Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Changing Face of libraries
Ayub Khan
Head of Warwickshire Libraries (Strategy)
28th Jan 2009
West Midlands Branch – Members’ Day & AGM
Social Inclusion
Why Social Inclusion ? Social inclusion in context Libraries for All Challenges for Libraries Example – Migrant workers
The World Today….
57 Asians 21 Europeans 14 from the Western
hemisphere, both north and south
8 Africans 52 would be female 48 would be male 70 would be non-white 30 would be white 70 would be non-Christian 30 would be Christian 89 would be heterosexual 11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth
and all six would come from the United States
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read 50 would suffer from
malnutrition 1 would be near death, 1
would be near birth 1 (yes, only 1) would have a
college education 1 would own a computer
Even the Most…
"Even the most misfitting childWho’s chanced upon the library’s worth Sits with the genius of the earthAnd turns the key to the whole world".
Ted Huges - Poet
Key Facts – Diversity
BMEDisabilityOlder peopleGenderReligion & beliefSexuality
Skills & Economy
Today, the British economy has just 9 million highly skilled jobs.
By 2020 it will need 14 million highly skilled workers
And of the 3.4 million unskilled jobs today, we will need only 600,000 by 2020
HM Treasury, UK 2006
It’s probably one of the best anti-poverty, anti-deprivation, anti-crime, anti-vandalism policies. Prime Minister,
The Right Honourable, Gordon Brown National Year of Reading event, January 2008
The message…..Reading
Why Social Inclusion?
Public libraries are local, highly respected institutions, 60% of the population of England are Library members (3,600 access points). Changing population..decline use
Public Library and Museums Act 1964
Review of Annual Library Plans concluded “Social inclusion was scored poorly”
DCMS Policy Action Team Social Inclusion
Cabinet Office Social Inclusion Unit
Top of Governments agenda
Business Sense : Diversity
Changing Population / needs Ageing Workforce (new employees from a
broad a pool as possible) Increase employee retention and satisfaction Knowledge and Understanding in the
organisation Helps avoid claims of unlawful discrimination Legislation Skills & talent
The Law
Equal Pay Act (1970) Sex discrimination Act (1975) Race relations Act (1976) Disability discrimination Act (1995) Human Rights Act (1998) Disability Rights Commission Act (1999) Race Relations Amendment Act (2000) Employment Equality (religion or belief) Employment Equality (sexual orientation) Age discrimination – EU due 2006
Social exclusion or inclusion?
Definition
A short-hand label for what can happen when individuals or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low income, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown."
Context
Social Exclusion linked to problems with :
Poor educational achievement Poor employment prospects Poor Health and mobility Bad housing
Groups such as…
Prisoners Black & Minority
ethnic Groups Refugees & asylum
seekers Travellers (Children in Care) Basic Skills/ESL
People with disabilities Elderly Unemployed (Children & Young
People) Rural Isolation Gay and Lesbians People with Mental
Health
New Perspective
Not just black and white
Refugees – including European
Mixed race (single biggest group)
Religion & Culture
Libraries for All: Social Inclusion in Public Libraries
Policy Guidance for Local Authorities in England
OCTOBER 1999
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Libraries for All : Social Inclusion in Public Libraries
Barriers to keeping people away
Institutional e.g opening hours, staff attitude, rules and regulations, charges, book stock policy, facilities e.g disabled access access
Personal and Social e.g lack of basic skills (reading, writing), low income and poverty, lack of permanent address
Barriers to keeping people away
Perceptions and awareness e.g people who are educationally disadvantaged, people who don’t think libraries are relevant to their lives or needs, lack of knowledge of facilities and services, or how to use them
Environmental e.g difficult access to building, poor transport links, institutional nature of building
Libraries should:
Make services mainstream Consult groups Develop new services Co-locate with others services Provide free ICT access Improve opening hours to meet needs Locate libraries where there is a demand Work in partnership with others
Achieving Social Inclusion
Identify those socially excluded Reviewing current practice Set objectives and priorities Develop & train staff Implement action plans Marketing & promotions Evaluate & review services
About the County
Warwickshire has a rich heritage and is the homeof many famous people, places and historical events
About the County
Warwickshire has over half a million
people
Households and people are projected to rise faster than the
national average
The County has large numbers of people over 85
About the County
There are no cities in Warwickshire but there areeight settlements with more than 10,000 people
AtherstoneBedworthKenilworthRoyal Leamington SpaNuneatonRugbyStratford-upon-AvonWarwick
About the County
Most settlements are villages with less than 10,000 people
About the County
Warwickshire is one of the fastest growing regions in the UK with many national and international companies
About the County
Warwickshire has numerous attractions and the visitor economy exceeds £600 million per year
Source: UKTS/IPS
About the County
andLibrary Services in Warwickshire
Migrant Workers
“What are the
future challenges?”
