The Importance of Libraries
A closer look at how public libraries in the UK adapted to the challenge of Covid-19 lockdowns
Some of my earliest memories involved libraries. From a young age, I would travel to my local library and pick out three or four books to keep me entertained for that week. In many ways, the public library was where my passion for reading started and it didn’t come as much of a surprise to my family or friends when, after graduating from university, I landed my first job as a Library Services Assistant.
Working alongside a team of dedicated bookworms has strengthened a belief that I’ve held for most of my life: public libraries have a unique and fundamental role within communities. I suppose I could argue that higher powers believe in this too since, during the second nationwide lockdown, libraries were deemed an essential service by the government and have been allowed to stay open in a limited form.
However, this doesn’t negate the fact that public libraries have borne the brunt of funding cuts in the past decade. The irony isn’t lost on me that libraries, like many other public bodies, find themselves in this contradictory situation. But I’m happy to say that libraries have risen to the challenge posed by funding cuts over the past decade as well as maintained a high standard of service throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic.
…during the second nationwide lockdown, libraries were deemed an essential service by the government and have been allowed to stay open in a limited form.
This article aims to demonstrate some of the ways in which libraries have become essential to their local communities and how they have remained so during this difficult time. Below I have listed some of the more wide-ranging services that libraries offer to the public. I have also provided examples of how these services have adapted in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
An uptick in ‘click and collect’ and digital access by library patrons show continued demand for access to free knowledge
Firstly, the educational value of libraries is pretty obvious in the fact that they give free access to books. From helping toddlers become familiar with phonics to helping students with research projects and assignments, public libraries try to cater to a wide-ranging audience.
Whilst the physical space of the library can’t be accessed during the lockdown, its book loaning service has continued in the form of a click and collect service which has been taken up by the majority of libraries in the UK. This service involves either ringing your local library or going online to fill out a form to request the types of materials that you would like. Whilst it probably isn’t as exciting as coming into the library and picking books yourself, many library patrons have enjoyed using the service during the lockdown.
Of course, access to the library's digital collections has continued as normal with BorrowBox, an eBook and audiobook service, seeing a significant increase in usage. For many the books they’ve had access to over the course of this challenging time has given them great comfort and kept them motivated for the future. Moreover, a great number of our patrons have used these services to select books for their children so that they can continue to learn despite being away from school.
A place to connect.
Another priority of public libraries is to encourage social interaction and combat loneliness, especially within older age groups. Whilst this goal has been made more difficult to achieve due to current circumstances, libraries have done their best to maintain connections with their patrons. The creation of a library hotline, in which the phone lines were manned by staff constantly for the duration of the day, was put in place.
I learned how, for many of them, coming into the library and chatting to staff was the only social interaction they had on a day-to-day basis.
Whilst the majority of library users rang up with queries or to order books, a select few would ring up simply to have a chat. I learned how, for many of them, coming into the library and chatting to staff was the only social interaction they had on a day-to-day basis. It was also a great comfort to them to know that they still had access to library staff even if it wasn’t in a physical form.
Closing the technology gap for all ages, library service assistants take on the extra load
As well as books, many public libraries offer the use of computers and access to the internet. Whilst printing can come at a charge, libraries give children the chance to print their homework off at no cost. Although browsing the library is off-limits at the moment, local councils have continued to provide access to library computer suites. Members of the public have been encouraged to make pre-bookable appointments in order to come and use our facilities if they have no access to the internet at home, are applying for jobs, writing a CV, or making a universal credit application. In order to make this service as safe as possible, regular cleans of the computer suites are conducted after each visit.
Pre-Pandemic, the library space was used regularly to support everything from reading groups for children to classes for those that were less confident with using technology. Libraries have continued to facilitate this, making use of digital platforms to continue to deliver learning resources, the most popular being Rhyme Time a five-minute video comprising of simple rhymes and songs to teach children the basics of language. These resources are not restricted to those of a certain age but are multigenerational.
Maintaining accessibility for those who are perhaps not as confident with using technology is a main priority. Library Services Assistants have helped to maintain this goal, myself included, by taking on extra training in order to work a helpline aimed at assisting those who have limited experience with using technology in navigating social media and the online world. I could go on, but the list above demonstrates just some of the essential services that libraries have to offer. Rather than letting the quality of their services suffer because of funding cuts and the outbreak of Covid-19, they’ve risen to meet these obstacles by adapting their services.
I can personally say that library staff at every level have worked continuously to support its local community and will continue to do so in the future. I hope that taking some time to read this has persuaded you to pay your local libraries a visit in support of the work they do.
About the writer
Paige Worrall is a History graduate currently working as a library assistant. She is currently working towards an MA in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester this year. Her passion for the history of art has led her to set up her own blog The Museum Inspector where writing on her various interests can be found. When she isn’t visiting museums, Paige can probably be found in a bookshop or curling up with a novel or two!
