Chinese Cambridge

1. Chinese Cambridge 17th-19th October 2002

2. Aims • To promote the library and all its services to the 2,500 members of the Chinese Community in Cambridge, involving all age groups • To gain feedback from the Chinese Community on the service we offer and how it could be improved for them • To showcase some aspects of the Chinese Community in Cambridge, and Chinese culture generally

3. Promoting the library • 1,020 extra visitors to the library • 25-30 new members • 20 “Chinese” Bookstart Bags given out • 75-80% adult Chinese stock loaned • 50-60% children’s stock loaned • 10-12 volunteers for Reminiscence Project

4. “Libraries are for you” produced in Chinese • 500 programmes (in Chinese) and 50 posters distributed • Health information in Chinese • Website links • First visit to the library for some people

5. Reaching all age groups • Babies attended for their Bookstart Bag • Whole families came to events • Children attended for Storytime • Chinese School organised their children to attend • Chinese students and scholars came from the University

6. 20-30 older people came in a minibus for the Reminiscence day • Translators were organised by the Chinese Community • Fashion show, painting and calligraphy attracted all age groups • Adults and children’s books were purchased, some stock borrowed from Suffolk Libraries

7. Feedback from the Community • Questionnaire produced – but as not translated not used extensively – main message more books in Chinese please! • Anecdotally it was suggested that Sunday opening would be popular with Chinese families • Stock for older people particularly needed – large print and audio books suggested • Need list/catalogue of our stock in Chinese

8. Showcasing the community • High profile nationally known painter – display of work and demonstrations • Local displays – e.g. Chinese School, Chinese Community Association • Information desk staffed by Chinese volunteers • Lion Dance launch event • Display to link with Reminiscence event

9. Prize-giving for children from the Chinese School • Storytelling featuring traditional tales • Calligraphy demonstration • Superb food for guests at events • Counting in Chinese and other activities • Fashion shows

10. Learning for the service: Planning • Enthusiastic community contacts vital for success • Involvement of all library service teams and agencies within the building • Planning time not underestimated • Consider catering arrangements • Learning Centre involvement could have been improved

11. Learning for the service : developing professional skills • Opportunity to make links and examine practice region and nation wide • Research opportunity for the future – Mark Lum • Assistance from Chinese Librarian Support Group

12. Learning for the service: partnership • Make contact with potential partners – inside and outside County Council • Maintain contacts and plan future outreach • Offers of help with translation for the future • Reminiscence project funded by City Council – good example • Excellent support from partners – both monetary (“Awards for All” funding), other resources or sponsorship and time

13. Learning for the service:stock • Regularly enhance stock • Cataloguing in Chinese • Health (and Benefit) information in Chinese easy to obtain • Connexions material in Chinese well received • Raising our awareness of what is available

14. Learning for the service:stock • Does the % of budget for stock match the % of the Chinese Community (2%?) • Continue to highlight stock in other languages • Importance of good displays • Involving others in stock selection • Culture of donations • Need help with existing stock • Which magazines and newspapers to buy?

15. Learning for the service: marketing and publicity • Value of targeting specific groups • Value for all customers for learning/information • Good publicity – 2 newspaper articles, articles in Chinese press, 2 radio interviews and TV news item • Attendance of V.I.P’s • Raising library profile in academic community

16. Learning for the service: marketing and publicity • Value of targeting specific groups • Value for all customers for learning/information • Good publicity – 2 newspaper articles, articles in Chinese press, 2 radio interviews and TV news item • Attendance of V.I.P’s • Raising library profile in academic community

17. Learning for the service: • Further visits as a result • Need for library to look attractive (including foyer) • New members for the service and Doorstep • Balloons and stickers very popular • Family groups came to join in with the quiz, stories etc • Visitors spending at least half a day in the library

18. Encourage Chinese volunteers for the future • Exploit local expertise • Extend good practice to other libraries • Reminiscence Book soon to be produced

19. Learning for the service: training • Staff training in cultural awareness • Raising staff awareness of local ethnic communities • Registration process – staff need help to overcome language barrier and communities need information on how to join and have membership prepared in advance of their visit to the library • Language Line training

20. Parents as Partners Conference • Using skills of parents and grandparents • Building strong alliances for the future • Using reminiscence work for generations to learn from each other • Valuing older people’s experiences • Making the service more relevant • Involving the users • Learning for everyone