Regaining Footfall: Reflections from our netloan library user groups
Our annual netloan user groups have been a great success this year. A total of 76 library authorities gathered together across two days of online events to discuss all that’s involved with managing PC and printing services in the library. To a large extent, this concerned technology-based discussions, or ideas on configuration and support for easier access and administration of services. But it also extended beyond these topics, as we explored recovery of library services and footfall after nearly two tough years of the pandemic.
Discussion groups on both days of the user groups tackled this theme. It was useful to hear from libraries across the UK as they shared experiences and plans for recovering footfall and getting more users back onto library computers. The ability to get online is increasingly important with more people at ever greater risk of social isolation and economic hardship as the pandemic continues.
We heard how there are multiple challenges to returning users to the library while local restrictions and staff shortages persist. But for those libraries finding ways to stage new initiatives and events, results have been encouraging with a good response amongst targeted demographics of users. An extensive list of these initiatives and programmes as compiled from these discussions is available to read...
