Minutes:
(1) Ms Honey and Ms Anley introduced a report which outlined the approach being developed to deliver sustainable library services for the future.
(2) Ms Honey and Ms Anley answered questions and noted comments from Members which included the following:-
· Ms Anley emphasised that the use of volunteers was only one of a range of models, which could work in specific types of communities. She gave the example of Sandgate Library which shared premises and staff cost with the Parish Council.
· A Member asked what would happen if the local people did not want a library to close but no one came forward with a plan to keep it open. Ms Anley confirmed that local need and demand would be taken into consideration.
· A Member emphasised the importance of Local Members factoring in future growth when considering library provision for their area.
· In response to a question on mitigating the risk of judicial reviews, Ms Anley stated that the public was not a cohesive body and it only took one individual to raise a judicial review, therefore it was essential that the process for reaching decisions on libraries was defensible.
· Ms Anley confirmed that the lack of a self service system, did not make it more likely that a library would close, she explained that the selection of libraries for self service was based on financial grounds, i.e. savings on staff costs verses the cost of introducing self service.
· The feasibility of looking to the Big Society to take over some of the County Councils services was questioned.
· As some areas did not have Locality Boards, and of those that did have Locality Boards some of their Membership was not as wide as other areas, the issue of question of equality of consideration for each of the areas was raised, It was suggested that steps should be taken to ensure that there is a consistence in the organisations involved in each area. Ms Anley explained that where currently there was not a Locality Board, the Local County Councillors would be consulted on who else should be involved in the discussions in their District. Other solutions to library provision would enable joined up services and savings. It was important to talk to a wide range of people such as schools, the health service, shops in order to explore different options.
· The Chairman referred to the model at Cranbourne in Cambridgeshire, which she had visited with Ms Anley, where the library was within the medical centre which worked really well.
· Regarding the supply of books to a small library, Ms Anley stated that books held locally were only a small part of the stock of the whole county which can be accessed from every library through the County reservation service, were books could be reserved on line to be delivered to any library in the County. The Town Centre Libraries were the ones where the majority of issues were made and were most heavily used. In the small community libraries acted as a hub and the stock could be refreshed by circulating it.
· A Member referred to the way forward with putting libraries in Gateways.
· Ms Anley confirmed that over the past 9 years, 7 libraries had been closed, including the merger of Springfield and St Faiths in Maidstone, the others were very small community libraries, which now had a mobile library service.
· Mr Ozog requested an update on the footfall figures for libraries.
· Ms Anley referred to the growth in e-book usage but stated that it was still a very small percentage of total issues and there is and will remain for the foreseeable future, a place for hard copy books, the library service were offering people a choice.
(3) RESOLVED that the proposed approach be noted.
Supporting documents: