Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This report summarises the Vision and Strategy for Hampshire

County Council's Library and Information Service and the findings of the

audit and review of the Service undertaken recently. It outlines a

proposed framework for future provision. The report should be read in the

context of the overall Vision and Strategy and its commitment to provide

access to library services to the population of Hampshire within the

available budget.

1.2. The report seeks the Executive Member for the Culture, Communities and

Recreation endorsement of the proposed framework. Further reports

will then be brought to the Executive Member later on in 2009 and in

2010, setting out more detailed proposals for Hampshire's Library and

Information Service.

2. Contextual information

2.1. Vision and Strategy

2.1.1 On 29 June 2009, Cabinet approved a Vision and Strategy for the Library and Information Service 2009-2014

I:\Recreation and Heritage\Shared\Committee Reports\Cabinet\2009\2009 - 29 June\746 Cabinet LIS Vision - Report.doc

The Vision is:

" A creative service at the heart of Hampshire communities which prides itself on meeting their evolving needs for reading, information, learning and enjoyment."

2.1.2 In order to fulfil this Vision the objectives are:-

· To increase use of the library services by those who live, work, study in or visit Hampshire.

· To increase the use of library services by priority groups and in areas.

· To broaden the appeal by providing physical and virtual services that respond to the needs of the local community.

· To increase access to information, books and learning for local people to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence as well as continuing to read for pleasure.

· To strengthen and develop effective partnership working.

· To involve local people in shaping and delivering our services to meet or exceed their expectations.

· To support and train staff to develop the creative skills and flexibility necessary to effectively deliver a continuously improving service.

· To ensure long-term financial sustainability through the most efficient use of all our human and financial resources.

· To strive to be the best and to provide innovative leadership to the rest of the public library sector.

2.1.3 In order to ensure that LIS meet these objectives, a root and branch review of the Service has been undertaken. This included front line services, back office (Head Quarters) functions and technology developments, along with benchmarking LIS's offer against those of similar County Councils.

2.1.4 Proposals are in the process of being developed across the Service in response to this review in order to deliver the best possible provision within budgetary constraints. These proposals are underpinned by the commitment to the residents of Hampshire and to those who work, study in and visit the county, as set out below.

3. Commitment to Residents

3.1 LIS aims to provide access to library services for everyone in Hampshire, regardless of age and of income and within reasonable travelling distances. `Reasonable' is defined in relation to travel cost, time taken, frequency of timetabled routes for public transport or degree of physical difficulty involved. ¹This service will be provided through the appropriate mix of static mobile libraries.

3.2 All of this is underpinned by the 24 hour virtual library. Regardless of where they live or constraints on their time, customers can access library services via the internet, reserve or renew books, look up reference material, download e-books and e-audio and so on.

3.2. Static libraries will offer the following:

· Books and other materials

· Information of all kinds

· Signposting to other services available to local people whether provided in the library or elsewhere

· Access to public IT

· Range of library/reading linked activities for children, adults and special needs groups

· Access to learning and skills development programme

· Where available, fast track service (self service for issuing and returning books and digital stock management)

· Spaces for community use (where available)

Where appropriate, there will be a charge for some of the services.

3.3 Within the framework of provision for each type of library LIS will aim to adapt the service, where possible, in response to local consultation and

community involvement.

3.4. Where there is the opportunity, LIS will continue to offer accommodation

to other appropriate service providers in the static libraries and look to do this in the mobile libraries too. Where future development indicates the need for a new library, these should be co-located with partner organisations.

3.5. Where a static library is either not appropriate or viable, the means of supplying library services will be via:-

· Mobile services

· Delivery to access points (e.g. care homes/sheltered homes etc.)

· Home delivery service

3.6. These mobile services will offer a more limited range of books and other

materials but will respond to customer requests.

3.7. Both the static and mobile services will be promoted by a county wide marketing strategy and plan, supported by a geographically targeted outreach programme.

3.8 LIS will undertake ongoing evaluation of the impacts of its services and will take appropriate steps to respond to any changes necessary to develop and maintain an excellent service.

