Library consultation ends

The 12-week consultation on the future of Warwickshire Library and Information Service has come to an end.

When the consultation came to a close on Thursday (June 9) more than 4,500 consultation questionnaires were returned, around half paper (52%) and half online (48%).

In addition, feedback from 26 public meetings and 39 library roadshows has been recorded, along with the content of more than 500 letters and emails received, and 10 petitions. Sixteen communities have expressed an interest in running their own local library services.

All the responses will now be analysed and reported to Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet, which meets on July 14 to make decisions, following consideration by an Overview & Scrutiny committee on July 11.

Cllr Colin Hayfield, Portfolio-holder for Customers, Access and Physical Assets, said: “I thank everyone who has taken part in the consultation. The level of response shows how much Warwickshire people care about their library service. We must now consider the findings and decide how the service will be delivered in future.”

Warwickshire County Council must cut spending by more than £70 million over the next three years. As part of the savings plan, the Library and Information Service budget will reduce by £2 million.

The library proposals consulted upon identify 16 Warwickshire libraries 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.

“These are extremely difficult times for local authorities and cuts are unavoidable to achieve the necessary savings,” said Cllr Hayfield.

“I want to reassure people that their feedback will be fully considered. We are not going through the motions – this is real consultation. We need to know what people think of the savings plans, and how they would be affected by them, to help us make the right decisions.”

If implemented, the proposed changes would reshape the library network, creating a three-tier service with three main libraries, 15 local libraries, plus ‘Library Direct’ covering online, mobile, outreach and housebound reader services.

Library consultation has now closed

The Library and Information Service 12-week consultation on future proposals for the service has now come to a close and we are analysing the results.

A report will go to the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on July 11 and then Cabinet on July 14, and councillors will consider the contents before making any final decisions on the future of the library service.

During the consultation more than 4,500 questionnaire responses were returned, about 52% paper (2,375) and 48% online (2,201) – and there may be a few more in the delivery system. There were 26 public meetings, plus roadshows at 34 libraries and on five mobiles (plus Stockingford and Water Orton had an extra one each, on request). We received 10 petitions containing, between them, more than 7,000 signatures, plus there have been about 500 letters and emails.

We have heard from 16 communities expressing an interest in running their own libraries.

Library consultation ends today

Today is the last day local people can take part in the 12-week consultation from Warwickshire’s Library and Information Service on the future shape of the service.

So far more than 4,500 people have taken the time to complete the survey questionnaire, either online or in written format at one of the many roadshows and public meetings.

All consultation feedback received by midnight tonight 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.

Consultation ends tomorrow

The 12-week consultation from Warwickshire’s Library and Information Service comes to a close tomorrow.

So far more than 4,000 people have taken the time to complete the survey questionnaire, either online or in written format at one of the many roadshows and public meetings.

All consultation feedback received by tomorrow (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.

Public meeting feedback

Feedback is now coming in fast from the first public meetings held as part of the Library and Information Service Consultation.

The views and comments of people attending all public meetings will feed into the wider consultation which continues until June 9.

And in recent weeks it has been clear through the public meetings and roadshows that communities are keen to engage with the service. Local MPs Dan Byles, Jeremy Wright and Mark Pawsey have attended recent meetings and are working with the local communities and local councillors.

Below is the feedback from some of the latest public meetings at Dunchurch, Bulkington and Binley Woods.

The meeting at Dunchurch opened with the presentation of a petition from the people of Dunchurch. This had more than 1,000 signatures, collected in a month, and was presented by a resident and the Baptist minister.

Concerns raised included the impact any reduction in bus services and the ability of local people to get into Rugby. Jeremy Wright MP said the residents would need three things: advice on a business model, the building at a peppercorn rent and professional staff to assist volunteers. This was met with reassurance that officers will work with the community.

Concerns raised about business template not being available. This has now been remedied though and the template and help is available now on this blog.

Residents asked if there could be a charge to loan books, but it was explained that this is not legal.

Meanwhile in Bulkington, a petition of around 4,000 names was handed in and many questions focussed on help and assistance from the county council is presenting a business case – this is now available.

Questions were asked why there were more libraries potentially being closed in the north of the county than the south – the response was that there are more small libraries in the north of the county.

At Binley Woods many similar issues were raised, including the question about whether professional support would be available to volunteers.

Several questions were around the use of Coventry Library, which is not in Warwickshire, and whether books borrowed in Coventry could be returned to Warwickshire libraries. Officers are currently speaking to neighbouring authorities about possible solutions.

The roadshows are now continuing and staff will be on hand today at Bulkington Library from 3.30pm until 6.30pm, and tomorrow a roadshow will be held at Polesworth Library from 10am until 1pm.

Consultation responses so far

The first fortnight of the Library and Information Service consultation on the proposed future of the service has seen 50 people complete written questionnaires, 190 have completed the online survey, and this blog, launched just a week ago, has attracted approaching 1,000 visits.

In addition to this there has been other written correspondence, including 150 individually written letters from the school children at Kingsbury Prmary School.

So far the respondents to the online survey are, in the main, visitors to Bulkington, Warwick and Leamington libraries.

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. 

The 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 next roadshow is today at Wolston Library from 2pm until 5pm, tomorrow (Saturday) there is a roadshow at Binley Woods Library from 10am until 1pm, and Monday there is a roadshow at Lillington Library from 10am until 1pm.

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.

The 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.