Agenda and minutes

Councillors Mrs Shenton, Proctor and Kearon

Catherine Mann, Libraries and Arts Manager, Staffordshire County Council will be attending to give advice on the proposed changes to the Library Service and to answer any questions raised

The Chair welcomed Catherine Mann (Libraries and Arts Manager) and Samantha Mellenchip (District Manager Staffordshire Library and Information Services Culture and Leisure) from Staffordshire County Council to the meeting.

A presentation was carried out by Catherine Mann on Staffordshire County Council’s proposals to meet the shifting demand and safeguard the service for the future.  

Countywide, visits to libraries had declined by almost 12 per cent over the last three years and issues of physical books had reduced by 19 per cent.    Staffordshire County Council wanted to work with communities to move away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’.  A resilient and sustainable library service was required to cope with changing demands and financial constraints.

It was proposed to reshape the library network by offering three categories of library:-

1)  Library ‘Extra’

2)  Library ‘Core’

3)  Library ‘Local’

All supported by Library ‘Plus’ – an enhanced online service.

·      There had been 35 drop in sessions

·      8 Question and Answer sessions

·      4 ‘Community Managed’ workshops

·      Social Media

·      General queries

Library Extra and Library Core were the libraries which saw the most use by the public and would remain managed directly by Staffordshire County Council.

The Library Extra currently proposed to include Burton, Lichfield, Newcastle and Tamworth.

The Library Core currently proposed to include Biddulph, Burntwood, Cannock, Cheadle, Clayton, Codsall, Eccleshall, Leek, Kidsgrove, Perton, Rugeley, Stafford, Stone, Uttoxeter and Wombourne

Staffordshire County Council proposed that 24 libraries needed to be more focused based of the community, within Newcastle these included Audley, Knutton, Loggerheads, Silverdale and Talke.

The Consultation was running for twelve weeks; closing on 7^th October 2014, with implementation from mid 2015 to late 2016.

It was reported that Newcastle had relative under representation in the consultation process.

The following questions were asked by Members and responses provided by Catherine Mann and Samantha Mellenchip:-

Q1       How were the areas chosen, as children in the Clayton area were more likely to have online access to information at home, whereas children in the Silverdale and Knutton areas many did not?

A1       A swot analysis of each library and usage was undertaken.  It was found the use of Silverdale and Knutton libraries were low.  A methodology is currently being carried out on peoples’ views around the proposals.

Q2       How many mobile libraries were there?

A2       There were six mobile libraries and two travelling libraries.  The travelling libraries stay in the community for the whole day.  The mobile libraries were small vehicles going from stop to stop.  Static libraries had been looked at.  Below is a link showing mobile routes and stops.

            http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/librariesnew/Help-shape-library-service/Help-shape-library-service.aspx

Q3       In the process have you considered the use of local schools, in terms of identifying the need and service that could be provided using school premises which could save money?

A3       Talke and Knutton primary schools share their libraries but the facilities were not used greatly by parents.  A Consultation had been carried out at Talke library, with the headteacher of the local school, to discuss how to work more closely.  Staffordshire County Officers will be visiting schools to inform parents that a Consultation was taking place.

Q4       Can you compare usage figures by young people in Clayton Library, Silverdale Library and Knutton Library?

A4       The table below shows membership at December 2013 and show a comparison of Under 16 active borrowers (have borrowed at least one item in the last year) and registered library members.

Computer use is higher amongst young people at Silverdale than at Clayton and almost no young people are recorded as using the computer at Knutton. The table below shows the number of computer bookings broken down by adult and under 16s in 2013/14.

Q5       What would happen if there were no volunteers to take over the libraries?

A5       One of the options was the communities managing and leading the library but realise this may prove difficult.  The other option would be to look at moving the library into another building.

Q6       Knutton library is located in St Marys School, why put it in as a ‘Local’?

A6       At the moment Knutton library is one of the used libraries in terms of visits or use and the school does not have any part in the running costs and you get more people involved in the library.

Q7       One part of Silverdale library is sectioned off and one part was opened  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Two petitions were handed to Catherine Mann one from residents of Silverdale and Parksite and one from residents of Audley and Bignall End.

The Chair thanked both Catherine Mann and Samantha Mellenchip for the presentation and providing answers to the questions that had been raised by Members.

The above questions and answers would be provided to Staffordshire County Council as part of the Consultation process.