Archived decisions

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE - THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA AND THE BACKGROUND TO THE CURRENT ANNUAL LIBRARY PROCESS

1. In February 2003, the Audit Commission carried out a light touch re-inspection of the Library and Information Service and assessed it as providing a "good two-star service that had promising prospects for improvement". The inspectors made a number of recommendations to help sustain improvement and these practical pointers have since informed the planning and delivery of the service restructure and subsequent business planning processes and plans. The current Library and Information Service business plan and the work underway in all Hampshire's libraries, is also underpinned by the Framework for the Future Action Plan 2003 - 6 published by the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries which set out ten strategic objectives supporting the improvement of services to customers.

2. The Executive Member has considered a report on the Library and Information Service which covered such matters as new libraries and mobiles, the discovery centres, longer opening hours and a wide range of reader and learning activities and events within libraries and through outreach in the community. These include Bookstart which involves the provision of Bookstart packs for babies 8-9 months old, the Wessex Children's Book Fair, games workshops for teenagers and Music Fusion which is a series of story telling and music making experiences for children at Havant and Waterlooville libraries.

3. A copy of the full report has been sent to all members of the Council

4IR940704