Historic Ashton Central Library - Closed February 2019
NORTHERN VOICES has learned that the findings of a survey, 'Open Libraries Plus, Evolution And Review', which closed on 5th February 2018, was not made public by Tameside Council despite the council having a policy of 'Engagement' - "the continuous conversation with and involvement of stakeholders and residents" and its 'Big Conversation'.
The survey which was undertaken over a four week period from 9 January 2018 to 5 February 2018, by Tameside Libraries into 'Open +' - their unstaffed, do-it-yourself library system - was intended to assess how the system was working and public attitudes towards it. The new library system was rolled out across eight libraries in 2018. Although Tameside Libraries have stated:
"The purpose of collecting the information was to assist officers in understanding people's views of using Open+, it was not necessary to put this in the public realm", it is clear from reading the survey, and the comments made by those who participated in it, that the vast majority of people have expressed dissatisfaction with unstaffed libraries in Tameside, and are highly critical of it. Despite what the library service say, they seem to have just buried bad news.
Some 145 people responded to the survey, but when asked how many questionnaires had been distributed, Tameside Libraries were unable to answer the question. When asked which library people used most often, Stalybridge was the most used library in Tameside, followed by Hyde, Dukinfield, Droylsden, Denton and central library in Ashton-under-Lyne.
When asked during which hours do you normally use the library, only 19 people (13.38%), out of 142 responses, said they used the library during Open+ hours. 57 said they used it during staffed hours and 66 during both staffed and Open+ hours.
Tameside Libraries were keen to stress that the responses to the survey did not represent the total users of Open+ only the ones that completed the survey, adding: "66 survey responders also indicated that they used the library in both staffed and Open+ mode."
A question about how helpful the induction by library staff to Open+ was, elicited 79 responses with 66 skipping the question. 42 (53.16%) thought it very helpful and 10 (12.66%), unhelpful. When asked why they found the induction helpful and how it could be made better, only 9 answered and 136 skipped the question. Some of the comments left by respondents, were as follows:
"As always staff at Stalybridge brilliant." "I feel that older generation was not informed. They were told it was 'online and Facebook', but not many people that age access Facebook. The older people have followed us into the library, they have been very confused. I have spent more time explaining Open+ than doing my job teaching." "Don't want unstaffed libraries." "Libraries without people are merely shells."
When asked which library service people mainly used during Open+ hours, 71 answered and 74 skipped the question. 60 (84.51%), said they borrowed, returned or renewed items, paid charges and used self-service machines during Open + hours. 31 (43.66%), said they picked up or borrowed or reserved items and 14 (19.72%), said they used Open+ hours to use public computers and the scanner. Only 8 (11.27%), said they used Open+ hours to access Wifi. One respondent left the following comment:
"I cannot access Wifi. The computers have gone down on numerous occasions which has had a huge impact on my student who has (SE MS) needs."
The question "How easy have you found it to access the library during Open+ hours?" was answered by 73 and skipped by 72. 33 (45.21%) said very easy and 11 (15.07%) said it was difficult with ten (13.70%), saying very difficult. 29 (40.28%) said they had found the extended Open+ hours very useful and 13 (18.06%), not useful at all.
When asked to say why they had found using Open+ useful, 47 answered the question and 98 skipped answering it. 21 (44.68%) said the library was quieter in Open+ hours. 34 (72.34%), thought there was more opportunity to use the library due to longer opening hours, and 20 (42.55%) thought the new times worked better around their lives. One respondent said:
"We have had numerous problems being locked out, being tailgated, being followed, being verbally abused. No internet. The only good thing about it are the staff, They are lovely and helpful."
