Ideas Matter
Library Services Development Plan: 2007-2011
Kildare County Council
Kildare Library Service has endeavoured to make the Library
Development Plan accessible to everyone. Copies of the plan are
available:
In Braille at the following service points: Athy, Celbridge, Leixlip,
Maynooth, Naas and Newbridge Libraries and from Library HQ,
Riverbank Newbridge
On Audio CD from all of our 16 Community Libraries and from Library
HQ, Riverbank, Newbridge
In downloadable text version in English
www.kildare.ie/library/library-development-plan
and
Irish
at
We welcome any feedback in relation to the accessibility of this
document at colibrary@kildarecoco.ie
Sincere thanks to all library staff for their continued commitment to
delivering the best service possible.
Kildare County Council, 2007
Author: Breda Gleeson, County Librarian
Designer: Laura Neumann, The Design Scene
CONTENTS
Foreword
Introduction to the Plan
The Story of Xua Xua and Lig Lig Le
Defining Culture
Kildare Library Services – A Profile
Preserving Ideas for Us and for Future Generations
Libraries for Children
Libraries for Young People
Research and Consultation
Marketing and Promotion
Capital Development Programme
Lifelong Learning and Access to Knowledge Economy
Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion
Information and Communications Technologies
Measuring Success
Making a Library
PAGE NO.
FOREWORD
Ideas Matter comes at a crucial time in the development of County
Kildare. The preliminary report of the census 2006 confirms Kildare as
one of the three fastest growing counties in Leinster, and likely to reach
a population of 250,000 by 2021. (Rural-Urban Dynamics in Kildare:
Socio-economic patterns and trends, Kildare County Development
Board, 2006).
The county is part of the Greater Dublin Area yet conversely, much of
the county boundary is shared with Counties that are part of the
Objective One BMW region. The North East is influenced heavily by
its proximity to Dublin while the West and South are more rural. As
one of the key public agencies charged with civic leadership and
cultural/community development, Kildare County council recognises
the importance of quality of life in the context of a fast changing
cultural environment. This is recognised as a key goal in development
strategies. The further development of Library Services within the
County is therefore central to providing inclusive cultural and
educational opportunities and as a force for social/cultural cohesion.
This chimes with the finding of ‘Branching Out: A New Public Library
Service’ whereby “almost all reports and studies dealing with the
information society” recognises that access to information, knowledge
and cultural products promotes economic, social and cultural
integration.
The visioning of ‘IDEAS MATTER’ has been informed by research
and consultation with key stakeholders of the various services and
programmes through the County Development Board Structures,
LURD Strategic Policy Committee, the Corporate Policy Group and the
Members of Kildare County Council.
Developing a coherent identity for Kildare is also seen by Kildare
County Council as central to the promotion of Quality of Life. Libraries
are freely accessible places and spaces which provide equitable access
to ideas, information, knowledge, life options and learning
opportunities. The public library movement has emerged from an ethos
that is about underpinning democracy by providing citizens with a
public well-spring of ideas and knowledge. As such it acts as a
strategic publicly funded, non-prejudiced force for active citizenship.
As Library Services develop in the County they are poised to be a
critical intervention in the cultural life of County Kildare at a time
when National and Local Government is concerned about civic
leadership and engagement, about encouraging relationship between
indigenous and non-indigenous people, about positive community
relations and healthy sustainable communities. (Towards 2016, Tenyear Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006-2015). Kildare
County Council welcomes the report “The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and
Social Cohesion” by NESF which positions libraries as a strategic
community cultural services for the country.
The development of a new Central Library for the County at Newbridge
is one of the highlights of this plan. As innovator and ‘tester’ of best
practice it will have a direct impact on the enhancement of Library and
Arts Services countywide.
Elected members and the Local, Urban, Rural Development Strategic
Policy Committee are committed to the Strategic Objectives set out in
this plan. Kildare County Council will support Library Development in
the County through financial provision and other assistance. We
acknowledge the ongoing contribution of elected members, LURD
SPC, staff and citizens who have informed this plan.
Cllr. Fiona O’ Loughlin, Chair of the Local, Urban, Rural Development
Strategic Policy Group
Cllr. Mary Glennon, Mayor of kildare
Michael Malone, County Manager, Kildare County Council
Des Page, Director of Services, Corporate, Cultural and Environmental
Affairs
INTRODUCTION TO THE PLAN
2007-2011
Kildare County Council Library Service leads and supports a wide
range of activities and programmes including public libraries, arts
services, local studies, genealogy, archives, services to primary schools,
a mobile library and a Quaker Museum. Service design and provision
is underpinned by two key themes:
Cultural Inclusion and
Co-Operative Networking in order to make cultural experiences and
opportunities available to the citizens of County Kildare. Collectively
the services hold up a mirror to society, which in turn reflects back to
the citizen urging a response. We recognise and promote the intrinsic
value of cultural IDEAS and experiences. We do so by providing
books, multimedia and a range of opportunities including dance, music,
storytelling and storymaking. Cultural participation is positioned as the
crucial dynamic which gives Kildare its heartbeat and through which its
diverse identities are expressed.
