Scrutiny panel hears plans for future of libraries

The county council's plans for library services in Worcestershire was the topic for discussion at the Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel earlier this month (Wednesday, October 12).

The cross-party panel, chaired by Cllr Maddy Bunker, was given a presentation by Head of Culture and Communities, Neil Anderson, and Kathy Kirk, the county council's Libraries and Learning Manager on their plans to provide a sustainable and comprehensive  library service across the county, despite having to make significant budget reductions.

The Libraries and Learning team – responsible for 21 libraries, mobile library, school and prison library, comput@bus, library service at home and around 200 community collection libraries – must save £1.8million, or 28%, of their net budget over the next three years.

The scrutiny panel heard how involving local communities and sharing resources and other assets with other organisations were at the heart of the approach to realise those savings in a way which would help ensure local people had access to a local library.

Earlier this year Droitwich Library welcomed the Hub Customer Contact Centre, Age UK and Jobcentre Plus into its town centre base, and there are plans which could see other libraries share buildings with a mix of public, voluntary and even private sector organisations.

Neil Anderson, Head of Culture and Communities, said: "Unlike some other authorities we are not undertaking a draconian approach which would see us simply closing libraries until we reached our savings target. Instead we really value the importance a local library has in a community and are committed to avoiding closures where possible by being more creative and innovative in the way the service is delivered. However we must be realistic and understand that 28% savings is not insignificant and can't be done without some changes to services, such as opening times and staffing levels, being introduced."

Kathy Kirk, Libraries and Learning Manager, added: "We have already made good progress and in Droitwich for example the feedback we've had from customers since the changes has been overwhelmingly positive. We have other plans to adopt this approach elsewhere and although this is a real challenge and not one which is easily achieved, we truly believe this is the right approach which will help us ensure we have a service which continues to provide value for money and is sustainable long-term."

The panel discussed some concerns they had around the use of volunteers and ensuring professional support was maintained for customers when they visited a library. It was also suggested that officers should explore further opportunities around staff or customers mutuals, which would see the responsibility for the running of the service handed down.

Cllr Maddy Bunker, Chair of the Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel, said: "It was really useful to hear the presentation and I'm pleased that there will be an opportunity for local people to have their say before any changes to their local library are decided. I was also pleased to hear that officers are looking at each library individually. The needs of local communities will be different across the county and its good to know those specific issues are being considered."

An update report on the future of libraries in Worcestershire will go before Cabinet in December, with the first wave of consultations likely to begin in the New Year. More information on that will be available in December's Cabinet report.

The Adult Care and Well Being Overview and Scrutiny Panel have pencilled in a session to hear a further update on the future of libraries in May 2012.