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.

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.

Thousands complete library consultation questionnaire

More than 2,000 people have visited this blog in the last few weeks and the number of people completing the questionnaire on the future of Warwickshire’s Library and Information Service has now topped 3,000 people.

To date, 3,019 people have completed the questionnaire, of these 1,707 have completed the online questionnaire, while 1,312 have completed the written paper version.

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

Thousands petition over library proposals

More than 6,000 names on petitions have been signed following the unveiling of proposals for the future of Warwickshire Library and Information Service.

A consultation is currently underway and will continue until June 9, asking for everyone’s opinion on proposals for the future of the service.

In addition to hundreds of online and written questionnaires, more than 6,000 people have signed petitions.

These are as follows:

Bulkington – 3,399

Dunchurch – 1,403

Henley-in-Arden – 807

Keresley – 289

Othello mobile (Bedworth) – 182

Hundreds complete library consultation questionnaire

The Warwickshire Library and Information Service consultation has so far attracted almost 800 written and online responses.

So far 356 people have completed the online survey. Warwick and Leamington are now the most popular libraries that respondents currently use, with 85 and 82 responses respectively. This is twice as many as the next libraries, which are Kenilworth (42), Stratford (42) and Nuneaton (41).

There have also now been 432 written consultation responses, taking the total number of consultation respondents to almost 800 people.

The consultation continues until June 9, with roadshows and public meetings around the county.