migrant workers?”“What do we know about
library services?”“How do migrant workers interact with
Migrant Workers
What do we know about
Migrant workers?
What do we know about migrant workers?
The number of migrant workers in the West Midlands has increased since 2002
when people from the A8 Accession countries were granted access to the UK labour market
Rates of Increase
Rates of Increase
From 23,400 in 2003
National Insurance registrations of overseas nationals have almost doubled in the past four years:
to 48,000 in 2007(a similar rate of increase to the UK average)
What do we know about migrant workers?
Economic motives for coming to the UK predominate amongst migrants in theWest Midlands Migrant Worker Survey
Economic Incentives
(Conducted by Advantage West Midlands and the LSC)
What do we know about migrant workers?
Migrant workers are disproportionately clustered in low-wage sectors and occupations
Low Pay ConditionsWhat do we know about migrant workers?
Three-quarters of people in theWest Midlands Migrant Worker Survey
had not brought family members to the UKand few planned to do so in future.
SingleWhat do we know about migrant workers?
In general there are around3 males to every 2 females.
Gender BiasWhat do we know about migrant workers?
40% are aged under 25 years
Young People
Migrant workers are predominantly young:
and a further 40% are aged 25-34 years
What do we know about migrant workers?
Poles account for the largest single national group of labour migrants in the West Midlands,
followed by Indians.
Polska?What do we know about migrant workers?
6.33020Pakistan8.64130India38.818630Poland48030West Midlands
3.850Portugal10.8140Slovakia52.3680Poland1300Rugby
4.350Germany8.7100India33.0380Poland1150Warwick
10.9230India13.7290Slovakia57.5730Poland1270Stratford-on-Avon
11.970Nepal11.970India47.5280Poland590Nuneaton & Bedworth
5.310South Africa
10.520India52.6100Poland190North Warwickshire
%Nos.3rd Largest%Nos.2nd
Largest%Nos.LargestTotalDistrict
Three largest overseas nationalities registering for a National Insurance Number (NINo) in 2006/07
Warwickshire’s WorkersWhat do we know about migrant workers?
Warwickshire’s economic landscape isconducive to the settlement of migrant workersand the County has ‘migrant-dense’ industries
Warwickshire’s EconomyWhat are the future challenges?
Warwickshire’s Economy
The Northern half of Warwickshire has traditionally been dominated by manufacturing industries and
the Southern half is largely agricultural
What are the future challenges?
The median duration of stay for the migrant workers surveyed was 17 months
Short StayWhat do we know about migrant workers?
Migrant workers from the New Commonwealth are amongst the most likely to contemplate
permanent settlement
CitizenshipWhat do we know about migrant workers?
..interact with library services?
How do migrant workers..
Our Libraries hold events and promotions relating to the root culture of migrant workers.
Home ComfortsLibraries and Migrant Workers
Like this Polish evening at Nuneaton Library
Our Libraries provide a nurturing environment where migrant workers can network
and integrate with local people
Shared SpacesLibraries and Migrant Workers
Our Libraries help migrant workers to find their feet with access to impartial advice and
practical information.
