If libraries have really changed over the years, then it has
\nbeen as a result of how information is delivered to us all.<\/p>\n
Yet the way in which books are taken in or out of Libraries is
\nonly now starting to change: –
\nthanks to the introduction new library equipment.<\/p>\n
Yet the issues around the use of self issue and self return
\nmachines within libraries are never fully understood by most
\npeople who use libraries, or even the library workers who use
\nthem.<\/p>\n
– Many people view such machines a threat to jobs.<\/p>\n
– Yet others view them as a way in which they take away the
\nregular human contact that they have with those who work
\nwithin libraries.<\/p>\n
The truth is that far from being a threat to jobs,
\nsuch machines can liberate those of us who work in libraries,
\nand we can now really use the information skills which we all
\nhave.<\/p>\n
It also means that library staff are freed up from a lot of
\nvery repetitive work, and thus can spend more time in helping
\npeople with their information needs.<\/p>\n
There is also another issue which kicks in here.<\/p>\n
Books are not those lightweight paperbacks which people
\nimagine library workers float about with all day.<\/p>\n
– Books are made of paper.
\n– Paper can be very heavy.
\n– Books are made of Paper.
\n– Books can be heavy.
\n– A Lot of books can be very heavy.<\/p>\n
Now just image what it can be like to lift a lot of books each
\nand every day of your working life.<\/p>\n
I still remember how my arms ached the first few weeks I
\nworked within a library some 37 years ago.<\/p>\n
This was the result of spending my working days lifting heavy
\ntomes.<\/p>\n
I Still have some very well developed arm muscles.<\/p>\n
Now just imagine what it must be like to site at a desk and lift
\nup a couple of very heavy books for several hours a day.<\/p>\n
It can put a lot of strain upon ones arm muscles,
\nand result in repetitive strain injuries ( RSI ) .<\/p>\n
If you don’t believe me, then try lifting upon and down a couple
\nof coffee table books in your outstretch hand while your also
\nin a seated position.<\/p>\n
Just keep doing it for about 10 minutes, and you will start to
\nrealise just what a pain it is to spend all day issuing &
\nreturning library books.<\/p>\n
That’s why we should all rejoice in the use of self issue &
\nself return machines within libraries.<\/p>\n
As I write this there is an ongoing public & trade union
\nopposition to these machines being introduced in to the
\nlibraries of the London Borough of Camden.<\/p>\n
This is all very silly!<\/p>\n
What trade unionists should realise is that It’s not a
\nmanagement trick to cut jobs.<\/p>\n
It is trade unionists which should be demanding that All
\nLibraries have such technologies installed within them,
\nas it is a way to protect all library works from RSI.<\/p>\n
This really needs to be said,
\nand understood,
\nboth by library workers,
\nall other library users.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If libraries have really changed over the years, then it has been as a result of how information is delivered to us all. Yet the way in which books are taken in or out of Libraries is only now starting to change: – thanks to the introduction new library equipment. Yet the issues around the … Continue reading An Over Rated Library Exercise.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.theproject.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}