INSIGHT


‘‘ President’s view


The power of communities L


IKE many, I was profoundly shocked by the riots and violence which ravaged parts of our country earlier


this month following the tragic deaths of three small children in Southport, attending an event in a place where they should have been safe. This couldn’t be happening in our country, I felt. I was both horrified and, for a while, ashamed to be British. However, over the following few days, we saw the impact of community spirit, with people coming forward and saying, “Not in my name” and working together to repair what damage they could. One shining example occurred after the senseless burning and destruction of Spellow Library and Community Centre in Liverpool.


Campaign


We frequently point to the adverse effects that social media and the internet can have, but this also illustrates its power as a force for good. Alex McCormick started an appeal to help Spellow Library start to rebuild. She hoped to raise £500 and in effect raised close to a staggering £250,000. She also received promises of books from nearly 200 authors and publishers to help replenish stock, as well as community support in beginning the clear up. Influencers such as Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the current Children’s Laureate, also highlighted the campaign. Ultimately, it was featured in several mainstream news reports on different channels and on Newsnight.


This was astonishing, completely heartwarming and a shining example of community spirit. It also demonstrated clearly that libraries are


14 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL


valued and cherished as an integral part of community infrastructure, they matter to people. They embody that sense of community because libraries are ultimately places that belong to their communities and are shaped by community need.


In the recently published 2023 Ipsos Mori Veracity poll, library staff are the third most trusted profession to give accurate information. The events of the past weeks have proved incontrovertibly that facts matter – that misinformation can incite violence and lead to terrible destruction and tragedy. Library staff sit at the heart of their community and have unparalleled ability to counter fake news and misinformation at grass roots level. They also promote an environment of mutual respect and inclusivity, pointing to the sources of information that encourage understanding not hatred.


Message


So often we see and hear of protests when an individual library is scheduled for closure or reduction in hours. Politicians see this as negative and toxic publicity, yet here we have a stellar example of the reverse effect, the ability of love for their local library to bring people together as a force for good. We should capitalise on that now, while not minimising the devastating events that led to this coming together.


One way we can do that is to reinforce the message that the library community is a strong one that works together to support government in the key areas of education, health and business development.


We have a unique ability to reach millions of people through our school libraries, our public libraries, our


Sue Williamson is CILIP President.


academic libraries, our health libraries and our specialist libraries, such as the House of Commons Library that ultimately keeps our legislators informed. The CILIP Libraries Change Lives campaign has elicited over 180 individual stories that reflect this. We can use them to illustrate the community impact that libraries have with our politicians, both local and national.


Community reach


Over the coming months, we need to position ourselves prominently as the force for impact in our communities that we are, by constantly reinforcing the mantra “We can do that” when government is looking for ways to reach communities. The Spellow Library example has proved the concept in spades. Our conference and member network programmes help us develop the offer.


This has never been more important at a time when so many library services across the sector are under threat of reductions in staffing and hours and ultimately of closure. The way to fight this is ultimately to show value, ability to contribute and the benefits of investment in all libraries in all settings. IP


September 2024


Library staff sit at the heart of their community and have unparalleled ability to counter fake news and misinformation at grass roots level.


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