Scottish Public Libraries and their role in community cohesion and resilience during lockdown
Lead Research Organisation:
Robert Gordon University
Department Name: School of Creative and Cultural Business
Abstract
In 'normal' times public libraries are crucial community hubs but have, like other public spaces, been closed during the pandemic lockdown. In recent years, public libraries in Scotland have been strongly supported through Scottish Government initiatives (e.g. Public Library Improvement Fund) or through a national strategy for their enhancement (Ambition and Opportunity 2015-20) and are seen as highly trusted public spaces. They play a major role in supporting disadvantaged or socially-excluded members of the community (e.g. through supporting online benefit claims), aiding wellbeing (e.g. Macmillan Cancer centres) and developing literacy (e.g. Bookbug), supporting economic growth (e.g. co-working hubs). The lockdown means they have been compelled to adapt their offerings significantly and, often, creatively. Many have reported surges in the borrowing of e-books (e.g. Aberdeen), they have developed online book clubs (Glasgow et al), 3D printers creating PPE, or online storytelling sessions (Shetland). This research will examine how they have responded to the lockdown, reimagined services and explore the impact on both the services themselves and the end users. It will also seek to understand the difficulties such as those members of the community for whom online access is problematic or even impossible if unable to visit the library physically.
The disparity in service provision (between those services in cultural or leisure trusts which have furloughed employees and those remaining in direct local authority control) will also be explored as in the context of the provision of statutory universal service. The research
will inform policy and understanding of service governance and resilience.
The disparity in service provision (between those services in cultural or leisure trusts which have furloughed employees and those remaining in direct local authority control) will also be explored as in the context of the provision of statutory universal service. The research
will inform policy and understanding of service governance and resilience.
People |
ORCID iD |
Peter Reid (Principal Investigator) | |
Lyndsay Bloice (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Reid P
(2022)
"Bloody amazing really": voices from Scotland's public libraries in lockdown
in Journal of Documentation
Description | The key findings show that Scottish public libraries contributed significantly to community cohesion during lockdown. As often as not this was through their staff being deployed to support other vital public services where their skills were highly valued as it was about the continued (digital) provision of the public library service itself. The research has also found that the picture was variable across all of the 32 Scottish local authority areas in terms of their effectiveness in delivering digital library services. The research found that practitioner sector needs to address more fully the balance of physical and digital library service (often described as 'phygital') and that national government may have a role to play in respect of the development of e-resource platform across the country (Scotland). The research has also identified the funding and other challenges as public libraries try to recover from the lockdown. |
Exploitation Route | There are a number of areas to be further investigated including the digital-physical balance, national e-platforms and into the governance models (particularly around arm's length trusts). |
Sectors | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Description | This research has impact on the development of both the public library strategy in document ('Forward') and on the revision of the quality standards framework for public libraries in Scotland 'How good is our public library service' (revised in 2022-23). The research has also informed sectoral opinion (as reflected in the press reports). |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural,Policy & public services |
Description | Informing development of national strategy for public libraries |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Informing discussion around running of public libraries services. |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Project 898387: Scottish Public Libraries And Their Role In Community Resilience During Lockdown |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Robert Gordon University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | Scottish Library and Information Council |
Organisation | Scottish Library and Information Council |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | This research project has contributed to the work of Scottish Library and Information Council as it oversees the development of the new national strategy for public libraries in Scotland. |
Collaborator Contribution | In terms of the research project, Scottish Library and Information Council has collaborated in the data collection stage. It disseminated details of the project to its members and then supported the distribution of a survey to public library services across Scotland associated with data about the increase in use of e-books and e-audio during lockdown. |
Impact | This is a sectoral collaboration with a governmental agency and is therefore not multi-disciplinary. SLIC will be a co-author of the final report. Publications, in the form of academic articles which are produced from that final report may also be co-authored with the chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council. The report is still being compiled so this has not yet been determined. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Featured article on research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The project was featured by AHRC itself as one of its Covid response projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.ukri.org/our-work/tackling-the-impact-of-covid-19/recovery-and-rebuilding/shelf-help-how... |
Description | Guest speakers at national strategy working group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The research team were invited to present the findings of the project to the working party developing the new national strategy for public libraries in Scotland (February 2021). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://scottishlibraries.org/advice-guidance/national-strategies/new-public-library-strategy-in-dev... |
Description | Guest speakers at the Association of Public Libraries Scotland (APLS) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The research team were invited to present their interim findings to the Association of Public Libraries Scotland (APLS) (formerly called the 'Heads of Service Group') which represents the senior library (or cultural managers) in all thirty-two local authorities in Scotland. The event enabled dissemination of some of key findings for the research across the whole country (eighteen of the thirty-two services having been interviewed as part of the research and a twenty-six of the thirty-two providing data directly). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |