County's new approach on libraries is agreed
Wednesday, 20th July 2011.
Suffolk County Council’s cabinet today approved moves to secure the future of its library services, retaining the current library network and aiming to put it on a strong footing for the future, possibly by using a private company.
Following a four-month public consultation in which 5,000 people expressed their views, the cabinet has supported an approach that will see libraries transferred into a central organisation.
The following three options for the central organisation will be considered and a final decision made by the cabinet at its meeting in November:
An in-house business unit similar to the schools library service;
An external, but wholly council-owned, company;
An independent company managed by the county through contractual arrangements.
The county councillor with responsibility for libraries, Judy Terry, said the service had undergone significant changes over the last few years, but the council was determined to maintain the network.
She said: “The number of book loans has fallen by almost a third over recent years, but libraries now offer many other services and have become community hubs.
“We know how important they are and are determined to maintain the network.”
The cabinet voted unanimously to accept the report before it. Although there will be further debates at the end of the year, it is expected that the new structure will be in place by April next year.
The structure of such an organisation is to be subject to a best value evaluation, following which a report will be presented to the cabinet in November on the best operating model.
It would manage the libraries budget and be designed to support libraries with services such as the countywide book network, employing staff, training and developing outreach, such as taking books into communities and bringing people to their nearest library.
In the meantime, the council will be working to deliver a number of partnership pilots with town or parish councils, community or staff groups keen on running a library - providing them with the flexibility, funding and support to make it a success.
Given that a wide range of groups have come forward with proposals to run their own libraries, it is hoped that the pilots will act as a model elsewhere.
Community involvement is critical to the success of the vision throughout Suffolk and the council will work with other groups to develop their business plans.
At the meeting, the cabinet was asked to approve a new public consultation on how mobile library services can be restructured to retain the service and make necessary savings.
A proposal to change the frequency of mobile visits from fortnightly to monthly – bringing Suffolk in line with its county neighbours – will be put to the public.
The council says no decision will be made on mobile libraries until after the views expressed during the public consultation have been taken into account.
Mobile libraries will be discussed at the cabinet’s meeting in November. Full council in September will debate the best value options and mobile libraries plans.
Following a four-month public consultation in which 5,000 people expressed their views, the cabinet has supported an approach that will see libraries transferred into a central organisation.
The following three options for the central organisation will be considered and a final decision made by the cabinet at its meeting in November:
An in-house business unit similar to the schools library service;
An external, but wholly council-owned, company;
An independent company managed by the county through contractual arrangements.
The county councillor with responsibility for libraries, Judy Terry, said the service had undergone significant changes over the last few years, but the council was determined to maintain the network.
She said: “The number of book loans has fallen by almost a third over recent years, but libraries now offer many other services and have become community hubs.
“We know how important they are and are determined to maintain the network.”
The cabinet voted unanimously to accept the report before it. Although there will be further debates at the end of the year, it is expected that the new structure will be in place by April next year.
The structure of such an organisation is to be subject to a best value evaluation, following which a report will be presented to the cabinet in November on the best operating model.
It would manage the libraries budget and be designed to support libraries with services such as the countywide book network, employing staff, training and developing outreach, such as taking books into communities and bringing people to their nearest library.
In the meantime, the council will be working to deliver a number of partnership pilots with town or parish councils, community or staff groups keen on running a library - providing them with the flexibility, funding and support to make it a success.
Given that a wide range of groups have come forward with proposals to run their own libraries, it is hoped that the pilots will act as a model elsewhere.
Community involvement is critical to the success of the vision throughout Suffolk and the council will work with other groups to develop their business plans.
At the meeting, the cabinet was asked to approve a new public consultation on how mobile library services can be restructured to retain the service and make necessary savings.
A proposal to change the frequency of mobile visits from fortnightly to monthly – bringing Suffolk in line with its county neighbours – will be put to the public.
The council says no decision will be made on mobile libraries until after the views expressed during the public consultation have been taken into account.
Mobile libraries will be discussed at the cabinet’s meeting in November. Full council in September will debate the best value options and mobile libraries plans.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)