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£5.5m regeneration aim to lure more readers into Lancashire's libraries

3:44pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in North Lancashire news Photograph of the Author By David Watkinson, Deputy news editor

A NEW campaign to encourage more people to use Lancashire’s libraries has been launched.

Lancashire County Council said the move aims to highlight the investment being made locally in the service.

A successful pilot in West Lancashire last year saw a 35 per cent increase in new members.

The campaign comes as the council is midway through a £5.5 million regeneration programme to refurbish its 74-strong network of library branches.

The programme is aimed at ensuring that those libraries will not only remain open but will provide modern, flexible facilities, fit for the 21st century.

County Coun Mike Calvert said: “Libraries are at the heart of local communities, which is why we are investing around £5.5 million in refurbishing our network.

“We have also just announced proposals for a further £1million capital investment in our libraries.

"However, we want to change the way people think about libraries.

“We want to attract even more people by letting them know about the brilliant range of services available, from borrowing the latest best-selling books, eBooks and DVDs, to accessing the internet through our network of PCs or using the free wi-fi, to attending exciting events from children's activities to live music.”

The campaign will feature local library users on eye-catching outdoor advertising as well as a social media blitz.

Comments(15)

happycyclist says...
4:00pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Spending money to encourage more people to use libraries that will then cost more money to staff and run?

Is this the right time to be doing this?

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darwenTower says...
4:38pm Wed 1 Feb 12

happycyclist wrote:
Spending money to encourage more people to use libraries that will then cost more money to staff and run?

Is this the right time to be doing this?
It's mad isn't it?

They ask what people want, tell us they can't afford it then spend a chuffing fortune on stuff we have no interest in.

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Shirley Burnham says...
4:43pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Happy Cyclist : Don't fret; the significant cost to you and other residents of a drop in literacy and other negative impacts, unfolding in places less enlightened than Lancashire CC, far outweighs an investment such as this. You are, indeed, fortunate.

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darwenTower says...
4:49pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Why Shirley? Because the only place to get a book is in a library?

I constantly have a book on the go and have only been in a library once in my life.

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Izanears says...
4:52pm Wed 1 Feb 12

happycyclist wrote:
Spending money to encourage more people to use libraries that will then cost more money to staff and run?

Is this the right time to be doing this?
I have a freind who works in the library and she tells me that they are not only cutting staff back at all levels, but are also altering job specifications for those who still work there. This is a bit like the government cutting back our armed forces and then sending them fight in more and more places.

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darwen_celeb says...
4:59pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Books are nothing but dead trees and cheap enough to buy from a shop, this a waste of money unless the money is invested in cool books for the kids and/or technology.

Embrace technology, don't be sentimental it just slows progress.

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Shirley Burnham says...
5:26pm Wed 1 Feb 12

darwenTower wrote:
Why Shirley? Because the only place to get a book is in a library?

I constantly have a book on the go and have only been in a library once in my life.
This Saturday, 4th Feb, is National Libraries Day. Make a second visit ! They offer storytime for very young, homework clubs, reading groups, free use of computers, expert assistance from staff. Worth having a look if you've not been into one for yonks.

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Shirley Burnham says...
5:34pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Izanears wrote:
happycyclist wrote:
Spending money to encourage more people to use libraries that will then cost more money to staff and run?

Is this the right time to be doing this?
I have a freind who works in the library and she tells me that they are not only cutting staff back at all levels, but are also altering job specifications for those who still work there. This is a bit like the government cutting back our armed forces and then sending them fight in more and more places.
No doubt this is happening. Staff usually "gagged" so we seldom get the whole story. But thousands of library jobs going across the country, so it's swings and roundabouts. Staff appreciated more by the public than their bosses maybe.

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Montenegro says...
5:43pm Wed 1 Feb 12

I like libraries, great place for a snooze, get warm in winter, recharge my mobile phone, use the toilet, shoot up in the loo, have a conversation on my mobile phone and go on facebook on the computer and meet my buddies. Yeah great place to hang out.

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Wetwangman says...
7:00pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Don't know which clown said that 'libraries are the heart of the local community'... They are in general an anachronism.. started when most of the population were illiterate, and the price of a book was a month's wages. The reason membership is up is probably due to the immigrants coming in, using the British facilities, getting something for nothing, checking out all the leaflets ( in 23 different languages ) of how to claim benefits. Montenegro above has the correct idea.. no discipline any longer, no ' silence' any longer, it's just another social club for Johnny Foreigner. Close them down, save the dosh, books, computers and social services are available in other places today !

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Wetwangman says...
7:00pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Don't know which clown said that 'libraries are the heart of the local community'... They are in general an anachronism.. started when most of the population were illiterate, and the price of a book was a month's wages. The reason membership is up is probably due to the immigrants coming in, using the British facilities, getting something for nothing, checking out all the leaflets ( in 23 different languages ) of how to claim benefits. Montenegro above has the correct idea.. no discipline any longer, no ' silence' any longer, it's just another social club for Johnny Foreigner. Close them down, save the dosh, books, computers and social services are available in other places today !

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Wetwangman says...
7:01pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Don't know which clown said that 'libraries are the heart of the local community'... They are in general an anachronism.. started when most of the population were illiterate, and the price of a book was a month's wages. The reason membership is up is probably due to the immigrants coming in, using the British facilities, getting something for nothing, checking out all the leaflets ( in 23 different languages ) of how to claim benefits. Montenegro above has the correct idea.. no discipline any longer, no ' silence' any longer, it's just another social club for Johnny Foreigner. Close them down, save the dosh, books, computers and social services are available in other places today !

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Wetwangman says...
7:01pm Wed 1 Feb 12

Don't know which clown said that 'libraries are the heart of the local community'... They are in general an anachronism.. started when most of the population were illiterate, and the price of a book was a month's wages. The reason membership is up is probably due to the immigrants coming in, using the British facilities, getting something for nothing, checking out all the leaflets ( in 23 different languages ) of how to claim benefits. Montenegro above has the correct idea.. no discipline any longer, no ' silence' any longer, it's just another social club for Johnny Foreigner. Close them down, save the dosh, books, computers and social services are available in other places today !

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sammy37 says...
9:21pm Wed 1 Feb 12

I LOVE MY LIBRARY.
I need large print and they are so helpful and try to keep up to date copies available,
please keep them open

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Noiticer says...
10:46am Thu 2 Feb 12

It is sad to read such comments as those above about libraries being a waste of time and space - obviously written by people who have never discovered the great riches which lie them and for whom reading books is not a source of enrichment and discovery. As for books being cheap try buying a quality non-fiction book. It will set you back at least £20. Reading books is one of life's greatest pleasures and if borrowed from a library, free at the point of use though paid for from taxation so why not make use of your investment!

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