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Peter Gaw

Chief Executive Officer

LGA / ACE : Library Advocacy Webinar : Education and Skills

Peter Gaw – Chief Executive Officer

LIBRARIES DELIVER • Universal Offers (learning runs through them all )

• Street corner university – life long learning – family learning

• Progression – from fun palace to HE

• Space for the individual

• Digital access / Wi-Fi / devices to young people – looking at adult learners

• IAG – Information , Advice and Guidance – MATRIX standard

• Library design to reflect – ‘where playground and classroom meet’

• Customer journey – single booking route

• Alignment ( not merger ) of cultural and learning offer

• Use of ‘Inspire’ expertise – e.g. youth arts / music hub /

• Passion for power of reading – especially for children – e.g. Bookstart 100% target – RR&R all sites –35% of floor space

• Library resources and services promoted by tutors and integrated into the curriculum

Our mission is to inspire people to read,

learn and enjoy culture

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Our approach as a library service is to be at the heart of communities providing an ‘ alignment’ ( gateway / hub ) of

arts, cultural, heritage, learning and library services.

Less worried about the boundaries or funding , but focus on the customer and learner journey –

SUPPORTING LEARNING AND SKILLS

LOCKDOWN

• Pre emptied lock down – 2 days of additional loans ( 50% +)

• Massive move to deliver expanded virtual offer – original and 3rd party content – from rhyme time , virtual exhibitions , writer in residence project, animation & craft workshops, theatre , audio adaptations, VE & VJ days, Mayflower 400 +++++

• Learning courses 98% online from 1st June

• ASK – enquiry, information and helpline

• Home delivery – volunteering via community hub

• Individual acts of concern, kindness and service delivery

• Staff were made available to support council and community hub

• Services to schools ( libraries and music ) carried on

• Re opening plans agreed and published early – ‘fullest’ safe offer from day 1

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#INSPIREONLINE

• Formal annual report to council committee – for Inspire and Learning

• Inspire Awards ( includes education and skills categories )

• Ensuring councillors see the offer and have a role in owning and promoting it

• Being there – e.g. County Showcase , Glowworm festival, Jobs Fairs / Freshers

• Facts and case studies ( voice of the learner )

• Show and tell – touch and feel – key stakeholders – potential funders

• Share compliments and comments from customers and learners

• Post 1st lockdown – direct marketing + communications with stakeholders (inc Cllrs ) – combined positive ‘brand’ impact

• Showing ‘off’ the model on behalf of council – Ofsted / ESFA / LGA !

• Awards and accreditation - Matrix / CSE / Family Arts Award

• Partnering – CSP – CEP – Districts – Providers – Private sector – Volunteers – Inspire members – NHS – Public Health – 3rd Sector /Charities – Schools – Universities

• Media

• Social media

ADVOCACY

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So far

NTU – power to convene

Towns Funds / Districts

LEP – D2N2

Board and Learning committee networks

Council – councillors / senior officers

Inspire staff / customers and learners becoming advocates

MOST IMPORTANT

• Never ending

• Changes in personnel and priorities

• Perceptions of libraries

• Personal experiences / need of libraries

• Time on all sides – trust / motivation

• Capacity to deliver

CHALLENGES

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• Libraries see and value their unique role in education and skills

• Building confidence to refer, signpost and recommend training courses and providers

• Value learning colleagues – cross promote / sell opportunities

• Link library resources to learning programme and to leaners

• All staff (including library staff ) have one free learning course per year

• Libraries valued for their digital and data inclusion role

• Good clear communications – reputation to respond and deliver

• Post covid – on front foot – responding to economic and wellbeing agenda inline with council covid recovery plan

• Good position in council – reflected by contract renewal and strong cross party support

AFFECT ON HOW WE WORK AND OUR POSITION IN THE COUNCIL

• Too early to say ! …feels positive if we seize opportunities – get on the front foot

• Digital and data exclusion /poverty , digital skills – zero to L5 ( more than PN !)

• Online economy – 80% of all web video by ?

• Permanent shift – acceleration of trends to higher tech ( AI / AR )

• Demand for training and resources – and accreditation

• Need for reading recovery school age children

• Adult literacy and basic skills

• Wellbeing / community resilience

• Libraries as Kickstart and apprentice provider

IMPACT OF COVID ON EDUCATION AND SKILLS

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Peter Gaw

Chief Executive Officer

COVID 19 RECOVERY FOCUS

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Peter Gaw

Chief Executive Officer

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