We recognise that people perceive and express their world in different
ways:
 Visual/spatial perception and expression
 Verbal/Linguistic Skills
 Logical/mathematical meanings
 Bodily/kinaesthetic understandings
 Musical/rhythmic expression
 Interpersonal relationships
 Intra personal perception
(Gardner, H. 1993. Multiple Intelligences, the Theory in Practice).
These diverse ways of making and expressing ideas provide Kildare
Library Service with the ever present challenge of providing inclusive
imaginative learning opportunities.
THE STORY OF XUA XUA AND LIG LIG LE
The need to explore our inner and outer worlds is fundamental to being
human. Augusto Boal (2002) introduces us to an ancient Chinese fable
which seeks to story how human beings came to consciousness of self
and other. A woman named Xua Xua gave birth to a baby boy named Lig
Lig Le. As he grew up she became aware that while her son was like her
he was also different, independent of her. Through this consciousness of
difference she became aware of her own self. She was, as Boal writes,
now aware of her identity. She was now both ‘Actor’ and ‘Spect-actor’.
Xua Xua was now able to conceive of and participate in a dynamic
dialogue with her son Lig Lig Le in a new and profound way. We can
imagine her sense of awe at this discovery and also her pain because of
the complexity of the space wherein the dialogue of self and other takes
place. This dialogue between two people and the ideas generated, argued,
shared and remembered can be understood to be the first ‘library’.
The ancient cave paintings at Altamira, Northern Spain, and at Lascaux in
France are examples of ancient art, and although the possible purpose of
such art is disputed, it is clear that at a very early stage in human
development people progressed from memory and the spoken word to the
“permanent” recording of their lives. This early cave art can also be
understood to be an early library except that now the “material” are more
permanent.
The development of “alphabets” such as Egyptian ideograms and
Sumerian Pictograms enhanced the ways in which human experience
could be recorded. The discovery of papyrus along the banks of the Nile
and its suitability for writing provided a fundamental leap forward in the
creation of ‘books’ and vast libraries of papyri such as the great library at
Alexandria. Later Gutenberg’s printing Press facilitatd widespread and
relatively cheap publishing of books and the extension of education to
greater numbers of people. In this age of internet, the silicon chip
combined with software code, provides yet another ‘technology’ with
immense capacity to connect local and global communities and to allow
any individual or group to become a net ‘publisher’ and receiver of
information.
The intrinsic human need to express, record and share connects Xua Xua
to us in this new century through a powerful common thread. This thread
is the fundamental and profound need of human beings to understand
ourselves and others through ideas expressed as ‘dialogues’ and ‘texts’,
including the printed and spoken word, theatre, music, art and indeed all
forms of human expression.
Libraries therefore, have long been an important force in collecting and
providing access to ideas and dialogues. Kildare Library service is
currently in debate with our stakeholders on the fundamental question of
how best to support a much wider and diverse range of imaginative and
informational opportunities. The delivery of this strategy will be
informed by such continuous debate and questioning.
While books and reading will remain a cornerstone of public libraries,
other ‘technologies’ such as the spoken word, film, DVD, theatre, music,
dance, storytelling are increasingly supported and provided. The
worldwide debate about the role of public libraries has developed to
encompass the concepts of local SPACE and PLACE connected to other
places and spaces digitally, offering a much wider range of educational
and developmental opportunities.
The key priorities within current National Public Library Policy are:
1. Ensuring that Ireland embraces the opportunities of the
Information Society
2. Establishing an inclusive society in which all citizens can
participate fully in the social and economic life of the Country
We look forward to the publication a new National Library Policy in the
near future.
(Branching Out: A New Public Library Service, Department of
Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 1998).
DEFINING CULTURE
Culture can be defined as the ways in which people organise their lives
and give meaning to them. Therefore, it encompasses how a person
thinks and does everything. Within the context of this definition, the
entire local government system in Kildare is in itself a cultural
institution. For the purposes of this strategy however, we use the word
culture to mean the complex web of relationships and resources which
make up our constituent services, i.e. libraries, arts, local history and
genealogical research, archives and museum. These relationships and
resources include primarily our users, our staff, our venues, our Council
colleagues both executive and representative and our networks with
people from a variety of external statutory, voluntary and community
groups.
Our collective services have a presence in almost every village and
town in County Kildare, where we interact on a daily basis with people
from all social backgrounds and of all abilities. We offer a range of
self-directed opportunities to individuals and groups in the areas of arts,
information, education and learning, heritage, history and leisure. A
key element in the provision of the above is the continuous active
engagement of our users in the design and delivery of our programmes.
