Library Strategy 2012 Jo Grills, Operations Director - Education, Learning and Libraries
Our legal duties 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act • Comprehensive • Efficient
Section 149 of the Equality Act: • Eliminate discrimination (both direct & indirect), harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act • Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it • Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
Having due regard: • Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics • Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people • Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low
Principles of consultation: • Proposals at a formative stage • Sufficient reasons to permit intelligent consideration • Adequate time for consideration and response • Responses must be conscientiously taken into account
Consultation Feedback • More than 3900 people participated • More than 82% of representative survey respondents said they agreed with the proposals to extend use of volunteers, share buildings and introduce community-run libraries • Nearly 78% indicated that they accepted the case for a reduction in mobile library services and making changes to how they are run, although they wish to see this service continue.
Consultation Feedback • Self selecting respondents were less positive (e.g. 57.6% support for extended use of volunteers, sharing buildings, community libraries) • Respondents aged 75+ were more likely to expect a negative impact as a result of the proposals than other groups • Highest ‘negative impact’ response was from Lechlade library users (23.4%)
Impacts of Strategy (Users’ Survey)
Context and User Needs Assessment • Generic points about catchment areas, population, library users, deprivation levels • Specific points from local areas
Equality and Community Impact Assessment • Potential positive impact e.g. Virtual library, reconfigured mobile service • Limited impact on majority of library users – behavioural change • Greatest impact on: Older people, particularly those with mobility difficulties Children and young people People with disabilities Women
Equalities and Community Libraries • Equality of access requirement of agreement with the council • Provision of inclusion training • Potential for positive impact
The Vision Context of: Living within our means, Providing the basics, Helping communities to help themselves “Vision is to support individuals and local communities to achieve their aspirations by creating a vibrant, welcoming library service that provides access to books, information and learning opportunities in a variety of ways and in partnership with others”.
Draft Criteria • Access to a main library within approximately 20 minutes by car or 30 minutes or less by public transport • Accessibility of libraries in rural areas • Density of population in urban areas combined with library use • Library access to support the needs of people living in the top 20% of most deprived neighbourhoods in the county
Alternative Suggestions • Cut hours across all libraries so that all libraries can be council run • Place greater emphasis on deprivation factors • Keep community libraries as council run • Alternative venues and for distribution of opening hours at individual libraries • Provide greater support for community libraries
Support for Community Libraries • Purchase of the building or peppercorn rent •Start up book collection, People’s Network PCs • Library management system • Annual grant of £10,000 • 6 month transition period • 3 hours a week training and advice • Training for volunteers
The Mobile Library Service • Public sector mobile • Share a book mobile
Key Considerations • Does the proposed strategy offer adequate measures to ensure that the professionalism of library services will be maintained in proposed community libraries? • How will the council address the disproportionate impacts on older women and those living in rural areas (in relation to mobiles), and older people generally? • Does the proposed strategy allocate resources in a way that reflects the respondents’ priority of ensuring that vulnerable groups, deprived communities and those living in remote areas can still access libraries?
Key Considerations • Participants indicated that while they do accept the case for a reduction in mobile library services and making changes to how they are run, they wish to see the service continue • A message expressed through the consultation was that in considering ‘access’ to library services, the council should take into account transport and parking issues •Some people felt they couldn’t fully assess the impact of the proposals due to a perceived lack of information about opening times - further consideration should be given to how the public can have more of a say about this (e.g. further consultation at libraries where changes to hours are planned)
Key Considerations • While the proposed changes raised concerns associated with a number of different libraries, there was particular opposition to the proposals for Minchinhampton, Lechlade and Brockworth. Therefore, consideration needs to be given to the specific concerns raised by these communities • The consultation took steps to ensure the views of people belonging to vulnerable and protected groups were heard. This resulted in the identification of some specific concerns about the potential impact of the strategy. Adequate steps need to be taken to address the points raised.
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