FROM: FORE! (Friends of Reading & Education, Haringey)
November 2004

NEW INQUIRY: PUBLIC LIBRARIES

FORE is the umbrella organisation for all library support groups in the Borough of Haringey. We reported to the first Inquiry, providing information which included our 1999 report LOOKING FORWARD, a document which was instrumental in persuading Haringey to reverse its policy of closing branch libraries.

FORE members are now in the enviable position of operating in a borough where the Library Service has undergone a complete change of direction, resulting in successful statistics for visits and for issues of books (an increase of 7.5% over 5 years according to CIPFA figures.). We are one of only two boroughs in London to achieve this positive result, and thus FORE is in a position to comment from strength on the items the Committee is asked to consider.

In 2001 Haringey’s Chief Executive and several councillors decided to act positively on an appalling Audit Commission Best Value report on its libraries (failing and unlikely to improve). They hired a consultant, Instant Library, Inc.. Under their managing director, Diana Edmonds (who became the Acting Head of Service), the Library Service was reorganised and revitalised to conform to the original Public Library Standards. Libraries were refurbished, stock management was overhauled, and opening hours were increased. Finances were put on a firm footing, staff management and training were upgraded, and the People’s Network was installed and serviced. This resulted in the service being awarded two stars in the most recent Audit Commission report in 2003.

FORE has several comments drawn from the experience gained from this successful approach, and would like to offer these now.

1. Accessibility of local libraries

All libraries should be open fully throughout the week (including Sunday) and have full access in accordance with the terms of the Disability Act. The public are visiting in larger numbers in boroughs such as Haringey where these policies are in operation.

Local councils are in a position to know where their greatest need for new libraries is, and should be flexible in positioning them. The new Standards are not helpful in this respect.

Flexibility is also important in the use of opening hours - later and on Sundays would often suit the public better and increase use.

2. Increasing the use of local libraries

Promoters of community activities should be encouraged to use the library spaces by being offered reasonable hire rates (or by being allowed free use of the space). FORE believes that the emphasis should be on events and activities focussed on children, who are the next generation of users. More events, parenting courses, Reading Agency initiatives and evening and Sunday openings will be helpful in achieving this.

Modern and diverse stock should be available for readers, and information on the possibilities of cross-borrowing of stock should be fully advertised and promoted to the public.

Specific programmes related to increasing public use of the Internet should be part of the Library Service’s outreach. This can also begin to open wider library use to young internet users (as has been done successfully in Haringey). Funding of local libraries and balance of spending

FORE! would like to see a capital investment by the Government in the structure of library buildings, as this is beyond the financial grasp of most councils. This is one key reason why many areas of the country have such problems in their library services. Users have been calling for this investment for many years. Capital for rebuilding libraries could transform many failing services whose resources have had to be spread so thinly that their old libraries have become liabilities.

Traditional investment in books is vital and should not be diluted by the need to reinvest in computer technology for the People’s Network. This point should be made forcefully, and perhaps the stock funds should be ring-fenced to protect them in the future. Funding for IT should not be a burden on the Library Service, just because the buildings were the best place to begin the People’s Network.

Much of local authority spending is badly audited and historically cramped in application. There is little use of imagination in acquiring grants and finance from outside sources or even government programmes as well as linked areas of Council provision. Commercial sponsorship of initiatives such as Books for Babies, Sure Start, Toy Libraries and reading groups should be pursued.

Library Service finances should be overhauled, and more use made nationally of available grants and services. As the Service is historically linked with Education, there should be cross-referencing on finance within councils, especially with regard to school libraries.

Heads of Service should be required to make the best use of these funding sources.

3. New models of provision, and new policy demands

Each council has different problems, and each new model of provision needs to be carefully studied and evaluated before being applied in other localities (for example, Ideas Stores are not suitable for all locations). Most councils are tackling social exclusion: FORE believes that this is best done in library programmes and initiatives aimed at the young (thus including parents, carers and the education services) and at specific refugee/cultural groups. Young refugees are especially vulnerable and respond very well to specialised training, taking information back to their parents and communities.

The main purpose of a library is to provide books - any new policies and programmes must take account of this and build into it. Funding for special initiatives must not come from library funds at the expense of stock.

4. The effectiveness of legislative, strategic and administrative frameworks

Statutory responsibility for providing a library service has been historically important in preserving libraries where councils have tried to remove or reduce them for financial reasons. Action against these trends led to the first set of Public Library Standards which were, in Haringey, the reason the Council felt it had to act to improve the service. The newest version of the Standards, FORE feels, are a dilution of the originals and should be strengthened to protect libraries.

The new Auditing inspections are also less effective in preserving a high standard in library services.

5. Recruitment and training of library staff

It is crucial to provide a clear career path for new recruits, and to clarify the means of retraining and upgrading the skills of existing staff. Much can be done with imaginative use of part-time staff and those with family responsibilities. (Staffing Sunday openings has not been a problem commercially.)

There is a need for staff to understand the financial and administrative policies beyond work at the desk. For the user, the staff they meet are very important to the atmosphere in the library. Training should reflect this as well as technical skills, as many new initiatives must be put in place by this level of staff.

Top positions should be filled by qualified librarians who have been given training to meet their modern responsibilities.

6. Role of institutional and specialist libraries and links to local libraries

For the reader/user of local libraries, the more links which are available the better. Perhaps start with a ticket that can be used more widely?

7. The People’s Network

FORE applauds the success of the PN, but is very concerned that the cost of new equipment and upgrades for this national service aimed at a policy of e-government should not come from local library funding at the expense of book stocks (see comments above).

FORE believes that the amount of space allocated to computers should now be stabilised. There should be no more removal of book space to provide for the PN. Future development should proceed slowly, and should do so in conjunction with schools, Life Long Learning programmes, and e-government.

Use of the internet is vital in our economy and for the future, so there should be emphasis on skills training for the library user of all ages to reflect this.
The People’s Network should remain a free service, as it is vital for those who cannot afford either computers or servicing the connections.

8. Other comment

The user groups in Haringey have been fortunate in being consulted during the process of change. We feel confident that if other councils look seriously at the reasons for the success of Haringey (and the very few other services who did not see visits and issues drop drastically over the past five years) they would find good reasons to make changes. They would also find support from the people who use and care for libraries - the local readers.

Susan Chinn, Chairman FORE!