Luton Libraries Strategy 2010-2013

Luton Libraries

Library Strategy 2010 - 2013

CONTENTS

Context

Consultation

Statutory Framework

Luton Library Offer

Aims and Objectives

Core Offer - Books and Reading

Core Offer - Information and Multi Media Services

Core Offer - Lifelong Learning and ICT Provision

Core Offer - Outreach

Core Offer - The Space

Core Offer - The Staff

Service Developments and Improvements for the Next Three Years

Action Plan

Appendix A – Consultation

Appendix B – People using Luton Libraries

Appendix C – Bibliography

1.Context

The purpose of this strategy is to set out the key outcomes, objectives and priorities for the public library service over the next three years in Luton, together with an action plan that will feed into the Libraries Annual Service Plan and Luton Culture’s Annual Service Delivery Plan and be reviewed annually.

It is 12 years since Luton Libraries wrote its first library strategy and nine years since its Best Value Review. During that time there has been a huge change both in library provision and society. There have been changing user demands and expectations; a growth in leisure and recreational activities; a change in work patterns; a change in the cultural mix of our communities and a huge growth in ICT and other technologies with many people now accessing services online 24/7 including book loans and information.

This social shift has been set against the changing context in which local government operates moving away from the traditional local authority role as a service provider towards a role of commissioning services; with the requirement to deliver ongoing efficiency savings; with a greater focus on performance measuring and with services having to deliver towards key local and national priorities. Luton Libraries are no longer part of Luton Borough Council but part of Luton Culture,a charitable company limited by guarantee delivering services on behalf of the Council.

The changes that have taken place in Luton

Libraries are shown in the table below and

show how the service has changed to meet the changing needs of the local community and society during those years

Luton Libraries

1998 / Today (2009/10) *
Part of Luton Borough Council / Part of Luton Culture, a registered charity delivering services on behalf of Luton Borough Council
Central Library / Central Library - refurbished April 2009
Seven branch libraries / Seven branch libraries
Two mobile libraries / One mobile library
Home Library Service / Home Library Service
316.75 opening hours per week / 365.75 opening hours per week
No libraries open 7 days a week / Three libraries open 7 days a week
No virtual library / Virtual Library accessible 24/7
344,943 items in stock / 270,505 items in stock +1,800 downloadable ebooks
1,612,386 issues / 953,639 issues*
Regular one to one training on ICT for users
Two internet PCs at Central Library sponsored by Cabletel / 139 PCs across the library network
No IT sessions / 216,617 IT sessions*
46,861 active borrowers / 40,432 active users (borrowing books and using IT)
947,105 visits / 934,146 visits*
86% of customers who rated the service as good or very good** / 84% of customers who rated the service as good or very good
** Question not asked in Cipfa Plus survey until 2003 / * 2009/10 had nine weeks of library closures for refurbishment and installation of RFID at Central, Leagrave and Wigmore Libraries will have impacted on usage

Visits to libraries are virtually identical to what they were 12 years ago for 2009/10 but included nine weeks of library closure for refurbishment and RFID installation. In 2007/08 the last full year of usage (the Central Library was closed for 3.5 months in 2008/09 for major refurbishment), there were 1,003,147 visits and they are increasing again this year. Book issues are down as a whole by 41%, but IT use was almost non-existent 12 years ago. It now accounts for c 30% of library business. The branch network remains as it was, though there has been an increase in opening hours of 49 hours per week which are now spread over seven days with Central, Leagrave and Wigmore being open Sunday–Saturday. Customers can also access information, renew and reserve books, check their accounts and download books 24/7 at

Whilst book borrowing may have declined, over 900,000 books were issued in 2009/10 and there is still a huge agenda for libraries in terms of basic skills and ICT training, with libraries signed up to help deliver the government initiative, Race Online 2012, led by Martha Lane Fox to get 10 million people using the internet, specifically to access government services. Libraries also play a vital part in delivering the shared public service delivery priorities agreed by central and local government, Luton Borough Council’s Corporate Plan and the Local Area Agreement.

Currently we know that c 50% of the population in Luton use the library service with 40, 432 people having used a library card in the last 12 months to either borrow an item or use ICT; 14,113 of these were children aged 15 and under. See Appendix C for further details.

However, with both national and local

Government facing a time of tremendous upheaval and huge service reductions and job losses predicted,

it is clear that libraries as other public services are

facing challenging times. Luton has already looked for innovative partnerships with local businesses, booksellers and introduced a café at the Central Library and we need to continue to look at and develop new initiatives and relationships to ensure we are delivering the best service possible to the people of Luton effectively and efficiently.

