Agenda item

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

7.1       The Team Manager, Library and Information Service introduced the report and provided an update on the implementation of the Libraries Strategic Commissioning Strategy. The Strategy was last updated in December 2021 and took into account the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic. Libraries are strongly placed to support communities and are working to drive up the number of library visits post pandemic. The Service has renewed the computers and network provision in libraries and has enhanced access to digital services. The Service is also working with Adult Social Care to support refugee groups. Future challenges include staffing, building costs, inflation, and anti- social behaviour in libraries.

7.2       The Committee commented on the report and asked a number of questions which are summarised below.

Antisocial Behaviour

7.3       The Committee noted the number of antisocial behaviour incidents and asked what measures were being taken to combat this. The Team Manager, Library and Information Service outlined that the Service does have strong mechanisms and appropriate staff training in place to deal with antisocial behaviour. There are library byelaws in force and the Team works closely with other partners such as the Police to deal with this issue. Some libraries have CCTV and there is an incident reporting system to monitor the situation and identify any patterns.

Income Generation

7.4       The Committee asked about the income generation opportunities in libraries, such as having coffee concessions, and the potential commercial opportunities from historic images and documents. The Team Manager, Library and Information Service responded that income is generated from the shared use and leasing out of spaces within library buildings. The Service does have a range of goods for sale in libraries such as greeting cards and recognises the interest in historic documents. The Team is reviewing the goods for sale and will look at the commercial opportunities from historic documents. A coffee concession was trialled at the Seaford library but this was not commercially viable. There is strong competition from other local coffee outlets making concessions difficult, but this will be kept under review in the light of any changing needs.

7.5       The Assistant Director Communities added that around £300,000 a year is generated from renting out space within libraries to services such as Parking, Public Health and the NHS. This provides income but also other benefits such as additional staff. The Assistant Director Communities commented that he did not think it was possible to obtain more income from parking, such as from the sale of parking permits.

Use of Libraries for public consultation and other services

7.6       The Committee asked whether it would be possible to use libraries for public consultations and other services such as the One You health service as a way of attracting people into libraries. The Team Manager, Library and Information Service outlined that the One You health service is offered by a range of partners and is in line with the priority outcome to promote health and wellbeing in the Libraries Strategic Commissioning Strategy. Libraries do currently provide access to public consultation documents and facilities for looking at consultations online.

Targeted Work with Deprived Communities and on Digital Exclusion

7.7       The Committee asked if the Service collects information on the number of people from deprived communities attending events and activities and the effectiveness of these programmes. The Committee also asked if the Service had a way of measuring the benefits from the digital exclusion work.

7.8       The Team Manager, Library and Information Service responded that the Library Service does target deprived communities and schools in deprived areas as part of its outreach work. For example, library staff promoted the Summer Reading Challenge at 74 school assemblies which resulted in participation rates exceeding pre-Covid levels due to the proactive outreach and strong communications that were undertaken. A data driven approach is taken to targeting services, which enables parents to take up free activities when looking for activities for their children.

7.9       The digital exclusion work includes the IT for You programme delivered by volunteers. The Library Service has over 300 volunteers supporting programmes across the service. The support provided is tailored to the needs of groups and individuals, with volunteer co-ordinators working with partners to understand what support is needed. There is some emerging research on the benefits of this work from the Libraries Connected research that is undertaken nationally. The Service is committed to understanding how effective their work is in this area.

Voluntary Community Libraries

7.10     The Committee asked what ongoing support is available for voluntary community libraries, such as with book stock and other types of support. The Team Manager, Library and Information Service outlined that the community run libraries were provided with book stock and furniture when they were first established. There is also a disposal process in which stock and furniture is offered to community run libraries.

Extended Access to Services

7.11     The Committee noted the work of the Home Library Service which delivers books to the door for those people who are unable to visit a library. The Team Manager, Library and Information Service commented that the Home Library Services is reliant on volunteers and has made over 700 visits and deliveries to people’s homes and care homes over the last year. The Service has also extended the book reservations facility, which is free to use.

7.12     The Committee RESOLVED to:

1) Endorse the progress that has been made to deliver the Libraries Strategic Commissioning Strategy 2022/23 – 2027/28 as set out in the report; and

2) Note the current service priorities and challenges.