We therefore offer a powerful accessible medium to the individual or
group for personal, social, cultural, political and economic
development. Our services also contribute to the realisation of key
objectives in:
Towards 2016, Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement
2006-2015
Transforming Ireland: A Better Quality of Life for All (National
Development Plan)
Branching Out (national public library policy)
Kildare County Council’s Corporate Plan
2012 County Strategy (Kildare County Development Board)
KILDARE LIBRARY SERVICES – A PROFILE
Kildare County Council’s Library Services Department collects,
records and presents indigenous and non-indigenous cultural material,
thus creating an ‘archive’ of information, imagination and experience.
This cultural archive is animated and articulated through the
relationships between our staff and our ‘audiences’ (the users of our
services), allowing them to become familiar with, practice, enjoy and
explore their cultural environment and to contribute to it.
The Cultural Archive is made up of Human, Physical, Technological
and Programme Resources. www.kildare.ie/library
HUMAN RESOURCES
Our Public Representatives
Council Staff
Library Staff
Arts Officer and Arts staff
Project Staff
Arts Centre Staff
Artists
Archivists
Readers
Writers
Poets
Audiences
And agencies such as:
An Chomhairle Leabhalanna,
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Arts Council
County Development Board, VEC, FAS,KARE, KCP, KELT, SAM,
schools, local community groups, local cultural groups such as local
studies, music, amateur arts groups, professional artists
TECHNOLOGY
Technological networks such as:
Internet
Intranet
Horizon Library Management System
Public access internet & computer services
Broadband
PHYSICAL
16 Libraries
A family and history research centre
Schools Library Service
Arts Centre
Quaker Museum
2 mobiles and
non-local authority venues such as:
Club Schools, Naas hospital, Athy Travellers
PROGRAMME RESOURCES
Extensive book collections on all subjects (imaginative and factual)
Art Collections
Audio visual & music materials
Digital & Internet based resources
Archives
Local History and Irish History Collection
Genealogy data-base and newspaper indexes
Original manuscript material
Arts resource collection: stage, lights, plinths
Exhibition facilities
ARTS SERVICE
The role of Kildare County Council’s Arts Service is to foster, promote
and develop the Arts in County Kildare.
“Arts means any creative or interpretative expression (whether
traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in
particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film,
architecture and includes any medium when used for those purposes”.
(Arts Act 2003, (2) section 6.1)
The Arts Service fulfils a number of functions including:
 Formulation of policy for arts development and implementation
of the Arts Development Plan
 Devising, implementing, managing, monitoring and evaluating
the Council’s Arts Programme
 Provision of an advocacy, advice, information and support
service for the Arts
 Professional development and training opportunities for artists
 Promotion and encouragement of participation in the arts as
maker, participant and audience
 Commissioning of new work
 Devising, developing, managing and evaluating and Arts
development programme
 Promote models of good practice and artistic excellence in
County kildare.
 Advising and developing the physical cultural infrastructure
 Managing grant aid and arts award opportunities
(See ‘Making Inroads: An Arts Development Plan for Kildare County
Council, 2006-2011’ at www.kildare.ie/artsservice)
PRESERVING IDEAS FOR US AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS:
ARCHIVES, LOCAL STUDIES AND GENEALOGY
ARCHIVES
Archives are the accumulated unique records of an individual or
institution that warrant permanent preservation because of their
continuing value to their creator for their legal, administrative or fiscal
purposes or to researchers because of their potential research value.
Archives are primary sources, they are evidence of the past. Archives are
the background of our lives, they depict how decisions were, and are
made, and they are at the same time a local, a national and an
international treasure. To make sure they are preserved for future
generations they will need constant care and management. Their proper
preservation reflects a desire for transparency and ensures that the right to
access information is protected.
Local Authority archives are not strictly limited to the archives of
existing local authorities but encompass a wide range of predecessor
bodies.
In Kildare Local Authority Archive, quality archive collections have
survived. These include material originating from the Grand Jury
System, the Poor Law Unions of Naas, Athy and Celbridge, the Rural
District Council of Athy, Newbridge Town Commissioners, Athy and
Naas Urban District Councils and Kildare County Council itself. All
these records are irreplaceable because they are all unique. Keeping that
in mind, the archive service has taken on several activities to enhance
access to these archives while not compromising the vital duty of
preservation and conservation in keeping with archival best practices and
existing legislation. Collections that were previously spread throughout
the county were recently transferred and secured in the archive, some
material was microfilmed in order to preserve the original material; the
service also recently acquired a new system to catalogue archival
material.