2.Consultation

Luton Libraries have used four pieces of consultation specifically for this strategy but also have used information given by users in the Cipfa Plus Survey in October 2009. See Appendix A for consultation results. What was very apparent from all the consultation was that the public do not understand the services offered by today’s public library, even those who regularly use it. As a result part of the strategy will be to agree a new marketing strategy for the service.The draft strategy will also be published on the Luton Culture website and highlighted in the Council’s Lutonline newspaper to ask for wider comments.

3.Statutory Framework

Public libraries are a statutory service under the terms of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, amended by regulations introduced in January 1992. The regulations confirm the concept of a free basic service, but allow charges to be made for services beyond the basic provision.The 1964 Act places the following duties upon Library Authorities: -

  • To provide ‘a comprehensive and efficient’ library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof.
  • To employ officers to provide and maintain buildings and equipment, and to provide books and other materials.
  • To make provision available to all who live, work or who are in full-time education within the local authority area.
  • To secure and keep adequate stock and arrange for reservations and inter-lending.
  • To encourage both adults and children to make full use of the library service.
  • To make no charge for the loan of printed material, nor for general enquiries.

Library standards were introduced in 2001 but ceased in 2007/08. Luton Culture has retained and adapted some as a benchmark of basic library provision but will revisit these as part of the library strategy

The Secretary of State does have the power to intervene if he/she feels an authority is not providing a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service and can institute an enquiry, issue a Direction and ultimately order the transfer of library functions of the authority to him/herself. These powers were invoked in 2009 when Wirral MBC decided to close 11 of its 24 libraries and

the Secretary of State instigated a local public

enquiry. The closures were stopped as a result, with

Wirral MDC directed to produce a clear strategicdevelopment plan

for the service which was then submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.

4.The Luton Library Offer

Aims and objectives

The key aim of the library service is to provide a gateway to books, information, lifelong learning and opportunity to everyone in the community by providing

  1. Access to books and information.
  2. Support for literacy, learning and encouraging an enjoyment of reading.
  3. Opportunities for the community through advice, support and space.
  4. A well publicised library offer to increase awareness and usage.
  5. A well trained friendly and helpful staff to provide an excellent customer service.

Libraries provide free safe community spaces where people can go to study, read, use ICT, take courses and find things out. They are places of opportunity, opening doors for personal growth, raising aspirations, improving the quality of people’s lives and empowering people. Membership is free as are all basic services – borrowing books, seeking information and using ICT.

Our core offer is

iBooks and Reading

  • Fiction books in hardback and paperback from classics to the latest best sellers, ‘easy reads’ to challenging contemporary authors.
  • Large Print and audio books, books in community languages, e-books and digital audio books.
  • Books for children from birth to teenage years.
  • Support for children’s reading and learning including Bookstart, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Baby rhyme time and the Summer Reading Challenge.
  • Reading groups for adults and children.
  • Reader development activities for both adults and children, themed stock displays and promotional events.
  • Library catalogue and stock circulation system for all titles, shared with Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough to enable a wide range of titles to be accessed by customers in all libraries.
  • Access to inter library loans.

Key priorities

Library membership for children is a key priority for Luton Libraries with the aim of every child in Luton to have a library card which they use regularly. Bookstart and ‘Dolly Parton’ information is given out by registrars when baby’s births are registered. Library membership registration is also taking place via schools.

Stock levels have declined by 29% over 12 years but Luton Libraries feel it is important to maintain existing levels. (Some of this reduction has included books being replaced by electronic and other media.) A minimum of 35,000 items should be added to stock each year, plus e-books.

iiInformation and multi media services

  • Access to a wide range of information in hard copy and electronic format.
  • Access to skilled information staff to help with any information.
  • Newspapers and Magazines in all libraries, some in community languages.
  • CD and DVD collections in the largest libraries.
  • Free information leaflets and displays/exhibitions space for other organisations at local, regional and national levels.
  • Virtual library with access to a wide range of data bases and websites that have been checked by library staff to ensure factual and up to date.

Key priority

To promote the use of online resources.

iii Lifelong Learning and ICT provision

  • Non fiction books covering a broad range of subjects for lifelong and informal learning, work and leisure.
  • Health Information Points in all libraries.
  • Books on Prescription running through 3 surgeries in Luton.
  • Subscriptions to a range of online data bases for library members.
  • Free internet access – email – online shopping – online booking – Patient Choice – services such as car tax renewal, word and excel.
  • Virtual library as above.
  • IT Taster sessions run by library staff and volunteers to get people online.
  • Vocational and educational courses provided by partners such as Adult and Community Learning in libraries.
  • Support to get back into employment from library staff and partners such as Next Step.
  • Free access to language CDs and DVDs and online courses.
  • Dual language books for children.
  • Access to the driving theory test and Citizenship practice tests.
  • For children, Stories from the Web encourages children to read and gives them the opportunity to have their written work published on the website.
  • Homework clubs in all libraries offer support for school and project work.
  • Family and local history events.
  • Community information database available through the virtual library.

