Hampshire County Council

Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee

21 November 2002 Item 10

Annual Library Plan 2002 (Draft)

Report of the Director for Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Richard Ward 01962 826621

1. Summary

1.1 The preparation of the Annual Library Plan is a statutory requirement by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on every authority and must be agreed by the County Council.

2. Preparation of the Annual Library Plan 2002 (Draft)

2.1 The Annual Library Plan 2002 (Draft) has been prepared in consultation with the library spokespersons for all the parties by means of a workshop examining key aspects.

2.2 In order to allow the new Head of Library and Information Service the opportunity to present the Plan to Committee, the DCMS agreed to allow an extension of two weeks from the usual 30 September deadline.

2.3 The Plan has been sent to the DCMS in draft form, which is the usual procedure with library authorities. Any recommendations for change by the Committee to the Cabinet Member and thence to County Council, can be incorporated in a final version for the DCMS.

3. Significant changes in Annual Library Plan 2002 (Draft)

3.1 The format and requirements for Annual Library Plans changes only slightly from year to year. The significant changes since the Annual Library Plan 2001 was submitted includes the following:

· External and internal influences - creation of the Recreation and Heritage Department, Service Review of the Library and Information Service and creation of Discovery Centres.

· Buildings - information on individual library buildings has been updated.

· Public Library Standards - the Service now meets eleven out of the eighteen standards in whole or part, and will meet a total of twelve in full by March 2003.

· Best Value Reviews - report on follow-up actions to the Audit Commission Best Value Inspection and report on a successful Review of the School Library Service.

· Rolling Action Plans and Targets for 2002-2005 have been drawn up.

Recommendation

That the contents of the Annual Library Plan 2002 (Draft) be supported and be submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his approval.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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