support and a sense of community at a difficult time in their lives”.
The visit by Simon Armitage brought an additional element to one of those sessions, and its impact has lasted well beyond.
“The attendees were very engaged and when Simon Armitage started to speak there was total silence. During the event it was obvious that they were enjoying the experience, and everyone was focussed on his words. They enjoyed the humour of the poems, and many of them have said that they will read more poetry now and will try writing poetry too. We need to improve literacy in prisons, and encour- aging women to try to write and to enjoy poetry is an excellent impact from this activity. The event also attracted other prisoners from outside the group who wouldn’t normally attend something like this, and also some prison staff, so it created a shared event that could be enjoyed by all and provided a talking point for many of them who might not otherwise interact.”
Warwickshire Libraries, Reluc- tant Reader Chatterbooks Reading for pleasure has a huge influence over life chances and social mobility, according to research from The Reading Agency (https://readingagency.
org.uk/our-work/our-research/reading-facts/). This means that reluctant readers are put at an immediate disadvantage – and libraries are there to help children develop that love of reading. Public libraries are there from the start to help families discover books that they love, but they are also there as children grow older. And Warwick- shire Libraries has partnered with local schools to help reluctant readers in Key Stage 2 to develop their reading skills. The library service invited local school children to take part in specially created engagement sessions focusing on fun activities linked to popular books. All participating schools reported a positive impact on children’s read- ing, and two of the three participating schools have made library visits part of their school timetable, giving every child a chance to visit. The library has
Ayesha Patel at the Darwen Library.
also seen child participants bringing family members into a library for the first time.
Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Service – Work expe- rience, placements and voluntary opportunities
Darwen Library in Lancashire has devel- oped opportunities to help students find work placements, work experience and volunteering opportunities within the li- brary. The scheme saw college and school students take part, and also provided a volunteer place for a medical student, named Ayesha.
Speaking about the impact of the scheme one of the librarians at Darwen said: “I knew Ayesha would benefit significantly by spending time in a public library. Through this opportunity not only would her life be changed but that she would go on to change the lives of countless others as a knowledge- able and well-rounded medical professional with a keen understanding of the role of community-based activity in health and social care.
“This opportunity has given Ayesha skills and knowledge she will take into her future as a medical professional. Ayesha was able to interact with service users developing her confidence and commu- nication skills with people of all ages. She supported numerous activities and events developing her understanding of how services within communities can help people to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.”
Warwickshire young readers. June 2024
Blackpool Libraries – Layton Library: A warm welcome everyday People visit libraries for many reasons – from holiday reading to researching information before starting a new busi- ness. But for many visitors, the library is about more than what services are
available and what you can do there. It is about the human touch, and making connections beyond your own four walls. This story from Layton Library in Blackpool, reveals a small insight into the intangible impact of libraries on people’s lives, told by one of Layton Library librari- ans: “One day in late 2023, a lady and her baby came into the library and wandered off into the children’s area. A little while later, she approached the desk and spoke with [staff members] Sandeep and Janine, who were on duty that day.
“She explained that she has suffered with terrible post-natal depression, leading to agoraphobia. Her health vis- itor suggested she try to visit the library as she had heard really good things about it. The lady explained that she had been very fearful of coming in, but that due to the warm welcome given by the staff, it immediately alleviated her tension and she felt safe to stay a while. She had taken a photo of herself in the library to send to her health visitor. “She said that the visit had been so life changing for her, that she could not be more grateful to the staff and how they had made her feel. This simply high- lighted the fact that a library can make a difference to someone every day, tackling loneliness and isolation and improving resilience.”
Find out more about the great work being done in Libraries across the UK a
www.cilip.org.uk/libraries-change-lives-map and add your own stories of impact by visit- ing
www.cilip.org.uk/libraries-change-lives. IP
l Don’t forget that Green Librar- ies Week will be taking place in the first week of October, giving your service the chance to shout about its sustainable and environ- mental achievements.
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 19
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