Positive Action Traineeships in NW Libraries - Case Study
4. Benefits to Library Services
Particular highlights of both traineeships were the community cultural evenings organised by the trainees at the end of their traineeships. Shaaheda organised a Bollywood event in partnership with Penguin India, which was attended by around 80 people who were given the opportunity to suggest stock from Penguin's catalogue they would like to see made available in the library. This stock has since been purchased.
Mahtab organised an Iranian cultural evening also attended by over 80 members of the local community and including the three local councillors, the purpose of which was to promote an extensive collection of Farsi Literature being made available at Kensington Library for the first time.
Both traineeships clearly met the aim stated in the proposal that they would take a critical look at local provision of BME stock and relevant outreach activity. With support from local staff they will aim to strengthen existing contacts with local BME organisations and community groups, and if possible identify potential new partners
Both trainees made contacts with a range of community organisations which library services want to remain in contact with. While this will be difficult in the absence of someone with the dedicated time available, I am confident that some partnerships will be maintained. The staff in both libraries where trainees have worked, have developed new confidence in welcoming borrowers brought into the library for the first time by the trainees. A cultural awareness training package about Iran, its history and culture, worked up by Mahtab was particularly useful in extending staff's awareness and knowledge. Mahtab was invited into neighbouring Halton Libraries to deliver this package as well, thereby extending its impact to another group of staff.
New community contacts made for the library service by Shaaheda included: PCT representative, NHS Mental Health nurse, Outreach Worker, ESOL Tutor, Volunteers at Rossendale Ladies Circle, Breast Feeding Awareness Group, Local Artists, Rawtenstall Asian Women's Group, Rawtenstall Girls Youth Group, Asian Women's Group at Mary Hindle Centre
Mahtab's contacts included: Iranian Christian Group, Farsi Magazine publisher, Somali Community Group, City Church ESOL class, Chinese Gospel Church, South Liverpool Personnel
In both cases the trainees made many contacts with individuals not necessarily affiliated to local organisations, and who benefited from contact with staff who were able to explain and make relevant library services available to them. In Kensington Library, staff noticed a marked increase in visits by people from the Iranian and Afghani communities who came to the library in the confidence of knowing that they would find someone there who could speak to them in a language they would understand.
The trainees offered fresh and objective insight into how library services are perceived within certain community sectors. They managed to establish new community links which should be sustainable. Both trainees have stated they want to remain in contact with the library services they worked with. Both should be able to do this as part of their new jobs. In Liverpool Mahtab has been invited to participate in a community consultation panel, representing the Iranian community.