DONE
 Appointment of Archivist with Counties Meath and Wicklow
 Archival store established at Newbridge adjacent to local studies
and Genealogy Services
 Public reading room established and shared with Local Studies and
Genealogy Services
 Research and consultation regarding the development of a new
Archive space as part of the development of a new Central Library
for Kildare based at Newbridge
TO DO
 Appointment of full time Archivist for the County whose brief will
include:
- Devising archival policy in terms of access and preservation
- Developing better access for the people of County Kildare
and beyond
- Developing Archival Services within the proposed Central
Library
- Developing Web presence to enhance access to collections
- Outreach programme focusing on schools and Leaving
Certificate students
- Devising policy on donations of local primary sources of
private origin
- Working in partnership with Kildare County Council
services to ensure that the proper record series are
transferred to the archive on a regular basis
- Continue preservation microfilming programmes
LOCAL STUDIES AND GENEALOGY
DONE
 A shared, user-orientated environment established by concentrating
both physical and knowledge resources in one place at Newbridge
together with County Archive
 The Local Studies Collection has been extended and re-located
thus enhancing the service and making it more accessible
 Saturday opening
 Material relating to the study of the heritage and history of County
Kildare is now integrated with general Irish History Material which
is rare and often out of print
 A comprehensive collection of books and printed material is in
place as well as microfilm, microfiche, photographs and CDROMs
 Establishment of a microform collection with the addition of
newspapers dating back to 1763
 Digitisation of material for web users supported by An Chomhairle
Leabharlanna
 Employment of a Genealogist and provision of genealogical
research services
 Genealogy database of some 400,000 records including church
records, census records, graveyard and valuation records
 Searchable index of Leinster Leader newspaper containing 172,
613 articles
 Programming including Annual Seminar, class visits, workshops,
rare books fair
 Advisory service to Kildare County Council, County Heritage
Forum, National Monuments Advisory Committee, County Kildare
Archaeological Society, Kildare Federation of Local History
Groups, Irish Family History Society, Kildare Community
Network, schools, writers, community groups, students and
researchers
 Online history journal www.askaboutireland.com
TO DO
 Continued acquisition of primary material relating to the County in
conjunction with Archivist
 Investigate the feasibility of a co-operative access agreement
within the next five years with non local authority holders of
Archival records and other records of local interest.
 Continued development of virtual collections as a resource for
educational and promotional programmes
 Assign additional staffing resources
 Develop Central Library Facility to include Archives, Local
Studies and Genealogy
 Make Genealogical database available via the web in partnership
with Irish Family History Foundation
 Promote e-history journal as ideal place for researchers to publish
material
 Promote graduate research on aspects of the history and heritage of
the County through partnership with NUI Maynooth and the
County Development Board
BALLITORE MUSEUM
Ballitore Museum is dedicated to local Quaker heritage as articulated
through the local built heritage, Quaker costumes and the social historical
relationships between the village and the Society of Friends as
documented by Mary Ledbeater.
Mary Ledbeater was born Mary Shackleton in 1758, an ancestor of the
famous Antartic Explorer Ernest Shackleton. Mary was a keen observer
of local life and her role as the first village Postmistress afforded her an
excellent vantage point into the economic, social and cultural life of the
area. Her first-hand account of the impact of 1798 on local life is a
particularly poignant ‘window’ into the complex tensions of the period as
well as the unique approach taken to such conflict by the Friends.
Through funding from the Local Government Centenary Awards Scheme
(Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government) Mary’s
original house was refurbished to accommodate the local library and
Quaker Museum.
DONE
 New Quaker Museum established
 New community library opened
TO DO
 The museum collection will be enhanced during the period of this
plan through our relationship with the Society of Friends and an
inter-lending arrangement with other museums holding Quaker
relevant artefacts and archives
 Digitisation of original Quaker material held by Kildare Library
Service is a priority in this strategy
 Publish ‘The Annals of Ballitore’ and continue to publish from the
Quaker archives held by Kildare Library Service
 An exhibition which celebrates contemporary Ballitore and its
Quaker heritage will be installed in 2007. This exhibition was
created by a professional textile artist working with local people,
children and schools in 2005
 A review of staffing at the museum will be carried out during the
period of this plan with a view to providing museum curatorial
expertise.
LIBRARIES FOR CHILDREN
CHILDREN AT PRIMARY SCHOOL
The School Library Service offers information, advice and multimedia
materials to primary schools. The service is oriented towards an holistic
approach which supports teachers, families and children around special
needs, inter-cultural needs: particularly foreign language material and
social inclusion. Close working relationships established with Kildare
Education Centre, booksellers, publishers, specialist school library
associations and groups, teachers organisations and local community
groups to further grow this child-parent-teacher-community focus. Part
funded by the Department of Education and Science, this initiative
prioritises those schools most distant from permanent library
buildings/services. A delivery van provides regular visits and book drops
to fifteen schools who do not have the resources to use the Central service
based at Kildare Town.
