Library Camp SW 2014 event blog

Library Camp SW 2014 was held at Exeter Library on Saturday 5^th July 2014.  I enjoyed last year’s at Bristol University and suggested that it would be a good idea to hold it at Exeter Library this year.  Luckily others also thought so and came on board to make up a brilliant team: Karen Leach-Bowdler, also from Exeter Library, Wenny Humble and Amy Bell-Worfell from Tiverton Library, Sally Long from Tiverton High School Library, Ann Draisey from Westexe Technology College Library and Francesca Bihet from University of Exeter St Luke’s Library.

People who attended the event were from a wide range of school, college, university, public, health etc libraries and from linked occupations such as Arts Council England which encouraged broad ranging discussions.  Library Camp is an unconference so people pitched session ideas on the Library Camp SW Wiki and at the start of the day.  We matched numbers of people interested and sessions with rooms and tours to make the session timetable for the day.  Then the participants chose 5 of the 20 sessions that most interested them.  

There was lots of interest in the Fab Lab and the Raspberry Pi Jam being held that morning so I led 2 sessions.  Everyone asked numerous questions, took lots of notes and were very pleased with their 3D printed mementos.  Wenny led 3 sessions of a stack tour and handling session of some of the beautifully illustrated Devon Collection of Children’s Books.  Karen led 4 tours of the new Exeter Library!

There was loads of information sharing and tips in the discussion sessions: Technology in Libraries, Libraries as Community Hubs, Engaging Teenagers, Author Visits, Partnerships with Business, Library Users’ Expectations, Moving Sectors, Customer Service, CILIP Qualifications and Networking.  There were also masses of interesting discussions during the delicious Bring and Share Lunch.  The sharing of experiences and enthusiasm of the participants made a really enjoyable day.