The Way Forward

Being inspirational

Imagine it is 2014 – sitting in the busy Friends Café of your local Knowledge Centre, browsing whichbook.net, whilst you sip your drink, to select and order your choice of books ready for collection at the desk.

You glance across the foyer watching the people using the self-service machines – some just in a hurry but one girl looks as though she might just prefer that no-one else knew what book she was taking out.

Beyond, through a frosted glass wall, you can see an animated tutor helping people improve their basic skills in the People’s Network Learning Centre.

On your way to the issue desk your eye is caught by the inviting display of new release DVDs - you choose one for yourself and then pick up an extra one for your children. They are really good value at the same price as Blockbusters but you don’t have to rush them back the next day as you can have them for a whole week.

At the desk, as well as collecting your books, you also arrange the loan of twelve copies of the latest Nick Hornby novel for the book club in your village. The book club was set up a few years ago with some help from the library and the annual group membership fee works out so cheaply compared to having to buy the books – plus it saves wasting trees!

Just before leaving you decide to pop into the Council’s One Stop Shop. Your mother wanted to know about her pension and also you need to find out if permission is required to have work done on the tree in your front garden.

The assistant is really helpful. First she checks the GIS maps to see if your house is in a conservation area, then she puts your request through to the tree officer who will respond after visiting the premises – an appointment is made to suit your diary.

Next the assistant is able to access the information about your mother’s situation even without her being there as her details are linked to yours through the Better for Everyone Partnership database – in fact your enquiry should trigger a health screening call from her local surgery.

When you get home your partner is listening to the Bhundu Boys on the PC, having logged on remotely, using their library pin number, to the world music section of classical.com.

The music reminds you that you were supposed to look for some books to help your son’s research for his school project on fair trade and famine relief in Africa. As you don’t plan to be in town again till next week you search the Foursite Library Catalogue on the web and order several suitable books from the children’s section to be delivered – according to the computer they should be dropped off just in time for the weekend.

...much of this seems to be some distance in the future but you might be surprised how much you can already do in your existing local library.

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