I started by re-reading the article which led me to find out more about the story, and then reading other stories on BBC News, The Guardian and Sheffield Star. From here I got a list of the libraries that are now under threat of closure and are being ran by volunteers, as we aim to contact them first for interview and access to the libraries for filming.
With the names of the libraries to approach, I found another website which gave a list of active groups campaigning against the library cuts across the country. In the 'Yorkshire and Humber' section I found details of a number groups in Sheffield trying to save the libraries, with links to their own dedicated pages as well as Facebook and Twitter.
Before starting to contact them I did some light research into each individual library, of which there are about 11, to see which might be most suitable for filming or which groups seemed the most active and therefore most likely to respond. However, at this early stage of still trying to find contributors, I wanted to contact as many as possible to maximise the chances of getting a response.
The first two groups I contacted were BLAG (Broomhill Library Action Group) and SCALP (Sheffield Communities Against Library Privatisation), the two largest groups I could find. I sent emails, Twitter and Facebook messages to both, talking about the plans for the film, asking for contributors and giving my contact details for more information. Through following these groups I also found a couple of active individuals who I may contact too.
Through Facebook and an e-mail address provided on their site I contacted the 'Friends of Ecclesfield Library' and 'Save Walkley Library' groups saying the same thing, and received messages back from them within a couple of days saying they would bring up the film at their next meeting and get back to me. I did also look for any volunteer meetings being hosted that we could attend, but unfortunately could not get information. I also contacted Sheffield labour councillor Mazhar Iqbal as I'd seen him attached to many groups campaigning strongly against the library closures.
In looking for more ways to generate interest and find contributors, I found the 'Sheffield Forum' website. Here I made a post looking for contributors for the film, widening our search for anyone who uses the libraries or who has an opinion on the cuts as we were aware that we wanted to avoid putting forward an agenda in the film in favour of more personal stories and experiences.
We will also arrange a day to go and approach some of the libraries in person to try and get contributors and/or permission to film in the buildings, although this will now have to be after we have pitched. For the short poetic documentary we had the idea of simply showing an empty library with the voice-overs of people talking about them and reading book passages over the top, to create a thematic and topical link with the longer film that also fits the poetic form. For this we will look into approaching Sheffield central library, the largest in the city and just opposite the main university building, about filming there perhaps after closing time.
As our back-up idea I also found an email address for Matthew Colbeck, the person who organises 'The Write Way' group - and I sent a message expressing interest in potentially using it as the subject for a film. Although on the SheffieldHelpYourself website it says that the group meets regularly, I couldn't discern whether they are still meeting or not so will have to wait for more information.
For our other idea we will be pitching, about the memories behind a photograph, Jamie has talked with his grandparents to test out the viability of the idea and whether it yields any interesting stories. He told us that his grandmother was able to find a photograph right away and, although is not willing to talk on film, might know others of a similar age who would be interested. So, for now our main occupation is trying to find contributors for both ideas - and thinking about a structured approach to the photograph film should we pursue it after the pitch.
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