Survival SkillsLibraries and Migrant Workers
We have memberships forms and leaflets in12 different languages
Information in Other LanguagesLibraries and Migrant Workers
We have a wide range of books, newspapers and magazines in other languages (including fiction,
non-fiction, children’s and large print)
Products in Other LanguagesLibraries and Migrant Workers
Launch of collections
We provide collections of materials to support the ESOL scheme across the County
ESOL and Dual Language BooksLibraries and Migrant Workers
Customer Service
Helpful staff with local knowledge
Libraries and Migrant Workers
We provide help desks with information professionalswho can refer migrant workers to useful organisations
Information ProfessionalsLibraries and Migrant Workers
We know from experience that our People’s Network computers are a vital means of
communication for migrant workers
People’s Network ComputersLibraries and Migrant Workers
Work and Housing
Our computers are used by migrant workers to findaccommodation and jobs.
Libraries and Migrant Workers
CVs and Printers
Migrant workers can get help with writing CVsThey also rely on our printers and fax machines
Libraries and Migrant Workers
Personal Well Being
Our computers are used by migrant workersto keep in touch with friends and family back home
Libraries and Migrant Workers
Community Information
Warwickshire Library & Information Service pioneered the Community Information Database
Putting migrant workers in touch withlocal groups and organisations
Libraries and Migrant Workers
Our Library website provides links totrusted organisations and services
Virtual Library (24/7)Libraries and Migrant Workers
Some of the many resources migrant workers make use of in Warwickshire Libraries
Our Support Services
Integration Information
FacilitationCommunication
SociabilityNetwork Guidance
Advice
Libraries and Migrant Workers
..future challenges?
What are the..
There is a need to address shortcomings in official statistics and improve information on
international migration.
Bridging the Knowledge GapWhat are the future challenges?
The speed of change in some areas and uncertainty about migrant numbers poses ongoing challenges for service providers
Speed of ChangeWhat are the future challenges?
There is an economic risk that the number of migrant workers will decrease in the future
and lead to a change in demographic profile
Dramatic changeWhat are the future challenges?
There are emerging resources and websitesthat strategic policy makers need to tap into
Emerging resourcesWhat are the future challenges?
Broader challengesWhat are the future challenges?
In terms of community cohesion, tensions have been noted between:
Tensions
migrant workers and the indigenous population
migrant workers and refugees/asylum seekers
migrant workers and ethnic minorities
groups of migrant workers
established and new members of the same national group
permanent and agency staff
What are the future challenges?
An influx of migrant workers has led to increased pressure on private rented accommodation
AccommodationWhat are the future challenges?
Housing Pressures
Over time, migrant workers may seek accommodation in the social-rented sector where demand is high and supply is limited
Economic Pressures
Migrant workers could have an impact on employment rates for other workers,
especially those in the low-skills sector
What are the future challenges?
Language Barriers
The survey of migrant workers in the West Midlands reveals that many workers had not been offered help with improving their English language skills
What are the future challenges?
Up-skill
Many migrant workers are interested indeveloping new skills and improving their English.
What are the future challenges?
Lost in Translation
Making robust comparisons between the qualifications of migrant workers and the general
population is problematic.
What are the future challenges?
Lost in Translation
Better utilisation of migrant workers’ skillsis likely to involve:
qualification recognition skills recognitiondevelopment of language skillspolicies to facilitate progression in employment
What are the future challenges?
..the Library & Information Service
Potential strategies for..
Improve signposting to learning providers and support agencies
Train staff so they can better understand and engage with migrant workers
Implement a customer service policy that is sensitive to the needs of migrant workers
Planning Ahead
Potential strategies for theLibrary & Information Service to consider:
What are the future challenges?
Offer work placementsFacilitate social activities in Library venuesCreate a dedicated ‘welcome’ section on the
Library website
Planning Ahead
Potential strategies for theLibrary & Information Service to consider:
What are the future challenges?
Improve and update intelligence gathering Respond to sudden changes in the
demographic profile of migrant workers Identify pockets of migrant workers at
neighbourhood level
Planning Ahead
Potential strategies for theLibrary & Information Service to consider:
What are the future challenges?
