Explore York Libraries and Archives Annual Review 2022 - Report - Page 3
From the Chair
Libraries aren’t just places to
read stories, they are places
to make stories.
Whatever life throws at us,
Explore libraries will continue
to be places for children,
young people, young adults,
workers, the carers and
the cared for, mums, dads,
grandparents and older people
generally. They are safe and
welcoming places at the heart
of the communities we serve:
places for readers, writers,
poets, storytellers, makers,
creators, dancers, artists,
musicians and singers. They
are social spaces, community
spaces, family spaces, creative
and cultural spaces, and
learning spaces.
The board is incredibly proud
of all that has been achieved
during this challenging year.
Explore’s mission is ‘to inspire
everyone to challenge their
imagination, explore their
potential and connect with
each other, supporting and
enriching our communities.’
We will continue to provide
support, direction and
encouragement and, most
importantly, Explore colleagues
will continue to listen, to
learn and to look at how we
can further develop these
special places to better meet
everyone’s needs.
Chris Edwards,
Chair of Explore
From the Chief Executive
In March 2020 our Explore Labs
project won a prestigious Edge
Award. But just two weeks later
it broke my heart to have to tell
Explore staff we must close all
of our libraries and the archive.
We thought it would all be over
by summer, but as time went by
it became clear that covid would
change the way we all live our
lives forever.
The key change was the move
to life online and Explore was
at the forefront of making that
happen. Our staff were involved
in national work to create a
toolkit for libraries during the
pandemic, to lobby Government,
and to set up a series of web
links to support people at home.
Meetings and events moved
online. Staff were able to
take advantage of a wealth
of training available through
webinars, and they used these
new skills to provide online
events such as poetry evenings,
story times and archive stories,
with many events made on our
YouTube channel.
We lobbied the Government with
the result that they announced
ahead of the second lockdown
that libraries were essential
services and their staff were key
workers. This meant we could
open our three largest Explore
Centres to provide access to
computers and the internet, so
that online services that many
take for granted were accessible
for all. At a time when being
online was so important, Explore
also led on creating a city wide
100% Digital York Partnership to
give everyone the opportunity to
be online.
In 2020 we were here for
everyone in York. Most
importantly, we provided up
to date, accurate information
about the pandemic,
Government rules, health and
wellbeing. Libraries were a
one-stop place for people to
keep up to date with what was
happening. We introduced
PressReader giving free access
to thousands of newspapers
and magazines from around
the world in many different
languages.
Throughout the last year
our staff rose to meet every
challenge. They learned new
skills and piloted new services
to provide the people of York
with the best possible library
and archive service. I’m very
proud of them, and as we look
to the future I am confident that
Explore will be able to meet any
challenge that comes our way
so we can continue to grow and
thrive, wherever the road takes
us.
Fiona Williams,
Chief Executive of Explore
EXPLORE ANNUAL REVIEW 2020-21
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