Saltburn Library

Saltburn is a small seaside town on the North Yorkshire coast. We visit it quite often and it is definitely 'on the up' compared to 10 years ago I think - there are some nice tea rooms and shops now as well as a beautiful beach.
Last time we went to Saltburn it was a misty murky day and there was an exhibition of knitting on the pier (actually on the rails of the pier) It is still there so worth going to see - it is knitted figures of the Olympics, competitors and events.
The library is up in the town and is a small modernish building



(incidentally next to a nice old building)



There were some knitting exhibits on the railings outside to do with books






Inside the library is small and nearly all fiction. There is a good selection but not extensive. There is a childrens section which leads to a space outside at the back The building also includes the tourist information.

Book Club Update

Last month we read Catch 22 and Pigeon English for our book club reads. Well actually I didn't get round to reading all of Catch 22 but have brought it home from work to read over the holidays. Most people in Book Club didn't read it all because it didn't appeal as much as we thought it would, and interestingly people who had read it before e.g. as teenagers or in 20s didn't find it as appealing now. We have found this with some books and I think it is because our expectations are higher as we get older i.e. more fussy, less time and also because there is a great choice of books available so reluctant to spend time on non enjoyable reads. We all read Pigeon English and enjoyed it although didn't think it was absolutely fantastic. There is a difficulty with an adult writing as a child as sometimes it doesn't ring true. I wish it hadn't been so closely related to the real life happening as that made it difficult to consider. I really liked the relationship between the main character and his sisters and with his friends - that was the best and most interesting part. I wanted to read more about them and how they interacted. The more I've thought about the book the more I've liked it - the characters have stayed with me but I would have liked those characters in a different story line......



This month we are reading The Flamboya Tree: Memories of a Family's War Time Courage by
Clara Olink Kelly. I haven't started it yet but have a copy to read over the holidays and am looking forward to it.



We are also reading The Warden by Anthony Trollope. This was my suggestion as I have been meaning to read Barchester Towers for ages and didn't know that The Warden was the prologue to it so we are reading that. I've started to read it on my Kindle and it is a little dull. I'm hoping it will improve otherwise there will be complaints at the next meeting :))



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Newnham College Cambridge Library

A quick look round the library at Newnham College.
It is a really beautiful library, a brilliant mixture of new and old buildings that works perfectly. It would be an ideal place to study and while a way the hours. It didn't feel fusty like some academic libraries but was quiet and peaceful and very nice indeed.

More Cambridge Libraries - Central Library

Yet another visit to Cambridge -to pick up Joe (and all his stuff) for the Easter holidays. The nice part was that my friend Kate was going to Cambridge too to pick up her daughter Charlotte so we decided to have an extra day there.
Kate is not keen on visiting libraries which is fine so it meant that I had to use some shopping time for a quick visit to Cambridge Central Library. It is in the main shopping centre, conveniently between John Lewis and the Apple Store.

It was very busy even for a Saturday afternoon in a busy city. The children's library was packed out with lots of conscientious dads reading stories out loud to their kids.
There were many DVDs.

There were many people on task - working on computers or sat at tables doing work or reading. The book collection was excellent and I wish that I had had longer to look round. It is obviously a very vibrant and successful library - but so it should be - the environment and users are all conducive to it being so.

I noticed a sign above the enquiry desk - it said 'Help' rather than 'Enquiries'. I asked if I could take a photo of it and whether it deliberately said Help. The two library assistants said they hadn't really noticed but assumed it was to be more appealing and more approachable.
They were helpful and approachable. As I went I heard them say it could be Help with a ! as in a plea for help - witty library assistants too.

Churchill College Cambridge.....

Last weekend Ben & I visited Joe at Churchill.
I suggested visiting the library but was out voted - unsurprisingly.
This was the closest I got.

Although Joe did send me a photos when it was National Libraries Day (long-sufferingly)

We did go into a Book Fair at the Guildhall - mainly because it was raining lots - it was very fusty and most of the books were really expensive (which I don't approve of as elitist etc.)

Edinburgh Libraries

At half term I went to Edinburgh for the day with my son. He has applied to the University and has an offer for Sept. He's a bit bored with sixth form college and A levels so he claims so I thought a visit to the Uni might inspire him.
We looked round George Square at the University buildings and went inside some and then came to the Library. He was quite keen to look in the library which was a nice surprise. We were both really impressed with it - Ben liked the fact that there were different areas, some quiet some more social with food & drink but definitely separate. He liked the fact that the main desk was easily accessible without being overpowering in the main entrance hall. The staff were friendly and helpful. He seemed reassured that the library was there and it would be a place that he would want to use for finding books and studying.












Later in the day after we had looked round the Uni and walked to the halls of residence we headed back to the station.
We passed the National Library of Scotland.









I dashed in to have a quick look but Ben wasn't keen and I had already spotted the Central Library across the road so thought he might be more amenable to looking in there.












It was very busy with lots of people. The staff were extremely helpful and, from what I could overhear, were dealing with a wide range of enquiries. There was a great collection of books - I could have spent a long time in there. Ben wandered around and found some history and language books that he was interested in. He is definitely one of those people that likes to browse and search on his own using the signage and system rather than ask (me too). We walked back to the station 'You could blog about these libraries we've been to today' he suggested 'Good idea' I said.

Teesside University Darlington Campus Library

Last Wednesday I attended the Higher Education Business Partnership Librarians meeting which was held at Teesside University's new campus at Darlington. It was a good meeting with representatives from the University and from the partner Colleges. The HEBP groups are very useful and I also participate in the Technology Enhanced Learning Group.
After the meeting we had a tour of the building and of the library. One of the interesting things is that the main desk is an integrated service desk i.e. it serves other functions than purely the library. This is something that I want to know more about and how it works including staff roles and line management responsibilities etc. From what I can gather, it works very well and is effective. The library is small with a limited book collection as there is an emphasis on electronic resources which suit the courses on offer and the profile of the students. It is an appealing space with different seating areas and some small computer areas.












While we were looking round the rest of the building there were some features which might work in our LRC for future changes.



The computer rooms were good with two monitors for each PC. Also some seating and benching with power and data sockets which would be good for Bring Your Own Device areas.