Councillor Sandra Walmsley will be in attendance at the meeting to report on the current review of library services across the borough.
Minutes:
Councillor Sandra Walmsley, Cabinet Member for Strategic Housing and Support Services, Elizabeth Binns, Head of Libraries and Klare Rufo, Assistant Director – Learning and Culture introduced the Library Service Review.
It was explained that the Library Review report had been considered by Scrutiny and the Cabinet.
Statistics were set out in the presentation:
Bury Libraries had 55,388 adult members and 15,496 junior members who carried out 795,200 visits a year.
Per year there were 487,199 book issues, 149,000 enquiries and 71,800 council specific enquiries. Libraries also took £529,994 of council payments.
Bury Libraries held 6,253 events per year with 65,000 adults and children attending. The libraries provided 433 IT training sessions and 185 PCs available across all libraries which adds up to 325,462 hours of free IT access and 853,956 virtual visits.
The libraries worked with over 130 volunteers and 100 partner organisations including tenants and residents associations, community groups, charities, schools and colleges, health providers and housing, advice and welfare agencies.
Statistics specific to Ramsbottom and Tottington libraries were reported:
Ramsbottom Library had 7038 members who carried out 70,750 visits and were issued 77,559 books. 8187 IT sessions were undertaken and there had been 1017 events with 10,692 people attending.
Tottington Library had 3405 members who carried out 26,450 visits and were issued 33,035 books. 3937 IT sessions were undertaken and there had been 563 events with 2164 people attending.
It was explained that the Council had a statutory duty to provide a library service to the public and it was hoped that this review would help to develop a resilient service to take it forward.
The service needs to build on its strengths, plan for developing areas of need and consider savings.
The review will take a year to complete and will be carried out in 3 stages.
This first stage will look at key principles and ask initially whether the 6 principles set out are the right ones. The consultation is asking for residents’ input on the principles to ensure that these are in line with service requirements.
Principle 1 – To provide a Library Service across the borough which provides all residents with access to libraries and electronic services sufficient in number, range and quality to support reading for pleasure, lifelong learning, the development of new skills and the effective use of information.
Principle 2 – To ensure that the needs of more vulnerable residents and groups protected by Equalities legislation are taken fully into account in the provision of these services.
Principle 3 – To ensure that the resources committed to the library service are used as efficiently as possible by exploring options to reduce running and maintenance costs and to share premises with other Council services.
Principle 4 – To explore options for investing in technology to improve access to the library service for example, by extending opening hours , increasing digital services and enhancing provision for those with sensory impairments.
Principle 5 – To welcome the contribution that members of the community can make to the borough’s library service as volunteers, supporting both traditional and digital services, including training to promote digital inclusion.
Principle 6 - To meet local aspirations for a network of community spaces across the borough in which the council and local communities can work together as partners in meeting local needs.
It was explained that this first stage of the consultation would take 3 months. The survey was available online as well is paper form and would take around 3 minutes to complete.
There had been 2 thousand completed survey received to date and it was hoped that many more residents would contribute.
Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and comment and the following points were raised:-
A member of the public referred to people who were losing their literacy due to sensory impairment or dementia and asked what work was being done around this.
It was explained that the library service offered a number of different services in this area provided both by the Council and volunteers. The Council was working with age UK and provided dementia cafe's at libraries as well as other venues.
The library service also provided audio books and mobile libraries to ensure that all residents could access the services.
It was agreed:
That Councillor Walmsley, Elizabeth Binns and Clare Rufo be thanked for their presentation.