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CASE STUDIES

Case studies

How libraries are using Opening the Book training to change the way staff talk with readers, present their collections and bring their spaces to life. Explore the wider impact through Case studies, showing how different services have approached rolling out the training. Or browse Learner stories to hear how individuals have applied their learning in their own workplaces.

4case studies 19learner stories 12courses

THE PEOPLE

Learner stories

The individual library staff - assistants, librarians, managers - who put their learning into practice. Browse the archive, or filter by course.

19 learners
19 learners

LEARNER STORIES

Showing 18 of 19 archive entries
Rachel Leahy

Rachel Leahy

Cork County Libraries · Ireland

Rachel contributed heart and soul to the search for the right books for the right readership and the right time. Her enthusiasm for helping the library reach out into the...

Creating themed collections Read →
Xanthe Kitchen

Xanthe Kitchen

Coventry Libraries · England

Xanthe's assessor was very impressed with the impact she made applying merchandising techniques across different areas of her library - her work on this course was some of the...

Merchandising the bookshelves Read →
Steve Stratford

Steve Stratford

Conwy Libraries · Wales

Steve was nominated by Cheryl Hesketh, Library Development Manager: Reading at Conwy Libraries - a recognition that came from her direct view of how Steve was applying the Putting...

Putting readers first Read →
Matt Prosser, Customer Services Assistant, Pitsea Library, Essex Libraries

Matt Prosser, Customer Services Assistant, Pitsea Library, Essex Libraries

Essex Libraries · England

Customer Services Assistant

It was evident throughout Matt's work on the Understanding Book Appeal course that he was committed to getting the most out of the material and the practical work. His work was...

Understanding Book Appeal Read →
Eleanor-Rose Gordon

Eleanor-Rose Gordon

Essex Libraries · England

Eleanor is part of a cohort of Essex Libraries staff completing the Understanding Book Appeal course. Through her work on the course she demonstrated an evident empathy with...

Understanding Book Appeal Read →
Neil Chapman

Neil Chapman

Hartpury University & College Library · England

Neil works at Hartpury University and College in Gloucestershire , a specialist institution educating around 4,500 students and researchers in animals, agriculture, sport and...

Playing your part in the library welcome Read →
Laura Farrant, Library Associate, Barrie Public Library, Ontario

Laura Farrant, Library Associate, Barrie Public Library, Ontario

Barrie Public Library · Canada

Laura's work on two Opening the Book courses - Putting readers first and Merchandising the bookshelves - has been very impressive. She's taken the opportunities offered by both to...

2 courses · multi-course Read →
Paula Brown Library Manager, Access Services, Derby Libraries

Paula Brown Library Manager, Access Services, Derby Libraries

Derby Libraries · England

Library Manager

Paula set out to use the Practical Outreach course to plan improvements to Derby Libraries' Home Library Service . During lockdown she used the time to plan how to widen and...

Practical Outreach Read →
Laura Griffith Community Library Officer

Laura Griffith Community Library Officer

Scotland

Community Library Officer

Laura worked on the Understanding Book Appeal course during the first lockdown - a considerable challenge, but one she met with a strong commitment to working digitally, and she...

Understanding Book Appeal Read →
Rachel Laban,  Derbyshire Libraries

Rachel Laban, Derbyshire Libraries

Derbyshire Libraries · England

Rachel's work on the Creating powerful promotions course was exceptionally high quality throughout . She used the course - and the time away from day-to-day running of the library...

Creating powerful promotions Read →
Megan Jones, Virtual Library Assistant, Conwy Cultural Centre, Wales

Megan Jones, Virtual Library Assistant, Conwy Cultural Centre, Wales

Wales · UK

Virtual Library Assistant

Megan completed two Opening the Book courses - Merchandising the bookshelves and Creating powerful promotions - while her library was closed. She tackled the work in both with...

2 courses · multi-course Read →
Joanne Springham, Bexley Libraries

Joanne Springham, Bexley Libraries

Bexley Libraries · England

Jo has completed work on four Opening the Book courses with personal feedback so far, and is currently tackling a fifth . Her commitment to online learning is exemplary - she's...

3 courses · multi-course Read →
Mark Kirkby, Leeds Libraries

Mark Kirkby, Leeds Libraries

Leeds Libraries · England

Mark's thoughtful and creative work on the Creating powerful promotions course was driven by a passion for helping readers discover something great to read and a broad knowledge...

Creating powerful promotions Read →
Thomas Maher, Wexford Libraries, Ireland

Thomas Maher, Wexford Libraries, Ireland

Wexford Libraries · Ireland

Thomas worked on the Understanding Book Appeal course at Wexford Libraries in Ireland , exploring how to use the reading experience and the look of the books themselves to help...

Understanding Book Appeal Read →
Tina Callaghan, Library Assistant, Wexford Libraries, Ireland

Tina Callaghan, Library Assistant, Wexford Libraries, Ireland

Wexford Libraries · Ireland

Library Assistant

Tina was the first person to complete the Merchandising the bookshelves course after the team adapted it to be taken without any access to a physical library. That's not a small...

Merchandising the bookshelves Read →
Lynne Goldie, Library Assistant, Central Library, Stirling Libraries

Lynne Goldie, Library Assistant, Central Library, Stirling Libraries

Stirling Libraries · Scotland

Library Assistant

Lynne used her time working from home during lockdown to take the Creating powerful promotions course. It's not easy to take online training, especially when away from work - but...

Creating powerful promotions Read →
Sepe Illig - Stawell Library, Wimmera Regional Library Corporation, Victoria, Australia

Sepe Illig - Stawell Library, Wimmera Regional Library Corporation, Victoria, Australia

Stawell Library · Australia

Sepe took the Practical Outreach course as part of a large rollout to more than 100 staff across the State of Victoria in 2019 . She works in a small country library that is very...

Practical Outreach Read →
Linda Longley, East Melbourne Library, Victoria, Australia

Linda Longley, East Melbourne Library, Victoria, Australia

East Melbourne Library · Australia

Linda took the opportunity of a partial library refurbishment project to use the Observation research training to look at the way her customers were actually using the library...

Observation research Read →

Working with someone who deserves a spot here?

We honour learners - frontline assistants, librarians, managers - who put creative energy and real change into their course work.

Nominate a learner

NOMINATE A LEARNER

Honour someone who's making it happen

The impact our courses achieve has a great deal to do with the individuals who use them. Every week, large numbers of library staff put their learning into practice by making practical changes in their workplace.

If you'd like to nominate someone - a colleague, a member of your team, or yourself - fill in the form. Anne Downes will be in touch.

Anne Downes will read every one

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