PAPER F

 

Purpose: For Decision

 

Committee:

EXECUTIVE

 

 

Date:

24 SEPTEMBER 2002

 

 

Title:

ANNUAL LIBRARY PLAN

 

 

 

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

 

 

 


SUMMARY/PURPOSE

1.             To give approval to the Annual Library Plan 2002 and recommend its adoption by the Full Council

 

BACKGROUND

2.             The Council is required to submit an Annual Library Plan (ALP) to the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) by the end of September each year. The ALP is intended to be a working document which sets out how the Council intends to deliver its library services over the next three years and especially in relation to the Government's declared aims and targets for library services.

 

3.             In order that comparisons can be made between local authorities, the plan must be produced to a set format prescribed by the DCMS:-

 

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Statement of Objectives

Chapter 3 - Service delivery and resources

Chapter 4 - Performance appraisal, assessment against the standards in A Comprehensive, Efficient and Modern Public Libraries@, marketing and customer response

Chapter 5 - Review of the plan and progress for the previous financial year

Chapter 6 - Rolling three year medium term strategy

Chapter 7 - Rolling action plans and targets

 

4.             The 2001 ALP was rated by the DCMS as "a satisfactory progression" from earlier plans and was described as well presented but it expressed concerns about the viability of achieving all of the targets in the Action Plan and whether the authority was committed to meeting the Library Standards by March 2004.

 

5.             In order to continue the joined-up approach to the planning process, the 2002 ALP seeks to make direct linkages in the plan period between the Education and Community Development directorate's Strategic Plan and the action plan /objectives of the Library Service. Some of the main actions in that period will be the introduction of the people's network, reader development, promoting an inclusive service and undertaking a best value review.

 

6.             The main area of concern in the ALP is that it does not yet fully set out how the Council proposes to address the introduction of minimum library standards. The cost of meeting these standards based on maintaining current levels of library service provision have been estimated to be as high as ,180,000. Addressing this issue has already been considered by a Task Group but now the Portfolio holder together with the Select Committee are actively considering how progress can be made in this regard.

 

7.             An Executive Summary of the ALP for 2002 to 2005 is attached herewith. A full copy of it has been deposited in the Members' meeting room.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

8.             The objectives contained in the 2002 ALP can be achieved within current budgets or through external grant and partnership arrangements.

 

OPTIONS

 

9.1     Approve the ALP for submission to the DCMS.

 

9.2     Not approve the ALP.

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Annual Library Plan be approved and recommended for adoption by the Council

 

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

"Annual Library Plans - Guidelines for the preparation of plans in 2002", DCMS.

"Annual Library Plans - The Planning Profile", DCMS, May 2002.

Contact Point : Tim Blackmore  824934

A KAYE

Director of Education, Community Development

J WAREHAM

Portfolio Holder for Education, Community Development and Life

 

 

Isle of Wight Council

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORATE

Library Service

ANNUAL LIBRARY PLAN 2002/3 B 2004/5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1                    Context

 

The Council is required to submit by 30th September an Annual Library Plan to the Department of Culture Media and Sport. Before submission it must be considered and approved by full Council. This year's plan is again closely tied to the Directorate's Strategic and Service Plans although the DCMS provide guidelines on the coverage and structure, which make it a longer and more detailed document.

 

2                    Content

 

Through Chapters 1 to 3 the Plan summarises the background of the Island, the Council and the Library Service, including the budget. The performance of the service is appraised in Chapter 4 using comparisons against national and local performance indicators, the new Public Library Standards and responses to public consultation. Chapter 5 reviews last year's Plan and 6 gives a SWOT analysis of the service and medium term strategy. This strategy follows the Directorate's strategic objectives. A rolling three-year action plan and targets are given in Chapter 7.

 

3                    Action Plan

 

The action plan has eleven main themes:

 

_   Development of new management style

_   Improved communications

_   Improved consultation

_   Meeting the Public Library Standards

_   Implementation of the People’s Network

_   Developing staff

_   Improvements to facilities

_   Improvements to service delivery

_   Reader Development

_   Stock management

_   Research

 

several of which have evolved from work that a library service team undertook as part of a European Foundation for Quality Management assessment of the service, which was linked to the current Community Service Best Value Review which is in progress.

 

4      Key Issues

 

Achievements of the service over the past year include

Acquisition and commissioning of two new mobile libraries, fully equipped with satellite based internet access

Development of library service element of the Council’s website including transactional based functionality

Progress towards implementation of the People’s Network

Appointment of Reader Development Librarian

Tender for new book supply contract for the next three years

The Island performs well against many of the new National Public Library Standards but will have problems meeting those dealing with books and audiovisual material by the deadline of 2003/4. We estimate that we will need to increase our expenditure by £180,000 to meet them.

Although the government are providing us with nearly half a million pounds to establish the People's Network there are issues over sustaining communications and the equipment. An additional revenue figure of £80,000 will be required, £50,000 of which has been identified.

There is a continuing problem of maintaining the service at existing levels with the current number of staff.

The adequacy of our buildings in terms of size, location and maintenance is still a concern.