DONE
 A central service established to provide a comprehensive collection
of books and multimedia based on research and consultation with
primary schools
 A ‘visit and select’ service in place
 Collaborative work with Kildare Education Centre, home-schoolcommunity liaison teachers, parents groups and teachers
established
 Reading development, curriculum support and the promotion of
reading for personal development established as key objectives
 Evaluation and consultation framework in place
 Advice service and materials provided to those schools involved in
creating classroom libraries
 Advice and support service for teachers in identifying books for
children who are reluctant to read
 New inclusive reading development model in place entitled
Threading Tales (see www.kildare.ie/library)
 PICTUREOGS; Pictureogs is a series of interactive and reflective
workshops where participants develop skills of storymaking,
telling and recording. The stories emerge from participants’
memories and are gathered into thematic strands which will shape
the storysacks. Some stories are for adults while others are ideal
for children. This project is about representing Traveller Culture as
it is woven through story and it is hoped that a publication
programme will emerge from the process. This kind of process is a
key element of our objective to bring lesser known cultures to
broader audiences and readerships
 DVD of Pictureogs produced and distributed nationwide to
document and provide access to Traveller culture
 Storytelling and Storymaking Residency programme for schools in
partnership with the Arts Service ongoing
TO DO
 Devise and make available a ‘training of trainers’ resource pack for
groups who wish to adopt the Threading Tales and Pictureogs
storymaking model
 Increase funding to provide materials and programmes to primary
schools
Arts Participation For Children In Libraries In Partnership with
Arts Service
DONE
 Annual programme for children
 EasterFest, SummerFest, HalloweenFest
 “Spellbound”, a three phase theatre programme for children by
Crooked House Theatre Company, commissioned by Kildare
County Council and the Arts Council
 Storyteller in Residence programme
 Bookmark competitions
TO DO
 Appoint a Play Specialist in Residence in Libraries
 Continue to provide annual Arts development programme in
libraries
 Increase library budget for Arts participatory development work
Inclusive Spaces and programmes for Children in Libraries
DONE
 Consultation carried out in 2006 specifically with young adults
 Specific programmes for young people
 All new libraries now designed to include appropriate spaces for
Children’s activities
 Refurbishment and accessibility programme includes specifically
addressing children’s spaces
 Children’s book budget significantly increased
 Rich collections of children’s books throughout the county
 Reading Development promotions and activities throughout the
year
TO DO
 Appoint a Children’s Services librarian to co-ordinate and support
countywide programmes
 Facilitate homework support
 Link Library, Arts, Local studies, Archives, genealogy and
museum programmes to provide particular opportunities for
children
 Continue our programmes for children supported by the Arts
Services
 Increase funding allocated to children’s services
 Design spaces for young people in our libraries
 Increase investment in books and non-book material for young
people
 Continue to address older building stock to enhance children’s
facilities
 Increase budget allocations for children’s services
 Pilot inclusive toy libraries at Leixlip and Athy in conjunction with
local disability partnership
 Design internal and external play spaces into new libraries
 Extend storymaking and storytelling programmes
 Conduct feasibility study of using mobile library as ‘storybus’ for
children in isolated rural areas at key times during the year
 Participate actively in the creation and delivery of the County Play
Policy
 Continue to develop local history education outreach programmes
which complement school curricula
 Continue reading development through book clubs
We understand play to be the ways in which children experience their
inner and external worlds and how they come to make, practice and
encounter ideas. Consequently we will strive to ensure that our libraries
include:
PLAY SPACES
TOYS INCLUDING TOYS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY
RICH AND VARIED BOOK COLLECTIONS FOR ALL AGES AND
ABILITIES
CHILD FRIENDLY FURNISHINGS AND FITTINGS
STORYMAKING AND STORYTELLING PROGRAMMES
ENGAGEMENT WITH WRITERS, POETS, ARTISTS AND
ANIMATEURS
RESEARCH AND CONSULTATION
A key objective of this strategy is to engage in critical analysis of the
experiences of librarians and those who use or do not use libraries. This
analysis will involve an exploration of what we consider to be
knowledge, how we make decisions about whose knowledge to purchase,
exhibit or otherwise support, and how such decisions are influenced by
our own frames of reference. This exploration will also include how we
engage with our communities and to what extend this engagment is also
affected by our own frames of reference.
This work will build on learning from other forms of analysis, including
surveys conducted in conjunction with An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, by
Kildare County Council and by the library service itself.
So the next five years will be very much about negotiating the best and
most inclusive use of our ‘places’ and ‘spaces’. It will also be about the
continuing commitment, knowledge, skills and expertise of our staff who
navigate such a positive, dynamic relationship between readers and
writers, between artists and audiences.
We commit to ongoing consultation with client groups and partners
through the County Development Board and its structures as well as
through the vast network of individuals and groups who so generously
work with us in many different ways.
Our experience of co-operative networking and joint provision of services
has long since proven that productive creative relationships with
interested and committed partners delivers better services.
DONE
 KILDARE LEARNING TOGETHER – Consultation through
County Development Board with children, young people, people
with disabilities, adult learners, newly literate people and those
who cannot read or write, Travellers, New ethnic communities,
single parents, parenting groups and area partnerships in order to
inform the design of a new CENTRAL LIBRARY for County
Kildare at Newbridge.
