Get it Loud in Cheshire Libraries
In 2007 Cheshire was offered the opportunity to host a gig as part of the Get it Loud in Libraries project set up by Lancaster Music Library, an initiative to encourage hard to reach teenagers and adults back into libraries. The up-and-coming band had just been signed by Mercury records, and was embarking on a UK tour of libraries from Edinburgh to Newport. The music was described as eclectic, a cross-pollination of hip hop and reggae, with bass, steel pans, electric drums, percussion and piano to be taken into consideration. The choice of venue was fortuitous with marvellous staff who were enthusiastic about live music and prepared to give up their day off to act as roadies, provide home cooked chilli and source all the rider requirements, (fluffy white towels, Fair Trade chocolate, Cuban cigars etc). Their energy and enthusiasm was infectious, 140 tickets sold out within a week and it seemed like the whole town was coming into the library to find out what was going on.
The gig was on a Wednesday, chosen because the library is not open to the public so allowing plenty of time to move PCs out the way, set up a bar, and create a performance space - the mosh pit was in the children's area! Roadies and the band arrived mid-afternoon and spent time inspecting the shelves and commenting favourably on the selection of DVDs and computer games.
How does this fit into your reader development remit?
This question was asked half way through the set by a librarian and in the excitement of the moment went unanswered but not unnoticed. In terms of increased book issues the project was a complete failure, but as a means of engaging with the community, raising the profile of the library service, and trying something new, an overwhelming success. This event attracted a very different audience to author events, largely aged 20 - 45, with a number of teenagers from the two local high schools. A member of the audience came up to me at the end of the evening with a gleam in his eye: "I want to thank you, this is the best thing that's ever happened to this town!" What higher praise could you ask for from your users? A local paper chose to reflect on the changing role of libraries in the following lighthearted but positive way.
"What next - pole dancing in the register officer?"
"An R & B band have been booked to perform in Sandbach Library. Since reading this I have been trying to picture the look on my old librarian Miss Crawshaw's face if members of a modern beat combo of any species wheeled their instruments and sound equipment into her jealously guarded domain. Would she go for them with a rolled umbrella, or bombard them with volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica? The former I should imagine, because it would go right against the grain for Miss Crawshaw to deploy volumes from the reference section as offensive weapons. But she'd certainly see them off before they had the chance to contaminate the premises with the likes of Little Red Rooster or Smokestack Lightning . . . Our village librarian had firm ideas about the library's role in the community, and they did not include hosting gigs by R & B groups. A tall bony woman, Miss Cranshaw frowned on people speaking in the library, let alone singing. Coughing, wheezing, sneezing or audibly breaking wind could get you slung out. It's hard to envisage her entertaining any kind of musical ensemble, from string quartets to Irish harpists. One year, she even ordered some carol singers to move on. Of course, IÕm fully aware that public libraries have changed out of all recognition since the days when I silently picked up my weekly fix of Enid Blyton. But I'd no idea that they now doubled as rock venues."
Alan Cookman, The Sentinel
If only Miss Cranshaw was available for comment.
Get it Loud in Libraries went on to attract national attention by winning the Love Libraries award later in the year and it was gratifying to have participated in the first national tour. Cheshire is hosting a second event in March: Royworld will appear at Neston Library on March 31st to kick off the county's programme of reader development events for National Year of Reading 2008.
Huge thanks are due to Stewart Parsons for dreaming up Get it Loud in Libraries, and to the fabulous staff at Sandbach - Cath, Gill, Jane, Tom, Sheila and Ruth, and their group librarian Sheila for her support. The only regret - that a little known singer, Adele, who was to be the support act was delayed on the M6 by a chemical spill - she has certainly made the headlines this year. And we'd nipped across the road to borrow a bar stool from a pub!
