone can still enforce this with success in the public sector! Whose to say what the next twenty years will bring but I am confident that with new technologies the library service will find its place... there will always be a need for a free service to help people navigate new technologies and promote the pleasure and benefits of reading. In my own mind I do hope it’s not completely virtual... there is something about walking through the doors of any library and exploring the shelves which you can’t get from a screen.

The more immediate problem is reaching different audiences and promoting our value to those who may believe that the library has nothing to offer them. Yes it’s all about technology these days; facebook, twitter, linkedin, snapchat etc but how do you reach those who are caught in the digital divide? Do you go back to envelope stuffing? Local advertising is always beneficial and you should be able to rely on word of mouth but causing a stir about the library isn’t cheap and with ever cutting budgets we need to become innovative in the ways we market our services.

I have no doubt that libraries will still be around fifty years from now, maybe not in the same capacity that we are now but there will always be a place for a service which thrives on helping and enabling communities, providing a safe and impartial environment for all who need it. What we need to do is make sure that we continue to adapt to society’s needs and embrace new technologies and are able to deliver these services in an efficient and helpful way. There is a little bit of hope for the future though... the pictures below were taken in Calne Library... a Love Libraries display that ran through February asking members to share why they loved their library.

February Book Reviews

Let's get one thing straight.... There's no such thing as too many demigods! This is the third Heroes of Olympus book which sees Jason, Leo, Hazel and Frank unite with our fave greek demigods Percy, Annabeth and Piper! Their mission... to save the world, no biggie! 

Annabeth has a mission of her own, evoked by her mother Athena she must find the sacred mark to stop the world imploding whist Roman and Greek Gods fight against each other and themselves. With monsters and enemies galore the group of 7 try to fulfil the prophecy laid out before them whilst stepping over hormones, emotions and angst worthy of any teenager. Another brilliant episode... do I have to wait two years for the next one?

A contemporary case for the amazing Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Doctor Watson. Reading this with the dramatisation of Benedict Cumberbatch in my mind got a bit confusing as Horowitz sets his case in Victorian Britain but he does brilliantly in capturing the essence of the main characters with cameos from Lestrade and Moriarty.

The case of The House of Silk has a slight contemporary twist which was shocking in a historical setting and although I haven't read any original Conan Doyle I felt that this focussed more on the intrepid detective and his sidekick than the case in question. Has definitely made me want to read some of the original chronicles though.



An interesting twist on the normal secondary school teen drama. It's the week  of Xanthe's  thirteenth birthday and the first week back at school. Her best friend is amazing, the boy she likes finally likes her back and life is pretty sweet but Kelly has it out for her and things are about to take a turn for the worst.

As accidents begin to happen and Kelly keeps getting Xanthe in to trouble  she begins to think this isn't going to be her year but a frank conversation with her great grandmother changes her whole world. A funny and realistic portrayal of school life with a bit of supernatural thrown in.. a brilliant page turner for 9yrs+

An ironic choice of book over the Valentine's week... A comical and contemporary look at women over 35 who haven't managed to find 'the one' yet. 

Amelia Lockwood is 37, has friends to die for, a high-flying job in TV but no-one to wake up. That is all going to change when she goes on a night course guaranteed to find her a man to marry before the year is out. What ensues is a plotted history of Amelia's disastrous exes who she has to track down and ask 'what went wrong?'. With a monk, an out-and out gay guy and a mental patient in her history what will Amelia's dating future bring and will she be able to handle it? 


The spell has been broken - I have found a William Nicholson book I did not fall in love with... ironic really given it's title. This is one of Nicholson's earlier offerings which left me feeling very little of anything. Bron is nearing his thirtieth birthday and has never found the woman to who he can say those three little words .. so what does he do? He writes a book about it naturally! Bron's research into love at first sight sets him on a journey with the femme fatale Flora who doesn't believe in love but he is desperate to change her mind. The writing is classic Nicholson but I felt that something was missing. He does ensemble novels so well and yet this one plot just didn't have any heart in it. Bron is a likeable enough character but you just feel the need to shake him and tell him to get over it... mind you haven't we all wanted to do that to one of our friends at one point or another?