 LENDIT – A business information project funded by the EU
 LISTED – A library research project for Adult Learners led by An
Chomhairle Leabharlanna
 INFO CAP 2000 – An internet Development project funded by the
EU in 1996 which led to the development of Kildare.ie
 Review and development of new library website at
www.kildare.ie/library
 MAKING ACCESS HAPPEN- A project supported by the
Equality Authority and An Chomhairle Leabharlanna which
focused on delivering Library services to people with disability.
Kildare
was
one
of
four
pilot
areas.
www.kildare.ie/library/making-access-happen
 PICTUREOGS and THREADING TALES where research,
consultation and evaluation are key factors throughout the process
 Participated in PUBLIC LIBRARY USER SURVEY led by An
Chomhairle Leabharlanna
 Conducted project and programme evaluations
 Survey of users and non-users at Leixlip
 Continuous consultation with teachers
 Focus group consultations
 Consultation with people with disabilities, advocacy groups and
statutory groups
 Consultation with Travellers
TO DO
 Research, consultation and review will be an integral part of this
strategy
 Inform annual operational plans through consultation with key user
groups and non-users
 Develop qualitative measures in relation to the impacts and effects
of library services in order to complement quantitative measures
 Conduct local surveys with key client groups
 Consult with client groups and partners through the County
Development Board and its structures as well as through the vast
network of individuals and groups who so generously work with us
in many different ways
 Engage in critical analysis of the experiences of library staff and
those who use or do not use libraries so as to inform service
delivery
 Explore ways of engaging new users and audiences
 Actively participate in surveys and other research methods in
conjunction with An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, by Kildare County
Council and by the library service itself
MARKETING AND PROMOTION
DONE




Marketing and Public Relations budgets in place
Training programme in marketing and Public Relations for staff
Local marketing and public relations actions at service points
Participation in national actions
TO DO
Increase marketing and promotions budget in order to:
 Continue marketing programme for cultural services supported by
professional training for staff and a public relations campaign
 Develop a campaign to promote the intrinsic value of imagination,
knowledge and cultural participation as a key component of active
citizenship, social justice and equality
 Commission a consultancy to act as initial ‘cultural services
advocate’ in 2007
 Continue to forge partnerships with relevant agencies and
initiatives in order to maximise access and participation
 Target new families with information about services
 Shape focused services and participative programming through
direct engagement with target groups
 Adopt consultative and evaluative process for each element of the
service and document feedback
 Provide training and development programme for staff to deliver
- regular media promotions
- marketing skills
- presentation skills
- customer care
- exhibition design and delivery
 Continue to work with County Development Board structures to
deepen contacts with all local agencies and programmes to promote
Cultural Inclusion and library services
CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
DONE
 New Library Headquarters and County Arts Centre established at
Riverbank, Newbridge
 Old Library Headquarters refurbished to accommodate Archives,
Local Studies and Genealogy services
 New Community Library Facilities at Leixlip
 New Mobile Library
 Extended facilities at Clane
 New library facilities at Rathangan
 Refurbishment of Celbridge Library to achieve accessibility
 New Deliveries Van
 New library facilities at Ballitore
 New Quaker Museum at Ballitore
TO DO
 Enhance the range and quality of our venues emphasising physical,
social and Cultural Access
 Ensure that all new developments include internal and external
play spaces for children including those with disabilities
 Ensure that all new developments include space for young people
with appropriate collections and programmes
 Ensure that all new developments include a multipurpose space for
community cultural and educational programming
 Explore partnership options for service delivery combined with
technology and Public Private Partnerships in communities too
small to sustain a stand alone permanent library
 Enhance public IT educational and information services throughout
the network
 Develop new facilities at Kildare Town
 Develop new Central Library for the County at Newbridge
 Develop new accessible facilities at Monasterevin
 Develop new accessible facilities at Kilcock
 Extend current facilities at Naas or relocate
 Research alternative sites for new facilities at Maynooth
 Research alternative sites for new facilities at Celbridge
See next page for financial table for capital projects
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
DONE
 The appointment of a professional librarian to each full time library
 Focused training and development plan for each individual member
of staff
 Temporary positions made permanent
 Establishment of new more effective staff structure
 New systems and ways of working to achieve better service to
users
 Team structure and performance management system established
 Workplace partnerships established
TO DO
 Review our staffing complement and structure to take account of
additional new services and to reflect growing population and the
consequent increased and more complex demands
 Ensure appropriate and sufficient staffing for each new library
 Continue to deepen training and education programmes for staff
and integrate this “new knowledge” into the system
 Continue to provide staff with opportunities to research and
experience best practice examples of innovation in library service
in Europe
 Encourage staff exchanges with other cultural institutions
 Encourage and support staff in making strategic connections with
their local communities in order to market and promote the
collective services and also to forge co-operative networks to
deliver better service.