Another respondent said: "I do not like Open+, I much prefer to deal with human beings. When library users were asked (Question 9), "Are there any other comments you would like to make about Open+ or any suggestions for improvement, 53 answered and 92 skipped answering. Of the 53 responses the vast majority of responses (50), were negative. There are comments about personal safety:
"We do not feel safe!", "There has been no thought for personal safety, it's a crazy idea." "I don't use the library much at all now. Don't feel safe. Thanks for excluding us from libraries now. Not happy!" "Stalybridge library is only open till 7.00 because of gates, not good for me. The library is ghostly when it is empty of customers. You should have at least one person here. I feel vulnerable..." "I don't want to go into an empty building with no life. Not to mention the safety aspect too." "I was tailgated despite challenging person." "Takes some getting used to, to be alone in a public space in the evening. I do not linger like I would during staffed hours..." "I am very concerned about personal safety when using the library when it is unstaffed." "As a female I feel uncomfortable attending the library during unmanned hours."
Although Tameside libraries have said that they don't consider female library users to be at risk during Open+ hours they have also said that they consider children under 16 to be at risk, even with live CCTV monitoring. Therefore, they have to be accompanied by an adult during Open+ hours. Tameside libraries also say: "Men are more likely to use an unsupervised library building than females" (Report to Executive Cabinet 14/12/2016) but they don't say why they feel this is the case. However, there is recognition that some people may feel unsafe during Open+ hours. Tameside's active library users are predominately female (59.8%), and it is likely that many of the above comments about fears for safety, reflect the views of female library users.
Though several respondents expressed positive views about Open+ "The new hours work brilliant for me. I visited last week during Open+ hours and found the library empty and quiet..." others wanted to see more staff in libraries and felt that libraries should be an opportunity for human contact and interaction, "It is far better to deal with humans (librarians) rather than machines", said one respondent. Some respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the technology that was sometimes faulty.
The survey findings which are consistent with other previous surveys, show that library users are predominately from a white background with (90.9%) identifying as such. They are also largely female - 16,193 active library users. Overall, there are 27,079 active library users. Tameside's population is predominately white. The largest BME group in Tameside are Asian/Asian British (8.94%). As of 30/11/2018, 3,074 female library users had registered for Open+ and 1,784 male library users. Tameside Libraries also pointed out that 79 library users had declined to indicate whether they were male or female.
The former leader of Tameside Council, Kieran Quinn, when launching the 'Big Conversation', said: "It's not about withdrawing services, its about redesigning services." The council closed fived libraries in 2012, following a comprehensive review. Staff were cut and hours were reduced at the remaining eight libraries. There were originally 22 libraries in Tameside ( a reduction of 64%) and most of these were closed well before the CONDEM government in 2010, introduced austerity measures. Not only have hours and staff been cut, but also publications. In 1983, Ashton reference library had 130 magazine publications and this was down to about 30 in 2016. I recently visited Ashton reference library and asked to see a copy of the reference book 'Who's Who'. I was told it was in the cellar and that the library hadn't updated it since 2015. This is what Tameside Council call libraries fit for the 21st century. What we're witnessing with Open+ is the dissolution of the Libraries in Tameside by a Labour council that doesn't read books and is as thick as a book end.
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2 comments:
Great article on the demise of the library service in Tameside. An indictment of the current regime that free access to learning and education is being undermined and that these so called consultation processes are limited. They clearly do serve the principle of democratic participation.
The ambiance of and the architectural engagement of the Ashton library, being replaced by a souless space, that does not lend itself to intellectual engagement , unfortunately, seems so typical of the myopic approach of so many decision makers these days.
The new library facility in Ashton is now open 6-days a week and they've made a decent job of it. I've never had any difficulty accessing a computer.However,there have been instances where access to computers has been difficult such as when they have run computer courses. TMBC want to encourage children to use the library but was it wise to bring in, as they did several weeks ago, a children's entertainer who caused such a racket with the kids as people were trying to read the newspapers or were on the computers. By all means encourage the kids, but is this kind of activity really appropriate in a public library? Since the introduction of Open+ I've stopped using other libraries in Tameside.
A friend told me recently that he'd been in a Tameside library when there were 3 people in the building including himself. Apparently,one of the customers during a conversation with him, revealed he'd just come out of prison. When asked what he'd been in prison for, the man replied he'd been doing a life sentence for murder. He told me he wouldn't be using Open+ again, and who can blame him. Better to err on the side of caution.
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