City of Fremantle received the Library Board Award for Excellence for their Outdoor Reading Room project. Here is a little information about this winning project.
Following a
community place making workshop focused on King’s Square, a public open space
adjacent to the Fremantle City Library which had become known over years for
anti social behaviour, rather than as the civic square for the City of
Fremantle, it was agreed to create an outdoor reading room over the summer
months. As well as enlivening and creating positive activity in the Square, the
project aimed to promote the library and provide a launch for 2012 National
Year of Reading.
community place making workshop focused on King’s Square, a public open space
adjacent to the Fremantle City Library which had become known over years for
anti social behaviour, rather than as the civic square for the City of
Fremantle, it was agreed to create an outdoor reading room over the summer
months. As well as enlivening and creating positive activity in the Square, the
project aimed to promote the library and provide a launch for 2012 National
Year of Reading.
The Outdoor
Reading Room commenced with two large trolleys of adult and children’s books,
magazines and newspapers; tables and chairs for both adults and children and an
A frame sign. Reading material comprised better quality items that would
normally go into the library’s book sale. Donations from Fremantle Press and
the West Australian supplemented this stock. Staff were only involved in set up
and dismantling each day, the room is based on building trust in the community,
something that has proven to be well placed.
Reading Room commenced with two large trolleys of adult and children’s books,
magazines and newspapers; tables and chairs for both adults and children and an
A frame sign. Reading material comprised better quality items that would
normally go into the library’s book sale. Donations from Fremantle Press and
the West Australian supplemented this stock. Staff were only involved in set up
and dismantling each day, the room is based on building trust in the community,
something that has proven to be well placed.
The outdoor
reading room provided the venue for further library activities, including the
library’s quarterly book sale, author talks, children’s story time and a poet’s
breakfast. Several mothers, walking through the square and seeing the story
time, have since joined the library and now regularly attend story times and
borrow books for their children. Library staff received a number of enquiries
from people wanting to borrow the book they have started to read, and in
several instances were able to join the people to the library and lend them a
library copy of the title to continue their reading. Free wifi service complemented the service
and led to usage from computer users.
reading room provided the venue for further library activities, including the
library’s quarterly book sale, author talks, children’s story time and a poet’s
breakfast. Several mothers, walking through the square and seeing the story
time, have since joined the library and now regularly attend story times and
borrow books for their children. Library staff received a number of enquiries
from people wanting to borrow the book they have started to read, and in
several instances were able to join the people to the library and lend them a
library copy of the title to continue their reading. Free wifi service complemented the service
and led to usage from computer users.
Head counts
at various times each day, showed consistent and regular usage by community
members who extended the area by spreading out onto the adjacent grassy areas
when the tables were fully used.
at various times each day, showed consistent and regular usage by community
members who extended the area by spreading out onto the adjacent grassy areas
when the tables were fully used.
Comments by
users on evaluation forms were very positive:
users on evaluation forms were very positive:
“Whetted my
appetite to start borrowing from library again”
appetite to start borrowing from library again”
“Lovely
atmosphere, provides a social hub – meet more locals and having playground next
to the reading is fantastic for families”
atmosphere, provides a social hub – meet more locals and having playground next
to the reading is fantastic for families”
“Fantastic,
please stay here!”
please stay here!”
“Nice to see
the Square being used for something that benefits people. See less anti-social
behavior because of the reading room”
the Square being used for something that benefits people. See less anti-social
behavior because of the reading room”
“I think this
is a lovely idea and you should be commended for having it”
is a lovely idea and you should be commended for having it”
“A lovely way
to spend the lunch hour – thank you”
to spend the lunch hour – thank you”
The reading
room was due to close at the end of March, but was extended to the end of April
due to popular demand, and the positive impact on community behaviour and usage
levels in King’s Square.
room was due to close at the end of March, but was extended to the end of April
due to popular demand, and the positive impact on community behaviour and usage
levels in King’s Square.
The Outdoor
Reading Room has:
Reading Room has:
·
Built
trust in the community – unstaffed library service
Built
trust in the community – unstaffed library service
·
Blurred
the boundary between the physical library and community space
Blurred
the boundary between the physical library and community space
·
Increased
the physical capacity of a small library by moving into an outdoor space
Increased
the physical capacity of a small library by moving into an outdoor space
·
Introduced
the library, its activities, resources and services to wider community
Introduced
the library, its activities, resources and services to wider community
·
Sponsorship
by local business a tangible demonstration of community support for the library
service
Sponsorship
by local business a tangible demonstration of community support for the library
service
·
Evidence
indicates the positive flow-on effect to library usage
Evidence
indicates the positive flow-on effect to library usage
·
Created
a sense of fun with the colourful furniture
Created
a sense of fun with the colourful furniture
·
Brought
a sense of novelty to King’s Square
Brought
a sense of novelty to King’s Square
·
Improved
sense of safety in the square and reduced anti-sociable behaviors
Improved
sense of safety in the square and reduced anti-sociable behaviors
·
Created
a positive activity for the whole community
Created
a positive activity for the whole community
Plans are in
place to repeat the Outdoor Reading Room each spring/summer following community
response this year. Collaboration with other groups, including a local
publisher, the West Australian, the community market introduced to King’s
Square in February, local schools and event providers has enhanced the service
provided at this venue and helped establish the Outdoor Reading Room as a
recognised part of the Fremantle community.
place to repeat the Outdoor Reading Room each spring/summer following community
response this year. Collaboration with other groups, including a local
publisher, the West Australian, the community market introduced to King’s
Square in February, local schools and event providers has enhanced the service
provided at this venue and helped establish the Outdoor Reading Room as a
recognised part of the Fremantle community.
The broad
aims of positive place making and reading encouragement have clearly been met
in this project which has also met goals set within the project plan, creating
a comfortable place for people to relax and enjoy reading, breaking down
physical and regulatory barriers to library use, and raising the profile of
Fremantle City Library and its role in reading, literacy and creating an informed
community.
aims of positive place making and reading encouragement have clearly been met
in this project which has also met goals set within the project plan, creating
a comfortable place for people to relax and enjoy reading, breaking down
physical and regulatory barriers to library use, and raising the profile of
Fremantle City Library and its role in reading, literacy and creating an informed
community.
Julie Caddy
City of Fremantle Library
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