Everybody's Reading Toolkit
BLACKPOOL
Project 1 - Young people's Welcome Pack
Aims
To encourage new membership for people aged 16-25yrs
Where
Blackpool Libraries
Target groups
Young people aged 16-25yrs
What took place
'The joining pack is a wallet which has freebies in... we used to include free visit to football club, 2 for 1 ten pin bowling, free video and cd loan and reserve. I now only include video cd loan and reserve and sports development thing because it took a lot of time keeping up with the rest and I want to concentrate on other things. The actual joining pack looks better... we use an envelope size wallet from the stationery box, which costs about 30p.'
Strengths
- Something to offer when out.
- Register people remotely and say they can have when they collect card.
- Involvement with other agencies such as leisure centres
- People who join feel valued.
- Encourages initial use
Weaknesses
Can take ages if you make putting a joining pack together a priority
Project 2 - The Millennium Volunteers
Aims
To consult young people for ideas
To involve them actively in the project for publicity and planning
Where
Blackpool Libraries
What took place
'I have had two seventeen year old Millennium Volunteers working alongside me on the project. They have been invaluable as a source of ideas and also as a sounding board for my ideas. They have chosen stock, and made active suggestions about arrangement. They have helped obtain funding and encouraged their friends to attend events. The volunteers have a special flair for publicity and their presence in the library and in the publicity helps create the right ambience.'
Tips, strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
Access and communication with a large group of young people and also with a well funded organisation.
Support
Access to a brainstorming group... if they own an event they will promote it with their mates and they are better in publicity shots etc... enthusiasm, excitement, seeing things with new eyes, originality.
Weaknesses
The basic disadvantage is the same with all volunteers that is that participation is voluntary and depends on other things such as exams etc.
Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.