Community library event

A special event for Warwickshire communities interested in running their own library was held at Rugby College last Thursday (2 June 2011). 

The day was designed to help delegates consider their options – and find out more about the practicalities of communities running a library from people already operating community-run services in other parts of the country. 

The morning’s presentations included a talk on a community library operating from within a Herefordshire church; the experience of locals who run the library in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire; and a community partnership running their library as part of a ‘hub’ in Hawes, North Yorkshire. 

Worcestershire County Council explained how they are ‘bridging the service gap’ with two mini volunteer-run village hall libraries, both managed by the council – plus around 200 community book collections in other public places, such as children’s and youth centres. 

Other speakers covered topics including volunteer recruitment, developing social enterprises and asset transfers. The afternoon gave delegates a chance to quiz speakers for more information on a one-to-one basis. 

Around 30 Warwickshire community representatives attended the event, travelling from all over the county. 

The event was chaired by Cllr Colin Hayfield, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio-holder for Customers, Access and Physical Assets. 

“I found the day very informative and useful – and I hope everyone who came along, to represent their respective communities, did too,” said Cllr Hayfield. “It’s a steep learning curve for Warwickshire County Council, as well as for volunteer groups looking to run their own local library services. Hearing how other communities and library authorities have approached this has been really enlightening.” 

The day ended with an open questions session. Cllr Hayfield was asked about the process for submitting business cases, and whether communities could have longer to complete them. Although the deadline for submissions is 9 June 2011 – the end of the libraries consultation – Cllr Hayfield said community groups would be given more time to complete their business plans, if needed, with help from library staff.

Other questions were about ongoing support for community-run library projects, which will include stock and IT services, access to the county library management system for processing loans, reservations and returns, a telephone helpline, and regular visits from library staff.

Meanwhile the Warwickshire Library and Information Service consultation on proposals for the future of the service continues until Thursday, and all consultation feedback received by June 9 will be analysed and reported to Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet in July. The report will be made public at the same time. Councillors will consider the contents before making any final decisions on the future of the library service.

More information, along with the library consultation questionnaire, is available in all Warwickshire libraries and online at: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/facingthechallenge

Consultation progress can also be followed by Twitter www.twitter.com/warksdirect or via the consultation blog at www.libraryconsult.wordpress.com

Libraries consultation – final week

As the 12-week consultation on proposals for radical change to Warwickshire’s Library and Information Service draws to a close, local people are being urged not to miss their opportunity to join more than 4,000 people who have already responded to the consultation. 

All consultation questionnaires, whether handed in at a library or completed online, have to be in by Thursday, June 9. The consultation aims to give people the opportunity to have their say on plans to reshape the library network and cut costs. 

Cllr Colin Hayfield, Portfolio-holder for Customers, Workforce and Partnerships, said: “This will be the biggest transformation in the history of Warwickshire’s library service so I urge local people to make their views known by returning the consultation questionnaire before this week’s June 9 deadline.” 

The Library and Information Service must cut spending by £2 million over the next three years as part of Warwickshire County Council’s plans to achieve required savings of more than £70m across all services. 

Sixteen Warwickshire libraries have been identified as no longer sustainable in their current form, alongside other cost-cutting measures including reduced opening hours, reductions in the workforce and mobile library fleet, and cutting the number of public computers across the library network. 

So far more than 4,000 people have completed questionnaires – 2,025 handed in as written questionnaires and 2,050 completed online. Many hundreds of other people have visited roadshows and public meetings to find out more about the proposals for the future of the service. 

There have also been about 3,000 visits in the last few weeks to a dedicated online blog bringing the latest information about the consultation at www.libraryconsult.wordpress.com 

Councillor Hayfield said there had been strong interest from a number of communities interested in setting up their own libraries. 

“As well as offering staff support to communities preparing business plans, the County Council has set aside £100,000 to help volunteer-run library projects get off the ground,” he said. “We are also prepared, in principle, to consider leasing council-owned library buildings at a peppercorn rent to communities submitting a strong business case.” 

All consultation feedback received by June 9 will be analysed and reported to Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet in July. The report will be made public at the same time. Councillors will consider the contents before making any final decisions on the future of the library service. 

More information, along with the library consultation questionnaire, is available in all Warwickshire libraries and online at: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/facingthechallenge 

Consultation progress can also be followed by Twitter www.twitter.com/warksdirect or via the consultation blog at www.libraryconsult.wordpress.com

Libraries consultation – a week to go

The 12-week consultation on proposals for radical change to Warwickshire’s Library and Information Service is drawing to a close.

All consultation questionnaires, whether handed in at a library or completed online, have to be in by June 9.

The consultation aims to give people the opportunity to have their say on plans to reshape the library network and cut costs.

Cllr Colin Hayfield, Portfolio-holder for Customers, Workforce and Partnerships, said: “This will be the biggest transformation in the history of Warwickshire’s library service so I urge local people to make their views known by returning the consultation questionnaire before the June 9 deadline.”

The Library and Information Service must cut spending by £2 million over the next three years as part of Warwickshire County Council’s plans to achieve required savings of more than £70m across all services.

Sixteen Warwickshire libraries have been identified as no longer sustainable in their current form, alongside other cost-cutting measures including reduced opening hours, reductions in the workforce and mobile library fleet, and cutting the number of public computers across the library network.

So far the consultation has seen more than 3,000 questionnaires returned, of which 1,500 have been written questionnaires, while more than 1,700 have been completed online.

Councillor Hayfield said there had been strong interest from a number of communities interested in setting up their own libraries. “As well as offering staff support to communities preparing business plans, the County Council has set aside £100,000 to help volunteer-run library projects get off the ground,” he said.

“We are also prepared, in principle, to consider leasing council-owned library buildings at a peppercorn rent to communities submitting a strong business case.”

All consultation feedback received by June 9 will be analysed and reported to Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet in July. The report will be made public at the same time. Councillors will consider the contents before making any final decisions on the future of the library service.

Help for community library projects

Feedback during the Warwickshire wide consultation on the future of the Library and Information Service has resulted in more help being offered to communities if they are interested in running their own library.

Groups and communities interested in running library services can now use a specially prepared pack to produce a business case to present to Warwickshire County Council.

The consultation continues until June 9, but because of the weight of feeling from communities the business pack has been made available now for communities who are interested in running their own library.

Warwickshire Library and Information Service is exploring the options for 16 libraries identified as no longer viable in their present form.

The pack produced to help communities prepare a business case for volunteer-run alternative services, includes an expression of interest form – the first step – a business case template and further guidance.

Communities submitting business plans will also be able to apply for financial assistance from a £100,000 fund Warwickshire County Council has set aside to help volunteer-run library projects get off the ground.

Cllr Colin Hayfield, Portfolio Holder for Customers, Workforce and Partnerships said: “We are in the early stages of consultation but we have already had strong interest from a number of communities who are interested in setting up their own community libraries.

“We recognise that local people may require assistance with start-up costs and that is why we are setting aside a one-off capital fund of £100,000 to support communities to set up their own library.

“We are also making the process easier by offering staff support to help local people to submit their business case, and offer advice on a range of operational issues to help build a sustainable model for the future.”

As well as offering one-off financial support, the council is also considering leasing its library premises to community groups who demonstrate a strong community business case and is prepared, in principle, to lease the buildings at a peppercorn rent for an initial period of one year.

After that, subject to annual review of the services being provided, the lease could continue at a peppercorn rent, or at less than market value, for a period of up to five years in total. The 12-week library consultation was launched on March 18 and continues until June 9. Warwickshire County Council must cut spending by £66 million across all services over the next three years. As part of this, the Library and Information Service must reduce costs by £2 million.

A series of library roadshows and sessions at public meetings have been arranged so local people can find out more about proposed library service changes, and have their say. These have been well attended so far, with more than 800 consultation questionnaires already received.More information about the library consultation, including meeting and roadshow details, the consultation questionnaire and guidance for communities interested in setting up their own library services, is available in all Warwickshire libraries and online.

The consultation progress can also be followed on Twitter

Help for communities

Following feedback at public meetings new guidance has been launched for communities who might be interested in running their own local library as a part of the Warwickshire Library and Information Service proposals for a transformation of the service. 

The consultation on the future of the service continues until June 9, but already feedback from public meetings has indicated that the public would like a guiding hand if they are to consider running a library. 

As a result the service has produced a Business Case document for a Community Library or Community-run Library Service, which aims to provide guidance and a framework for groups as they prepare a business case in their area. 

Cllr Colin Hayfield, Portfolio Holder for Customers, Workforce and Partnerships said: “We are in the early stages of consultation but we have already had strong interest from a number of communities who are interested in setting up their own community libraries. 

“We recognise that local people may require assistance with start up costs and that is why we are setting aside a one-off capital fund of £100,000 to support communities to set up their own library. 

“We are also making the process easier by offering staff support to help local people to submit their business case and offer advice on a range of operational issues to help build a sustainable model for the future.” 

The application packs for grants are now available and community groups will have until 9 June to submit their proposals. 

The support on offer includes: 

· Warwickshire County Council is setting aside a one-off capital fund of £100,000 to support communities in the setting up their community library.

· Where the Council accepts a community library business case, and the library building is owned by the Council, it is prepared in principle to lease the premises to a Community Group at a peppercorn rent for an initial period of one year.

· After that, subject to annual review of the services being provided, the lease may continue at a peppercorn rent, or at less than market value, for a period of up to 5 years in total.

· The tenant will be responsible for all repairs from the outset.

· Current book stock will be available.

Warwickshire Library and Information Service – Facing the Challenge – Cabinet minutes published

The minutes from a meeting of Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet have been published.

Full details of the minutes relating to the Library and Information Service agenda item are included below:

Councillor Colin Hayfield, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Customers,Workforce and Partnership, presented a report setting out proposals for the future direction of the service which will achieve the budgetary reductions set by Council.

Councillor Alan Farnell referred to a petition he had received from Councillor John Ross and others in the Bulkington community requesting the retention of Bulkington Library. Councillor Farnell added that the consultation process had been validated by the Consultation Institute and that the questionnaire would be available after this meeting, provided Cabinet agreed to go forward with the consultation.

Councillor Hayfield reminded the meeting that Warwickshire Library and Information Service is part way through a transformation to develop services to meet modern day needs. The service has also to address an accumulated deficit and ensure it meets the savings targets agreed by Council. The report before Cabinet set out the ambitions for the future of the Service, the changes already underway and the recognition of the need to ensure the opening hours of libraries across the County better matched the use made of them and the need to address the position of 16 libraries identified as no longer sustainable in their current form.

Councillor Hayfield emphasised that this was an open consultation and that all responses will be considered and suggestions for local solutions will be welcomed, which may include joint or alternative use of current buildings. To this end Councillor Hayfield assured the meeting that information would be made available of the costs of the service in each location (e.g. lease or rental costs, utilities etc) so that communities are properly able to assess the position in their area and decide whether they wish to put forward business cases for retaining a local service.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) sought assurance that there would be a clear time line for reaching a decision and proper project management, given the need to meet the savings target and the complexity and scale of the change programme. This assurance was also sought by Councillor John Whitehouse, Chair of the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, who reported the findings and views of that Committee expressed at their meeting on 1 March 2011. (The publication of the minutes of the meeting had been notified to all members and the minutes circulated specifically to Cabinet).

Members also questioned whether income made from disposal or the cost benefits of alternative use of buildings would be allocated to a central Council fund or be used to offset the savings required of the Library and Information Service.

Councillor Hayfield assured the meeting that any benefit gained to the overall working of the County Council and savings made, for example, through alternative use would be credited against the savings required for the service.

During the debate, assurance was also given that any representations made to date, before the formal launching of the consultation document, would be fed into the consultation. It was also noted that the outcome of consultation would be considered by the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee before consideration by Cabinet on 14 July 2011. It was noted that the Committee’s scheduled meeting of 30 June may be too early for this and that a special meeting after that date and before 14 July may be necessary.

 Resolved

(1) That Cabinet approves a 12 week public consultation (March 18 to June 9) based on the proposals contained in this report.

(2) That Cabinet considers a report on the consultation on 14 July 2011.

(3) That Cabinet notes the comments made by Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1 March 2011.

Bulkington Library public meeting

Proposed changes to Warwickshire Library and Information Service, and in particular the future of Bulkington Library, were debated this week as part of the consultation process.

The local community had already submitted a petition from more than 3,300 people, calling for the library to be saved, and reasons for the library to remain open were voiced at the public meeting.

More than 50 people attended the public meeting at Bulkington War Memorial Hall to hear from Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Customers, Workforce and Partnerships, Cllr Colin Hayfield, and other county experts on the proposals for consultation.

The mood at the meeting was described as ‘constructive’ and following a 15 minute presentation from Cllr Hayfield the floor was opened for a debate, which continued for almost two hours.

Those attending included representatives of both the local resident and business populations, and their questioning was in seeking solutions and in trying to establish the support that might be offered to them if Bulkington Library was to be run as a community venture.

The Warwickshire Library and Information Service proposals identify 16 Warwickshire libraries that are no longer sustainable in their current form, alongside other cost-cutting measures including reduced opening hours, reductions in the mobile library fleet and workforce, and cutting the number of public computers across the library network. 

A 12-week public consultation began on March 18 and will run until June 9. A roadshow will visit all 34 Warwickshire libraries during the consultation period so people can find out more and ask questions face-to-face. Senior officers and a councillor will also attend a series of public meetings countywide. 

The information now available online ,  includes a factsheet for every Warwickshire library, giving details of visits, loan issues and costs, along with comparative performance figures across the network, and the Cabinet report county councillors considered on March 17. 

Communities considering volunteer-run library services will have the facts and figures they need at their fingertips. People who don’t have access to the internet can request paper copies from any of Warwickshire’s 34 libraries, or from Shire Hall in Warwick.

A consultation questionnaire is available in all Warwickshire libraries and online. 

Feedback received during the consultation will be collated, analysed and reported to Warwickshire County Council Cabinet on July 14 so councillors are fully informed before they make any final decisions.