Archived decisions

PUBLIC LIBRARIES STANDARDS REPORT 2004

1. In 2001 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) introduced a set of national public library standards to guide the continuous improvement of services and against which the performance of each library authority would be monitored and assessed on an annual basis. These standards were published in the DCMS document "Comprehensive, efficient and modern public libraries - standards and assessment" and a period of three years was allowed for compliance.

2. The Secretary of State has now asked that all public library authorities in England should provide information about their performance against the standards and any local targets set. Each authority's performance will be rated as weak, fair, good or excellent on the basis of an analysis undertaken by assessors appointed by the DCMS.

3. During the lifetime of the current public library standards the County Library Service has made massive strides forward. These strides have been externally validated starting with the Audit Commission's "light touch" reinspection which gave the assessment as "a good two star service, that has promising prospects for improvement" through to the latest MORI opinion poll findings which show 83% overall satisfaction with the service compared to 77% in 2000/01. The service also achieved Investor in People status and Matrix Accreditation. Brighter, more attractive libraries and new libraries have been provided whilst the innovative and nationally acclaimed Discovery Centre programme aimed at creating a new generation of libraries is well underway; there have been steady improvements in library opening hours, two new mobile library vehicles have been ordered and there have been many service improvements with a wide range of reader and learning activities and events taking place both within and outside libraries.

4. Hampshire is an excellent authority under the Comprehensive Performance Assessment and as such received guidance from the DCMS on what is required in their response to the Public Library Standards. The report for Hampshire was accordingly prepared in accordance with this guidance and the Executive Member has supported the document and approved it for submission to the DCMS.