ability to identify, locate and exploit relevant information. Such services may be provided
but deep concern has been expressed about the ability of the public library to sustain
these demands without introducing charges.
To help satisfy their social and cultural aspirations, children’s librarians invite a
diverse range of individuals and groups into the library to work with children— local
personalities, the emergency services, theatre and music groups, local radio companies
who broadcast with the help of children, children’s zoos are just a few examples. Some
libraries have established in-residence schemes whereby crafts-men and women, artists,
actors, musicians, writers may be appointed to run workshops throughout the authority
for the young.
Another manifestation of the library’s social and cultural remit is taking services
beyond the confines of the library’s walls and into the community. This was manifest
even during the early years of the children’s library movement in embryonic services to
schools, children’s homes and youth clubs. Since then, the concept of ‘outreach’ has
extended to embrace the whole spectrum of society. Activities and collections of
materials are taken into shopping centres, cinema complexes, health clinics, factories,
playgrounds, swimming pools and a variety of other locations. One authority even has
its own canal boat for story-telling, and the British railway system has been used for
activities as part of a national book festival. During the 1980s, urban aid funding was
used by a number of library authorities to establish book buses which became the
primary medium for their outreach activities. The buses were specially decorated and
equipped to appeal to the young, and their vibrant image succeeded in attracting many
new patrons.
Many libraries offer programmes of activities which serve no other purpose than to
entertain, to fulfil the recreational and leisure interests of the young. The range is huge—
puppet shows, fancy dress parties, entertainers of all kinds, Teddy Bears’ picnics for the
very young and video, computer and music clubs for the older child. In some
authorities, recreational activities are not viewed as part of the ‘core’ service, and it is
thought that children should pay to participate.
The financial constraints imposed on many authorities in recent years has led to a re-
awakening of the arguments which were put forward in the 1930s, suggesting that
libraries should prioritise their activities and focus on what many still view as the
primary aim, supporting the development of reading.
Whatever the mode of promotion, children’s libraries have developed a valuable
rapport with many other library and non-library organisations to undertake
these activities. In this way crucial links are made with like-minded bodies, resources
are maximised and the expertise of other specialist groups can be used. National
organisations such as The Library Association (Library Power promotion scheme for
children), the Young Book Trust (National Children’s Book Week), The Federation of
Children’s Book Groups (National Story-telling Week), together with regional and local
organisations interact to support the work of individual authorities. The mass media,
too, are used widely to promote their services, particularly local radio and the local
press.
Central to the success of many library activities has been the use of sponsorship and
grants from commercial and charitable bodies and from the regional Arts Councils
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