Plymouth libraries are 'desperately in need of WiFi', council is told
PUBLIC libraries desperately need to move into the WiFi age, experts have told Plymouth City Council.
Young people would be sad to see libraries disappear – but their needs are changing, a council panel heard yesterday.
With budgets under increasing pressure and councils around the country closing libraries, Plymouth's library service faces tough challenges.
Cllr Ian Tuffin, the group's chairman, said: "We are looking at long-term solutions and the possibility of involving partner organisations."
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But he said the Labour group on the council had made a commitment not to close libraries.
"Our remit is to find ways of getting the footfall up in libraries – and not expensive ways."
Dan Thomas, commercial manager for South West Trading Routes, which runs a café at the new St Albans library in Devonport, told councillors: "I.T. is key."
He said WiFi was essential, especially in deprived areas of the city.
"Most people have smart phones, but whether they have WiFi at home is another thing.
"Plymouth libraries desperately need WiFi. Free WiFi in libraries would allow those people to go in and use it."
And he said the council should consider providing tablet devices to encourage teenagers to come in.
Sarah Heffernan, Youth Worker and co-ordinator for the UK Youth Parliament in Plymouth, said a survey had found that only about half of teenagers use public libraries.
Some said their school libraries were more useful, and others stuck to the internet.
"They have been brought up in the digital age and society is moving towards ebooks," Ms Heffernan said.
"Some young people felt libraries and books would not be around when they are adults. Some felt that would be a big shame."
She said one girl had heard a rumour that libraries were going to get Wiis and X-Boxes, and she was upset because she wanted them to be places of peace and tranquillity."
Sue Benjamin-Fast, business development manager for Cornwall Libraries and a co-opted member of the panel, said it was common for teenagers to seek quiet in libraries because of crowded homes.
Cllr Glenn Jordan (Con, Plympton Chaddlewood), a panel member, said: "Young people need somewhere quiet where they can sit and do their homework, away from their screaming brothers and sisters at home."
He said the city could revive the idea of Sunday morning clubs in libraries.
Jane Gosling, who runs Plymouth University's library, said the way students use the library had changed radically.
The days of totally silent libraries were a thing of the past. Although the university has quiet areas, many students work together and are allowed to bring in food and drink.
"It's very noisy," she said. "This generation is used to multi-tasking.
"Our aim is to try to provide services anywhere, any time to as many devices as possible.
The university library is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has 1,100 study spaces, WiFi, and power points for every study desk.
"Increasingly, our policy is to go digital first."
The university library is open to the public, who can also pay to join as associate members.
Plymouth Central Library is hosting a "Love Your Library" day on Saturday to celebrate National Libraries Day.
6 Comments
by Molochius
Friday, February 08 2013, 7:47PM
“Nevman how can an ebook reader become obsolete? you read books on it mate thats all it needs to do its not a pc haha...... noone says you have to buy a purpose built reader anyway, I download books through the amazon kindle app on my tablet which was completely free to download on android marketplace, I have a wide selection of books on there not one have I paid more then a fiver for and only then because it was Stephen kings latest release at the time.
I have always been a heavy reader ive got a wide selection of books however even I can see the benefits of being able to carry your reading material around with you in such an easy way, saving space and not having to worry about them ever becoming damaged and all the other benefits e books bring to the table.”
by Nevman
Thursday, February 07 2013, 9:24AM
“Some people may indeed "not like it", molochius. These people are commonly called 'authors' and they're becoming a rare species, thanks to an internet generation who think copyright is only vital in the case of their precious instagram photos.
As for ebooks, when download prices reflect the true costs of writing, research and production instead of the naked greed of the publishers, then perhaps I'll splash out £50-£150 on an ebook reader which is designed to be obsolete by the time the warranty runs out.
Or perhaps not. There's still a certain pleasure in page-turning!”
by Molochius
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 1:21PM
“my experience with libarys as a student is that they tend to have a very small selection, and theres a good chance if they do have what you need you may even have to wait for as someone else might have checked the book out.
If you go the legal way....amazon kindle libary and other ebook libarys have a much bigger selection yes you have to pay for it but you can also consult the text at your will and the prices arent bad.....I picked up a textbook for 99p the other day, and if you go the illegal way you can find whatever you want copyright or not. some people may not like it but its the truth of the matter.”
by Nevman
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 12:13PM
“Er... for the pleasure of reading fiction for nothing, Molochius.
'Information' may be freely available on the internet, and a tiny percentage of it has even been checked for accuracy by qualified experts, which is a bit of a bonus - but literature that's still in copyright? That's not available for free online.”
by Molochius
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:38AM
“I love the fact they get one person to speak on behalf of `all` young people as in the case with miss heffernan (uk youth parliment eh? I bet thats got some power behind it.....kids playing at being politicians....wonder if they teach them how to be corrupt and power mad:P) id rather suspect that survey is a load of rubbish anyway, I dont see how half of teens use public library when so many are switched on digitally I rather suspect its a lot less then that, its a shame for nostalgia reasons yes but at the end of the day when its easier to get the information you need online and you have a convenient way of doing that.....why would you go to a library?”
by Nevman
Wednesday, February 06 2013, 10:22AM
“Libraries are for books, not selling coffee, and this looks to have more in common with increasing commercial revenue than improving literacy. Perhaps Sarah Heffernan would like to explain how her precious tablets will be protected from theft when unfashionable desktop PCs can do the same job whilst being somewhat harder to slip into a pocket. And if the library service is planning to loan out ebooks for these tablets, precisely how they will ensure that these valuable assets will not be copied?”