Key priorities

Libraries currently have 139 PCs for public use. Levels should not drop beyond 130.

To promote ICT use to enable people without internet access at home to be able to use IT with staff support/training, particularly to access council and government services and to support the Race 0nline 2012 and Smarter government agendas.

ivOutreach

  • Home library service for customers unable to access a local library due to illness and infirmity.
  • Mobile Library service ensuring virtually everyone in Luton is within a mile of a library service.
  • Visits by librarians to customers in schools, playgroups, nurseries, residential home and other community venues.
  • Display facilities in all libraries for individual and local organisations.
  • Community rooms for hire by local groups and organisations.
  • Libraries play a key role contributing to many other areas and agenda including, health and personal well-being, social inclusion, community cohesion, community safety and literacy.
  • With 50% of the population using libraries (Active Peoples Survey April- October 2008) libraries are also ideally placed to make a key contribution to a town wide customer service strategy, community hubs and children’s centres.

Key priority

To recruit more volunteers to the home library service to enable it to reach more customers.

vThe Space

Luton is currently well served by a network of eight static libraries, some open every day Sunday - Saturday, a mobile library service visiting 15 sites across the town and a home library service. Around ninety-nine percent of the population live with a mile radius of a library service, with 91.6% being within a mile of a static library. If mobile library stops are included almost 100% of the population is within one mile of a library service.

The libraries are the Central Library in the town centre; the strategic libraries of Leagrave, Wigmore and Marsh Farm and the community libraries of Lewsey, Stopsley, Sundon Park and Bury Park. Between them the Central Library, Leagrave, Wigmore and Marsh Farm Libraries account for 86% of library visits, 89% of IT use and 75% of issues.

Two of the libraries are in community centres, and Marsh Farm Library moves into new premises in a new joint public/school library in Lea Manor School in early 2011. All the libraries are housed in council buildings except Wigmore Library, which is leased from a commercial organisation. The rent has gone up regularly at commercial rates and constitutes the biggest running cost for the library apart from staff. All the libraries have been refurbished internally in recent years, but many need substantial repairs to the fabric of the building. The Central Library although greatly improved by Big Lottery Funding is costly to run and not ideal to deliver a modern public library service. Both Bury Park and Sundon Park are inadequate; both are too small and Sundon Park has a first floor that cannot be accessed by anyone in a wheelchair. Bury Park receives regular customer complaints due to its size asking for more study space, more computers and more books, but it is physically impossible to fit more in. If it is to remain open, it must move to bigger and better premises.

Whilst ideally we would wish to improve the existing network and extend opening hours in line with customers’ wishes and retain the high percentage of customers living within a mile radius of a library this may not be possible or cost effective in the future. It is likely that the council may wish to reduce the network of libraries due to its budgetary position and if this is the case Luton Culture believe that libraries should only be closed for sound strategic reasons, e.g. their proximity to other libraries or because the premises are no longer adequate. Luton Culture also feel that it is better to close a library rather than reduce the quality of the library service overall by for example reducing opening hours, book fund etc across the board. This has the knock on effect of reducing usage, by offering reduced access, reduced choice and fewer services whilst buildings remain closed but still have to be maintained.

It is also likely that as online services develop and more and more people get access to ICT at home, over time the need for so many library buildings will also reduce, though we believe there will be a need for some library buildings for the foreseeable future to provide safe community space where people (particularly children, the elderly, students and those living in deprived areas or on low incomes) can go free of charge to study, read, learn and seek information.

In terms of the Luton library network, Bury Park Library is only half a mile from the newly refurbished Central Library and Sundon Park within a short distance of Marsh Farm Library which will have extended opening hours when it moves into its new premises at Lea Manor School. Indeed there is considerable overlap between some of the existing libraries with people living in the Leagrave and Limbury area of town being within a mile of three libraries. Stopsley Library was also due to close when Wigmore Library (built as the replacement Stopsley Library) opened in 1991 but was retained due to local pressure. All libraries are well served by public transport. A new library in Houghton Regis in Central Bedfordshire also opened in 2009 within a mile radius of Lewsey Library.