The Happy Librarian

Helen Jaeger interviews a happy librarian, Jan Snow about the how libraries and librarians make a difference.

Jan Snow is my local librarian. We first met when she asked me to lead a writing workshop at the library, where she is Reader Development Librarian. I’ve been intrigued by the state of libraries in the recession and the age of the internet and whether they can truly thrive, so I thought Jan might be a good person to ask about the changes that are happening in my local library.

Jan has been a librarian since 1985, starting out at a community library in Basildon, where, she says, the focus was ‘entirely on outreach’ and with lots of work in schools. Three years later, Jan moved to a library in Warwickshire, which she says was ‘completely different.’

“The emphasis was on the library and staying in there. I found that a bit odd after being involved in outreach,” she explains

Having experienced both styles of being a librarian, however, Jan is still as passionate now about the library service as she was then.

“I think we’re essential, now more than ever,” she says. “We’re the gateway to so much. It’s not just about the building or about ‘just books.’ Part of our future is going to involve being more like a county service. We’ll be there to help people with information services and local services. People said e-books would kill books, but people still borrow books. I don’t see the internet as a threat. In a recession we’re an opportunity.”

Fortunately, Jan’s library is well-supported by the local council and its head of customer services, who oversees the libraries. Jan says her boss is a ‘visionary’, a person who sees libraries as an extension of excellent customer services. Jan agrees this is probably a change from the traditional ‘shush, you’re in the library now’ model, but thinks that isn’t a bad thing.

“When I look at where we are now, I feel very positive. We’ve had no library closures. The changes we’ve experienced have been to help us as librarians to be more free to help. I love being out and about with people.”

And, says Jan, the library is welcoming more people in, with new offerings such as a ‘knit and natter’ and craft clubs, with the library offering tea and biscuits at a cheap fee for groups.

“We’re trying to open our libraries to people and help them to say ‘this is our space, too,’” explains Jan.

Jan sees this as a direct extension of being a service to the community and hopes that it’s not just the library telling people what they think they want, but listening to the community’s needs as well.

“As well as being customer-focussed, we’re very much into the consultation – we’re keen to know what people want. We want to invite people to become friends of their local library,” says Jan. ” The old way was that public services were ‘done to you’. We want to move  on and listen to what people say. We need to create a service that people can question and influence.”

“I didn’t go into the library service to stand behind a desk and stamp books. I wanted to make a difference,” concludes Jan with a smile.

What do you think? Is your local library changing and do you see the changes as positive? Thoughts, comments, experiences welcome in the comm box.

Supported by Writing East Midlands

Helen Jaeger is a social marketing consultant based in the UK. She works with charitiable and arts clients. She is an internationally published author, journalist and photographer. Her books are: As Night Falls, Paths Through Grief, As Day Dawns and A Treasury of Wisdom.