Name: Jane Barnett
Library: Marlow library in Buckinghamshire
I work in a regular town library, not too big, not too small, in the very pretty Thames-side location of Marlow. The age range of borrowers is vast, and recently we have seen an upturn in new members joining.
Throughout the Frontline course I have really made friends with a large number of customers, through speaking to them as part of my modules, and still go back to them for opinions and feedback. I have noticed that much less time is being spent on creating displays, making props etc, and instead, we are using are more tried and tested set-ups as per those I used in Frontline. There is also a lot more thinking outside the obvious.. I think more risks are being taken, and more of a rapid response to what works and what doesn't work through monitoring.
It challenges the notions we always had of what does and doesn't work- sometimes proving us wrong, sometimes proving us right, and forces us to look at our workplace through the eyes of a customer. We must all refresh our visual skills once in a while, and be critical of our surroundings. I also think many of my colleagues would benefit from the online discussions and the opportunity to hear what goes on nationwide.