Don’t miss the roadshows and public meetings

The end of the consultation on the future of the Library and Information Service is fast approaching on June 9, but there is still time to get along to public meetings and roadshows in the county.

This week:

There is a public meeting tomorrow night at 7pm at Henley in Arden VA CofE Primary School in Arden Road.

There is a roadshow tomorrow in Stratford upon Avon library in Henley Street from 11.30am until 2.30pm.

There is a public meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday at Warwick Rural West Community Forum at Bishops Tachbrook Sports and Social Club in Kingsley Road, Bishops Tachbrook.

On Friday there is a roadshow from 3.30pm until 6.30pm at Bidford Library, Bramley Way, Bidford on Avon.

And on Saturday from 9.30am until 12.30pm there is a roadshow at Shipston on Stour Library at 12 Church Street.

A busy week ahead

The library consultation is back in full swing this week asking people for their views on proposals on the future of the Library and Information Service.

The double bank holiday has meant a quieter couple of weeks, but this week there is plenty going on for those who want to find out more about the proposals.

This week also see the start of a series of roadshows in the county’s mobile libraries.

The roadshow will be held all day tomorrow in Alcester Mobile Library.

The roadshow will be held all day on Wednesday in Bedworth Mobile Library.

The roadshow will be held all day on Friday in Southam Mobile Library.

These mobile roadshows will then be at Atherstone and Kenilworth on Monday, May 16, and Tuesday, May 17, respectively.

There are also a series of public meetings this week, allowing communities to express their views and ask questions as part of the consultation process.

Tonight a public meeting is being held at 7pm at the Crawford Memorial Hall in Salford Road, Bidford-on-Avon.

Tomorrow evening at 7pm a public meeting is being held at The Cabbage Club in Stockingford, Nuneaton.

On Wednesday there will be two public meetings in different parts of the county.

A public meeting will take place on Wednesday at 6pm at Water Orton Primary School in Attleborough Lane, Water Orton.

A public meeting will take place on Wednesday at 6.30pm at St Joseph’s Church Hall in Murcott Road East in Whitnash.

Also on Wednesday there will be a roadshow at Dordon Library in Roman Way from 2pm until 5pm.

On Thursday, May 12th, there will be two public meetings in the south of the county.

A public meeting will be held at Stratford Methodist Church, Old Town, Strratford-upon-Avon, at 7pm on Thursday.

A public meeting will also be held on Thursday at 7.30pm at Harbury Parish Council Annual Meeting at Harbury Village Hall in South Parade, Harbury.

Also on Thursday, May 12th, Studley Library in High Street, will host a roadshow from 10am until 1pm.

On Friday a public meeting is being held at 7pm at Kineton Village Hall in Mill Street, Kineton.

Elsewhere in the county on Friday a roadshow will take place from 10am until 1pm at Water Orton Library in Coleshill Road, Water Orton.

And finally this week a roadshow will be held on Saturday, May 14, at Henley in Arden Library, The Guild Hall, High Street, from 9.30am until 12.30pm.

More than 1,000 respond to survey

The Warwickshire Library and Information Service consultation has attracted more than 1,000 written and online responses, and it’s only half way through the consultation.

So far 426 people have completed the online survey. Warwick and Leamington are the most popular libraries that respondents currently use. This is twice as many as the next libraries, which are Kenilworth, Stratford and Shipston.

There have also now been 770 written consultation responses, taking the total number of consultation respondents to more than 1,000 people – 1,196 in total.

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

Roadshow in Stockingford tomorrow

The Warwickshire Library and Information Service roadshow, allowing people to see and talk through all the proposals for the future of the service, comes to Stockingford Library tomorrow.

The roadshow will take place from 9am until 12pm.

Please remember it will also be possible to take part in the consultation at one-to-one sessions on the mobile libraries this month.

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

Roadshow in Dunchurch today

Roadshows allowing local people to discuss the Library and Information Service proposals for the future of the service are continuing this week.

Today there is a roadshow from 3.30pm to 6.30pm at Dunchurch Library.

Tomorrow the roadshows continue at Wellesbourne Library from 2pm until 5pm.

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.

Keresley roadshow today

Roadshows allowing local people to discuss the Library and Information Service proposals for the future of the service are continuing this week.

Today there is a roadshow from 2pm to 5pm at Keresley Newland.

Roadshow today at Kineton

Roadshows allowing local people to discuss the Library and Information Service proposals for the future of the service are continuing this week.

Today there is a roadshow at Kineton Library at Kineton Village Hall from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, while tomorrow the roadshow is from 2pm to 5pm at Keresley Newland.

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.