Consultation Report–Dartford Library

Following the recent consultation that took place between 1st August and the 21st of September 2014 surrounding the refurbishment of Dartford Library this report now outlines the outcomes of that consultation.

Introduction

As part of ‘Facing the Challenge’ Libraries Registration and Archives (LRA) continue to think innovatively about transformation, and to explore ways in which the service can work with partners to reduce costs and maintain service delivery. In particular LRA has embraced opportunitiesto work with Social Care and Property Infrastructure & Support in a way that will bring forward savings through sharing of premises.

Dartford Library is currently shared with Dartford Borough Council (via their presence in the attached museum) but the proposed refurbishment works will look to open up an access between the two to make the Museum Disability Discrimination Act compliant. In addition the refurbishment will provide facilities for Families and Social Care (in order to mitigate their need to fund and take out a commercial lease on new facilities within a non KCC facility) and look at opportunities to generate income from room hire to offset revenue costs.

The proposed improvements to Dartford Library will benefit the whole community and include:

  • Refurbishment of the library to ensure we maintain and preserve the historic natureand feel of the building
  • Refurbishing and retaining parts of the original shelving as an integral part of thishistoric building
  • Complementing the historic shelving with new, more comfortable and flexible furniturethat will encourage more people to use the library
  • An additional new entrance to the museum via the library
  • Space for community facilities this willinclude bookable space that can be used by local individuals and community groupssuch as History Groups.
  • New public toilets and a changing place facility
  • New flooring in keeping with the libraries original heritage
  • Decoration work including painting and making good on any defects
  • A library that everyone can access
  • The Good Day Programme (see below for further details)
  • An increase in the net usable public space by 42sqm.

The project is in line with LRA, Social Care and Properties ambitions to modernise and improve services whilst reducing revenue costs. Work is looking to be undertaken in 2015 with designs and tenders now complete. The building and some of the original shelving are listed and thus any scheme is dependent on achieving listed planning approval which already has officer approval.

The work will look to increase the public usable space; maximise collocation and income generation opportunities;and ultimately improve, KCC’s financial position.

Background

As with all Kent’s libraries, nature and time take their toll on the building and there is a desire tomaintain and preserve this unique facility and ensure that it is fit for purpose for future generationsto come. The proposed refurbishment reflects the need to ensure the building is fully accessible for all customers who visit not only to borrow books, but to study, join a group or class, access free Wi-Fi, or use a public PC.

Dartford Library is a Carnegie Library and LRA are very respectful of the historic nature of the building and its unique character. Assuch all those involved in the project have been working closely with the Dartford Conservation Officer to ensure thebuilding is restored to its former glory and preserved for future generations to enjoy.

A key historical feature is the original shelving. Over the years the bookshelves have beendamaged or have become worn out to the point that quite a lot of this is not in its original condition. An element of the refurbishment is the sensitive restoration of this shelving bringing it back to its original appearance. This will offer a true representation of the ornate history of the library’s interior.

However, the original shelving was not designed for the full range of stock and activities thatnow feature in the best libraries. For this reason it is intended that somecomplementary new furniture be introduced that will enable customers to enjoy the full range of servicesand activities that are offered, in comfort.

The carpet flooring in the library has served the library well and while the original parquet flooringcannot be repaired at this time, consideration is being given as to how best to replicate the original feelof the library through the use of high quality laminate wood effects.

KCC has good experience of working with listed library buildings and have previously completedsuccessful refurbishments at Gravesend, Ramsgate, Canterbury and Folkestone libraries.

Consultation Process

Stakeholder groups identified and targeted

  • Users of Dartford Library
  • Clients of the FSC Good Day Programme
  • Residents of Dartford
  • Local Members
  • KCC Members

Consultation and communication methods used

  • Paper copies of the consultation were available in Dartford Library from the 1st of August to the 21st of September.
  • An online consultation was available from the 6th August to 21st September.
  • A timetable was created to ensure that there was a staff presence on the display stand in the library throughout the period of the consultation.
  • Staff attended, where appropriate, user group meetings and forums to give information about the consultation and capture feedback.
  • A press release on the 24thJuly to announce the beginning of the consultation.
  • A press release on the 9th of September to remind residents and users of the library to have their say.
  • A press release advising of the extension to the consultation period by an additional 2 weeks[1].
  • A display of the proposed plans for the library; information about the Good Day Programme; and consultation documentation were available in Dartford Library from the 1st of August to the 21st September. This information was located at the front of the building and was clearly visible to all those entering the library.

Equality/Accessibility considerations

  • In order to ensure that all were able to understand the plans and be involved in the consultation process staff were available on a timetabled basis to sit with the display in Dartford library and answer questions and assist with the completion of forms where appropriate.
  • Staff presence on the display stand offered the opportunity to request alternative formats of the documents.
  • The online questionnaire offered the opportunity to request hard copies or alternative formats of the documents.
  • Attendance at forums and user groups to ensure that as many people as possible were informed about the consultation. This also enabled staff to assist, where appropriate, with the completion of forms particularly for those with limited mobility (Good Day Programme Clients).

Respondent profile and activity

Context

Dartford Borough

Dartford Borough is the smallest District in Kent with a Population of 97,365 (2011 Census). The estimated Town Centre Population, those within a reasonable walking distance of the Library, is 30,000. The number of people that work in the Town Centre is 4,700.

Dartford Library

The number of active borrowers at the library for July 2013 to August 2014 was 7,424.

This is broken down as follows:

Age Group / Number
0-4 / 617
5-11 / 1551
Teen / 532
Adult / 3620
Over 60 / 918
Not known / 186

KCC/ LRA received 349 formal responses to the consultation on the proposed changes, 4 of these were letters sent to Members. We do not know if all respondents to the consultation are members of Dartford Library – if they were all to be members this would represent 5% of the total Active Borrowers.

Responses

Of the 349 responses 200 (57%) were in favour of all changes with a further 82 (23%) wanting to see changes being made. In contrast 67 (19%) were opposed to the proposals. A further breakdown of these responses can be seen below.

Two petitions were received,1 for and 1 against the proposals.

The first petition was gathered under the opening statement 'we the undersigned totally oppose the overall new layout and changes to Dartford Library by the KCC' and collected 991 signatories. Investigation into the first page of signatories has indicated that of the 15 10 are members of Dartford Library.

The second received under the statement ‘we are signing this form in agreement to the proposed changes to Dartford Library. We want a library that all people can access and use. We agree that new facilities and some changes are needed to make the library a hub for an inclusive community’ collected 22 signatories. People signing this petition are Good Day Programme Clients.

No further personal details were captured as part of these petitionsand so it is not possible to give a more in depth profile of the respondents.

Consultation responses

Responses were collated under the following questions:

  • What do you think about the overall proposals?
  • What do you think of the proposed new layout?
  • What style of furniture and colours do you think would work best?
  • How satisfied are you with the current book stock?
  • What type of stock would you like us to buy?
  • Would you be interested in booking the proposed community rooms in future?

The majority of the detailed responses were concerned with the first 2 questions ‘What do you think about the overall proposals?’ and ‘What do you think of the proposed new layout?’

The feedback can be broken down as follows:

  • 200 respondents supported all elements of the refurbishment with:
  • 45 explicitly outlining their support for the inclusion of a kitchen;
  • 48 demonstrating support for the changing place; and
  • 65 indicating their support for a scheme that seeks to establish social inclusion placing Dartford Library at the ‘heart’ of the community.
  • 16 respondents (5%) are broadly supportive raising concerns about, for example:
  • sound proofing;
  • the open plan nature of the designs;
  • preservation of the historic nature of the building;
  • moving the meet and greet nearer to the door; and
  • moving the children’s area to the rear of the library for safety.
  • 2 of the respondents supported all plans for the library but did not like the proposal to open up the entrance to the museum.
  • 66 people gavefeedback associated with the changes to the Tiffin Room which currently houses book stock, study tables and computers. This can be broken down into the following:
  • 20 respondents (6%) do not wish to loselocal history space;
  • 32 respondents (9%) did not want the Good Day Programme using the community facilities; and
  • 14 respondents (4%) did not see the need for a kitchen.
  • The remaining 67 respondents (19%) are opposed to all changes

In response to the remaining questions feedback surrounding the furniture and colour was extremely mixed with no defining theme being immediately identifiable. However, a large number of respondents were keen that these be in keeping with the historic nature of the rest of the building.

Views surrounding the book stock were again varied with responses ranging from completely unsatisfied to very satisfied and all suggestions for additional stock are to be considered.

Finally in response to the question seeking feedback on the use of the community rooms very few responded. Of the 11 that commented on this element of the proposal 3 indicated that they would not use the space and the remainder suggested that this room could be used by a variety of groups and clubs in Dartford.

Next Steps

Now that this consultation has come to a close and all those with an interest in the future of Dartford Library have had a chance to share their views, Kent County Council and Libraries, Registration and Archives are going to consider and reflect upon those responses received.

Appendix 1 - Equality Impact Assessment

One of the aims of this project is to create a library that is more inclusive and remains at the heart of the community. This will, in part, be achieved with the creation of a space for the Good Day Programme. The majority of those that responded to the consultation were in support of the proposals to incorporate a Programme which supports those with learning difficulties to access day services across the county and find activities to suit their needs.The aim is to help people:

  • choose what they want to do during the day, evenings and weekends;
  • have support when and where they need it;
  • to feel equal citizens of their local community; and
  • to have opportunities to lead a full and meaningful life.

Equality Impact Assessment Updated Action Plan

Protected Characteristic / Issues identified / Action to be taken / Expected outcomes / Owner / Timescale / Cost implications
Disabilities / Positive impact in terms of access / Maximise access and promotion of new services / Increased numbers of library users with disabilities / FSC/ LRA / Long term
All – Remaining library users / Loss of study space, stock and local history space / Re-design of the space to include more study space, stock and better use of the allocated local history space / A design that the Dartford residents support and can be proud of / LRA / December 2014 – January 2015 / Staff resource/ design resource (Demco)
All – Staff within the libraries / Concerns about the use of space reflecting user responses / Staff briefings to outline the revised designs / An understanding of the designs and support for the library / LRA / January 2015 / Staff resource
All – Dartford residents / Concerns around the changing nature of the space / Press releases
You Said We Did / A wider understanding and support for the proposals / LRA / January 2015 / Staff Resource in LRA and Press Office
Cost of running article

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[1] Following feedback from users of the library and the consultation team it was felt that the initial period of time given to the consultation was too short and so the period was extended from the 7th of September to the 21st.