Libraries For All: Social Inclusion in Public Libraries

Section 3:
Identifying the Barriers that Keep People Away

3.1 In considering what they should do to combat social exclusion, Public library authorities need to consider the circumstances of their communities and the reasons why some people do not make any, or full, use of their services. Some of the main barriers to a socially inclusive use of libraries are: (i) Institutional (ii) Personal and social (iii) Related to perceptions and awareness; and (iv) Environmental.

Institutional

3.2 These are the barriers that authorities, libraries and library staff themselves may create, and which may discourage or restrict usage by certain people or sections of the community. They include:

• Unsuitable or unduly restrictive opening hours, or restrictions upon the availability of library services.
• Inappropriate staff attitudes and behaviour.
• Inappropriate rules and regulations.
• Charging policies which disadvantage those on low incomes.
• Book stock policies which do not reflect the needs of the community or are not in suitable formats.
• Lack of signage in buildings, so that people can not easily find their way around.
• Lack of a sense of ownership and involvement by the community.
• Lack of integration of local authority services and a focal point for delivering them.
• Lack of adequate provision of services or facilities for people with disabilities.

Personal and Social

3.3 These barriers exist either in personal terms, or because of cultural or community circumstances. They include:

• Lack of basic skills in reading, writing and communication.
• Low income and poverty.
• Direct and indirect discrimination.
• Lack of social contact.
• Low self esteem.
• Lack of permanent fixed address.

Perceptions and Awareness

3.4 Perceptions that "libraries are not for us" exist both in individual and community terms. The main problems include:

• People who are educationally disadvantaged.
• People who live in isolation from wider society.
• People who don’t think libraries are relevant to their lives or needs.
• Lack of knowledge of facilities and services, and how to use them.

Environmental

3.5 Environmental barriers include:

• Difficult physical access into and within buildings.
• Problem estates and urban decay.
• The isolation problems experienced by rural communities.
• Poor transport links.

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Foreword by Chris Smith

Executive Summary of Key Policy Objectives

1 Why a Social Inclusion Policy for Public Libraries?

2 The Social Inclusion Context

3 Identifying the Barriers that Keep People Away

4The Social Inclusion Policy

5 Means of Achieving those Objectives

6 The Challenges that Libraries Face

7 The Consultation Process

Appendix A - Bibliography

Appendix B - Terms of Reference and List of Policy Group Members