Agenda item

The Director of Culture and Neighbourhood Services submits a report that provides an update on a range of issues for library service that scrutiny may wish to examine. These issues include Strategic and Operational matters and Performance.

The recommendations for the commission are set out in paragraph 2 of the report.

The Director of Culture and Neighbourhood Services presented a report providing an update on library services, which included:

·         Strategic and Operational Matters –

o   the role of Libraries as part of the wider Transforming Neighbourhood Services (TNS) programme

o   the impact of the refreshed library systems

o   how Libraries support community members with extra needs

·         Performance –

o   comparative key usage figures for 2012/13 and 2013/14 for each library 2012/13

o   a summary of statistics submitted to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) which provide information on performance against comparator services

o   Public Library User Survey 2013 results for Leicester Libraries.

The update to the commission included the following points:

·         A new Library Management System was implemented in January 2013 and all 167 public computers were replaced in early 2013. In relation to performance, the number of hours spent on computers had increased and Leicester libraries had fewer machines than many other authorities but also a higher % usage.

·         Self-service kiosks had been piloted at Aylestone and then introduced to a further four libraries for basic library operations freeing staff to help other customers.

·         The Book Bus service had been improved with new routes around the City. The Book Bus routes were usually specific and linked to areas of deprivation and school links.

·         Libraries provided support and a place to meet for many activities and community groups such as:

o   Regular Toddler Time sessions, there were very well attended and gave young families the opportunity to see the importance of books,

o   Study Support sessions/Homework clubs for older children who needed guidance on reading and homework, which had between 10-30 children attending voluntarily, getting support and access to computers that they might not get at home,

o   Maths Support sessions were to be introduced as part of a project with Children’s Services,

o   For older people there were a number of activity based social groups which included craft groups and Local History groups.

·         By reorganising, focusing and engaging with other partners such as SPARK the quality and content in libraries had been kept at a high level.

Councillor Russell, Assistant City Mayor (Neighbourhood Services) summarised the overall context of the report and confirmed that delivery and performance had improved despite a 28% reduction of the library services budget. Thanks were extended to the officers who led the changes and also to the library services staff who rose to the challenges and had hugely improved the service across the city. Libraries equalised opportunities for people and gave most city residents access to a library within a mile of where they lived.

The commission were informed that it was important to note library services received an enormous range of enquiries and lots of people did not know how to navigate the internet so library staff dealt with those enquiries too.

The number of staff in post showed value for money and reflected the reviews that had been carried out and showed library services had been able to provide a good service with lower numbers of staff.

Members discussed the report with officers which included responses as follows:

·         How important as an indicator was book lending? Reading was the core function of library services especially in encouraging reading in younger children and an increase in lending to younger children had been seen although there had been a reduction in adult lending. Libraries were measuring engagement and involvement in schemes, library services were about community engagement, cohesion and enabling cross sections of society to get together. The e-book issue was an important consideration; it was a challenge because of the licensing.

·         Computers and PC usage – What scope was there to provide more? Had sponsorship been considered? Where there are computers but not space could more tablet PC’s be used? With regard to sponsorship of pc’s the difficulty was that problems occurred when equipment needed replacement. There were lots of issues as to whether more pc’s were needed or other equipment, time for technology was fought for and if you only had ½ hour then needed technology that was of the right level and quick for people to come back to use the service again. In relation to providing more computers or tablets this was something to be looked at when equipment was renewed. All libraries now had Wi-Fi which was an important point because it allowed people that did not have large data usage or contracts to use their own devices in libraries.

·         Volunteers – There was an absolute commitment to sustaining staff roles but volunteers were used to support groups. Volunteers added to library services rather than replacing what staff did. Volunteers had been utilised to deliver books to the homes of older/less mobile people, especially since the mini bus service had ceased.

·         New Parks library was seen as a positive model example which was hoped to be extended across the city, it showed co-location worked as it enabled more to happen at multi-centres.

·         Children’s outreach figures were down 20% - the service had changed significantly and some impact had arisen from funding changes in children’s services; and feedback on the events held was very good.

·         In relation to access in wards that did not have libraries (in particular for Stoneygate residents) it was confirmed there was a map that showed the radius of libraries for the city and Stoneygate was actually well covered. User statistics also showed that people from the Stoneygate area were heavy users of library services nearby.

Chair commented that the discussion illustrated how the library service had been reflective of needs. It was also noted that children’s groups, toddler times and sure start centres were not always seen as separate services and changes to Children’s centres might mean services were stretched and that might impact on toddler time usage.

Members thanked the library service who provided a wonderful service and the officers were thanked for providing the information to the commission.

The Chair concluded the discussion; the report was welcomed highlighting positive progress. The commission recognised that library services were taking on the co-location model and that they were a major sign poster to other council services in being proactive in adapting to meet people’s needs.

The Chair requested that library services provide a future meeting of the commission with examples of other measures of success beyond those stated, for example the number of children seen through summer schemes.

The Chair also recognised the response to the digital agenda (which included eBook’s and extended Wi Fi coverage) and the use of volunteers.

RESOLVED:

1.    that the contents of the report be noted.

2.    that a copy of the map showing the radius of City libraries be provided to members.

3.    that the user statistics for Stoneygate be provided to Councillor Desai.

4.    that examples of other measures of success be provided to a future meeting.