4. Provision of Static Library Services

4.1. Hampshire's libraries fall into five distinct groups:

· Discovery Centres located in major towns (3 in total)

· Large libraries located in towns and urban areas (13)

· Medium scale libraries located in small towns and urban areas (13)

· Small scale libraries located in villages and urban areas (8)

· Neighbourhood libraries in villages and small urban communities (16)

4.2. Discovery Centres

Discovery Centres offer integrated service delivery including:

· Full library service

· Access to e-resources and e-books

· Provision of a wide range of community/performance/museum /visual arts activities and events

· Public IT access

· Provision of and signposting to the full range of County Council services and activities

· Wide range of learning opportunities

· Facilities for partner services

· Spaces for community use

· Local studies and family history materials and facilities

· Opening hours 55+ hours a week

4.3. Large Libraries (over 200,000 issues a year)

Large scale libraries offer:

· Full library service

· Access to e-resources and e-books

· Space for community activities, clubs and events

· Public IT access

· Provision of and signposting to learning activities

· Range of informal activities and clubs

· Access for partner services (where possible)

· Local studies and family history materials and facilities

· Opening hours - 40+ hours a week

4.4. Medium libraries (over 100,000 issues a year)

Medium scale libraries offer:

· Full library service

· Access to e-resources and e-books

· Limited space for community activities and events

· Public IT access

· Signposting to learning activities

· Range of informal activities and clubs

· Opening hours 35+ hours a week

4.5. Small libraries (over 50,000 issues a year)

Small scale libraries offer:

· Limited library service i.e. fewer books and reduced range of books etc., based on community need

· Access to e-resources and e-books

· Limited space for community activities and events

· Limited public IT access

· Signposting to learning opportunities

· Limited range of informal activities and clubs

· Opening hours - 20+ hours a week

4.6. Neighbourhood Libraries (up to 50,000 issues a year)

Neighbourhood libraries offer:-

· Limited library service i.e. fewer books and reduced range of books etc., based on community need

· Limited public IT access

· Opening hours 9-20 hours a week

4.7. LIS is reviewing in detail the performance and the current usage and reach of every library relevant to its local community. Recommendations will be made, based on this analysis, for the future location, scale and level of provision of libraries in Hampshire, to a future Decision Day at the end of 2009 or early 2010.

5. Provision of Mobile Library Service

5.1. In order to assess the existing mobile services the following overall

priorities and service have been defined:

5.2. Priorities

· Isolated rural communities - where there is very limited/no public

transport and the residents do not have good access to their own

transport because of child commitments, age, infirmity, affordability etc.

· Priority areas of urban deprivation

· Pre-school and children's centres (non schools' service)

· Residential and nursing homes

· Sheltered accommodation located where public transport links are poor

· Individuals who are housebound

5.3. These priorities will be met using the following mobile services:

· The mobile public library service reaching isolated rural communities and priority areas of urban deprivation

· The community library service visiting residential/nursing homes and sheltered accommodation

· The home library service meeting the needs of those who are housebound

· The family library service reaching pre-school and children's centres

5.4. Mobile Public Library Provision

The mobile public library service will offer a mobile visit to:

· Areas in excess of 2 miles by road from static library with poor public transport provision

· Areas where residents are unlikely to have their own transport and there is poor public transport

· Areas of economic deprivation (rural and urban) where residents are unlikely to have their own transport

5.5. Community Library Service Provision

For those living in residential/nursing homes and sheltered accommodation the community service will provide:-

· A monthly delivery of books to residential homes etc.

· Liaison with each home's manager as set out in a Service Level Agreement to include reader profiles etc.

· A mechanism by which requests for specific books/authors for individuals can be fulfilled

5.6. Home Library Service Provision

In order to fulfil the commitment to facilitate access to library services to those who are unable to leave their homes, the home library service will provide:-

· A registration mechanism via the local static library, referrals from the rural service and Adult Services plus an on-line registration mechanism

· The selection and delivery of items by the home library vehicles, community volunteer organisations, local volunteers, friends and neighbours

5.7. Family Library Service

In order to introduce children to the benefits of libraries, books and reading at the earliest possible age, the family library service will provide:-

· Mobile vehicles fitted out and stocked specifically for young children, including seating areas

· Regular stops at pre-school facilities and children's centres where staff can bring groups of children onto the mobile to choose books and participate in activities

· Signposting to static libraries as children grow older and their reading requirements are better satisfied by the full range of services

6. Next Steps

6.1. Based on the framework set out in this report, LIS will develop more detailed proposals on the future provision of static libraries for consideration in November 2009 or early 2010 to be followed by public consultation on the proposals.

6.2 LIS will continue to develop joint working with other County Council departments to enhance the library offer in both static and mobile libraries. This will be built into the review of the mobile libraries and more detailed proposals for this service will be presented for consideration in 2010.

7. Recommendations

7.1. That the Executive Member for Culture, Communities and Recreation endorses the proposed framework for future library service provision in Hampshire.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Other Significant Links

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. A full Equality Impact Assessment was done as the Strategy evolved which shows that the current impact will be to bring significant improvements in usage and access, particularly for disadvantaged groups.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. None directly.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

A comprehensive sustainability impact assessment was applied to the Vision

and Strategy and various measures were set out in the Vision and Strategy to

decrease LIS's carbon footprint.

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

The need to adapt to climate change is highlighted in the Strategy.