LIFELONG LEARNING AND ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
 Increase funding for bookstock and online resources for adult
learners
 Designate an additional member of staff to support public ICT
projects and programmes
 Develop Corporate Library Service for Elected Members and Staff
of Kildare Local Authorities
 Appoint professional librarian to manage Corporate Library
Services
 Specifically address literacy and reading development, general
basic education and skills development together with Adult
Education providers and support through collections and
programmes
 Diversify education opportunities by supporting distance learning
programmes in our venues and by establishing Access agreements
for Adult Learners with third level institutions
 Actively participate with progress towards an inter-lending
ageement with third level college libraries nationally
 Work with Riverbank Arts Centre to actively promote participation
in the Arts at Community and individual level through the use of
the Centre’s facilities for education, training and self-development
for all ages
 Actively promote Riverbank Arts Centre and its programmes
throughout the library network
 Act as an information and development resource for community
groups, arts organisations and individuals
 Develop networks with Adult Education Institutions to offer direct
adult education programmes in libraries as already achieved in
Community Leadership and Community Arts with N.U.I.,
Maynooth
 Promote imaginative literature and the novel or ‘story’ as a key
means of learning
 Promote library services for children and young adults as a critical
lifelong learning resource
CULTURAL INCLUSION AND SOCIAL COHESION
CHALLENGING IDEAS
The engagement of people in cultural experiences can happen at a variety
of levels where the individual may engage as a passive consumer, or
active producer or as influencer and decision maker. The extent to which
individuals can engage at any level will be dependent on how well they
can employ the ‘cultural literacy tools and discourses’ used in our
everyday language and organisational procedures. These include:
A sense of confidence and belonging
Access to the language and social conventions
Verbal, reading and writing skills
Visual and tactile literacies
Ability to physically and intellectually engage
Our experience in Kildare has been that our integrated programmes with
Arts, Archives, Local Studies and Ballitore museum as well as
partnerships with other actors/agencies allows us to provide a broad range
of ‘entry’ points for those not in a position to interact with traditional
services. In seeking to provide an inclusive service we recognise that
Cultural Inclusion is
“not the absence of conflict, but the ability to manage differences and
deal with conflict when it arises”
(Gilchrist, A. 2004, Community Cohesion and Community Development:
Bridges or Barricades. London. Community Development Foundation).
In terms of library services this means the provision of opportunities to
appreciate, explore and debate difference and to foster an acceptance of
diversity.
Cultural Inclusion challenges us to make library spaces, collections,
programmes and opportunities accessible. Our buildings and vehicles
must be physically and ‘intuitively’ accessible and welcoming. Our
collections and programmes must likewise include a wide variety of
formats reflecting the identities, interests and needs of the citizens we
serve.
DONE
 MAKING ACCESS HAPPEN – A project supported by the
Equality Authority and An Chomhairle Leabharlanna which
focused on delivering Library services to people with disability.
Kildare was one of the four pilot areas
 Ongoing refurbishment programme to ensure accessible buildings
and fit-out
 Review of stock selection policies to include multi-media
accessible formats and online access as well as specialist software
packages
 Production of staff handbook to encourage positive proactive
attitudes to dealing with disability
 Production of two training programmes to support staff
engagement with ‘changing minds’ and ‘changing practices’.
 PICTUREOGS and THREADING TALES (see also page --)
 Development of services to multi-cultural communities and
individuals
 Publication of Can’t Lose Cant, the language of Irish Travellers.
This book is a children’s pictionary using Cant and English and
Irish words
 Digitisation of local historical material
 Digital content development for primary school students in
conjunction with An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
 Participation in lifesteps, a series of easy-to-use booklets on how to
use the internet led by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna.
 Public Internet Access points now available at all service points
supported by Department of Environment, Heritage and Local
Government and An Chomhairle Leabharlanna
 Computerised Information Management System at 12 service
points and at HQ
 Additional Opening Hours
TO DO
 Continue to actively participate in the realisation of a Countywide
Anti-poverty strategy
 Continue our annual rolling programme of physical access works
to existing building stock
 Continue to diversify collections to reflect different interests,
abilities and backgrounds
 Increase funding for bookstock and programmes which support
cultural inclusion
 Continue to organise outreach work which specifically focuses on
non-traditional audiences and New Ethnic Communities with a
view to promoting active library usage amongst these groups
 Continue complimentary programming between libraries, arts
services, Riverbank Arts Centre, local studies, genealogy, archives
and museum to better serve existing audiences and to grow new
audiences
 Continue our commitment to publish lesser known cultures
 Act as a ‘Community Ideas’ incubation, store and exchange for
community development agencies and groups
 Extend opening hours of our venues to allow people greater access
to the services
 Develop outreach programmes from Local Studies, Archives and
Genealogical services to preserve, develop and promote identity
and sense of place celebrating all traditions and cultures
 Develop mobile learning resource unit for use in outreach
programmes
 Research and develop new ways of providing library services to
small communities who cannot sustain a stand alone library
 Continue to position libraries as community cultural and
educational spaces in which people from different backgrounds,
interests, ages and abilities can meet and actively participate in
cultural engagement
 Ensure that our buildings are designed to welcome people and to
offer comfortable, sufficient and appropriate space
Serving Isolated Communities or those without a permanent library
– The Mobile Library Service
The Mobile Library serves thirty-two communities in County Kildare
ranging from small rural ‘cross-roads’ to small villages to urban
communities. This service boasts the most loyal and regular groups of
users with the library acting as meeting place as well as source of
knowledge. In more remote areas the social importance of the service
cannot be overestimated.
