19/5/2006 - Public to get say on improved library services

Cumbria County Council’s review of its 20 smallest libraries has found that a majority of branches are meeting the needs of local people with Frizington, Milnthorpe, Mirehouse, Morton and Seaton singled out for special praise.

Cumbria County Council’s Library Service is a top class performer and was recently awarded the highest possible audit commission rating of four stars. However, the Library Service continues to look for ways to improve and earlier this year began a review of its 20 smallest branches. 

The review has found that while 14 of these Band E libraries are punching above their weight, six branches need to change the way they deliver services in order to enhance accessibility and promote greater use of the books and other facilities they offer.

Local people will now be consulted on a number of possible changes to the way library services are delivered in Abbeytown, Coniston, Great Broughton, Kells, Ormsgill and St Bees.

These could include a change to more flexible opening hours, or expanding the mobile and Library Links services, or shared accommodation and joint delivery with other service areas. People will also be asked for their own suggestions on how library services could be improved in their communities.

Local people in each area will be able to explore the full range of choices through a series of special public meetings beginning next month. The Library Service will then present its final recommendations to Cabinet in September 2006. 

Figures show that for some of the County’s smallest libraries, the number of visitors and books issued has been dropping steadily over a number of years. In many cases, these libraries are open for fewer than 10 hours each week with stock in some libraries being borrowed on average just once in a year.

County councillor Roger Bingham, Cabinet spokesman for the Library Service said: 
   
"This review has found that while a top-class library service is being delivered in the lion's share of Cumbria’s smallest branches, six of these smallest libraries are under-used and not always meeting local needs.

"Now that we have identified these libraries we will be consulting extensively with local people on the range of options available to produce a service that better meets the needs of these communities.

“Ultimately, this is about making sure that the County Council’s first class library service continues to be accessible to as many people as possible.”

Jim Grisenthwaite, Head of Culture at Cumbria County Council, said: “Standing still is not an option. Rather than allowing the library service in these six communities to wither on the vine, we want to involve local people now in developing a service that better meets their needs.

“A huge amount of detailed work has gone into this review which has focused on a number of key factors including the total number of visits to each library and the turnaround of books and other items over a period of years.

"The public consultation we are now embarking upon will make sure local people in these six communities are involved from the very outset in the search for the best library service for their area."