DONE
 New stops at Allenwood, Naas Day Care Centre and Moore Abbey
 New accessible vehicle provided in 2007 which accommodates a
live link to library catalogues and to Internet for library users.
Specialised storage which can carry multimedia formats and a very
special area for children’s books and materials
TO DO
 Extend service to include additional stops
 Explore use of vehicle on a seasonal basis to provide storytime,
reading promotion and marketing programmes
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
DONE
 Installation of enhanced Information Management System in 12
service points and at Headquarters
 Public ICT Services available at all service points
 Web services in place including
- Local Studies and Archives
- Online access to library resource catalogue
- Databases
- News and events including mail outs
- Posting of book reviews, comments and opinions by library
users
 Roll out of broadband/wi-fi countywide begun
 Roll out of ‘lend a laptop’ service countywide as currently
available at Leixlip Library
 Assistive technologies roll out to all service points underway
 Assistive software roll out to all service points underway
TO DO
 Extend and improve our technological networks and
communications infrastructure to enhance public access to ICT
 Ensure that all investment in technology is proofed against our key
objectives of user needs, inclusion and accessibility
 Extend information management system to all service points
 Continue to support reluctant users through informal hands on
mentoring
 Extend range of software available to users including for people
with disabilities




Continue to provide staff training in e-services
Continue to develop web related services
Provide e-books service
Appoint an additional member of staff to support public ICT
services
MEASURING SUCCESS
DONE
 National and local service indicators adopted and implemented
 Performance Management Development System operational
throughout the service
 Project evaluation system in place for research and development
work with key groups
 Participation in National Public Library User Survey
 Local surveys and consultations
TO DO
 Further develop consultative and evaluative framework with target
groups for each element of the service as part of annual operational
plans using County Development Board Structures
 Continue to monitor service indicators and adjust services to
achieve targets
 Develop qualitative measures
 Install door counters at all service points
 Continue to position evaluation as a key part of each programme or
project
 Participation in proposed national surveys
LIST OF SERVICE POINTS
Athy Community Library
Tel: 059 8631144
Email: athylib@kildarecoco.ie
Ballitore Library and Quaker Museum
Tel: 0598623344
Email: ballitorelib@kildarecoco.ie
Castledermot Community Library
Tel: 059 9144483
Email: castledermotlib@kildarecoco.ie
Celbridge Community Library
Tel: 01 6272207
Email: celbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie
Clane Community Library
Tel: 045 892716
Email: clanelib@kildarecoco.ie
Coill Dubh Community Library
Tel: 045 870456
Email coilldubhlib@kildarecoco.ie
Curragh Community Library
Tel: 045 442527
Email: curraghlib@kildarecoco.ie
Kilcock Community Library
Tel: 01 6284403
Email: kilcocklib@kildarecoco.ie
Kilcullen Community Library
Tel: 045 482193
Email: kilcullenlib@kildarecoco.ie
Kildare Community Library
Tel: 045 520235
Email: kildarelib@kildarecoco.ie
Leixlip Community Library
Tel: 01 6060050
Email: Leixliplib@kildarecoco.ie
Arts Service
Tel: 045 448318
Email: lrussell@kildarecoco.ie
Local Studies Genealogy and Archives Department
Tel: 045 449721
www.kildare.ie/library/localstudies
Local Studies
Tel: 087 9871046
Email: localhistory@kildarecoco.ie
Genealogy Service
Tel: 045 433602
Email: kildaregenealogy@iol.ie
Archives Service
Tel: 045 449721
Maynooth Community Library
Tel: 01 6285530
Email: maynoothlib@kildarecoco.ie
Mobile Library Service
Tel: 045 448303
Email: mobilelib@kildarecoco.ie
Monasterevin Community Library
Tel: 045 529239
Email: monasterevinlib@kildarecoco.ie
Naas Community Library
Tel: 045 879111
Email: naaslib@kildarecoco.ie
Newbridge Community Library
Tel: 045 436453
Email: newbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie
Rathangan Community Library
Tel: 045 528078
Email rathanganlib@kildarecoco.ie
Schools Library Service
Tel: 045 527080
Mobile: 087 1221903
Email: schools@kildarecoco.ie