Representatives of WCC presented an update on
the implementation and impact of Libraries Unlocked across
Worcestershire, with particular attention given to Bromsgrove and
Rubery libraries.
The Board was advised that Libraries Unlocked
was operating at 11 locations. A further implementation at Woodrush
Library was being progressed, subject to lease negotiations with
the Black Pear Trust. This was expected to be the final site in the
current programme. Across the service, Libraries Unlocked had more
than 21,000 registered members and more than 14,000 active users.
Since the programme began in 2022, more than 8,700 hours of
community led activity had taken place in participating
libraries.
Across the 11 sites, total library opening
hours had increased by 59 per cent, while staffed opening hours had
reduced by 31 per cent. Libraries Unlocked had not been progressed
at Alvechurch because of prohibitive Private Finance Initiative
(PFI) related capital and revenue costs, or at Hagley because
increased building costs had reduced the projected return on
investment.
Bromsgrove and Rubery libraries had joined the
scheme in early 2024. Both were reported to have healthy levels of
visits, book issues, computer use and community led activity,
although neither had extensive meeting room facilities.
The total capital investment across the 11
sites was reported as approximately £580,000, with staffing
savings of just over £300,000. Approximately £33,500
had been deducted from gross savings to account for additional
utility costs. At Rubery, this amounted to approximately
£4,000. At Bromsgrove Library, utility costs had not been
separately apportioned because the library formed part of the
Parkside building and there was no mechanism for separately
monitoring the library’s consumption. Property Services would
investigate whether utility expenditure at Parkside had noticeably
increased following implementation in March and April 2024.
Customer feedback indicated that barriers to
joining included insufficient information, the requirement to
attend a face-to-face induction, access to toilets, safety concerns
and a desire for Sunday opening. In response, information sessions
had been introduced, toilets had been made available at some
locations and library managers were sharing good practice on
community engagement. Officers were considering a trial of online
registration, while recognising the safeguarding and health and
safety value of the existing face to face induction. A
communications campaign highlighting the safety of Libraries
Unlocked was also planned.
A survey undertaken to inform the refreshed
library strategy had ranked Libraries Unlocked as the third library
service most useful to families, after books and the provision of
welcoming community space.
Eligibility had been extended to people aged
15 and over so that pupils in Years 10 and 11 could access
libraries during examination preparation. Local library teams were
working with schools and attending community events, while central
social media campaigns promoted libraries as quiet study spaces
offering study and wellbeing support.
After the presentation, Members queries and
officer feedback were discussed which included:
- How was an “active” user
defined? - Officers explained that this was defined as a unique
individual who had used Libraries Unlocked during the relevant
reporting period. Entry was recorded when the person used their
library card to access the building. Wider library use was also
assessed through borrowing and computer use data, supplemented
periodically by exit surveys to estimate activity that could not be
captured electronically.
- A further question clarified that
“issues” within the performance information meant book
issues.
- Members expressed concern that the
information did not provide a sufficiently clear comparison with
library use before the introduction of Libraries Unlocked. Without
baseline data, it was difficult to judge whether the programme had
succeeded. - Officers accepted this point and agreed that
comparative information could be provided. Experience elsewhere had
shown that visits often declined following the introduction of an
open library model before recovering over subsequent years. Across
the seven phase two libraries, including Bromsgrove and Rubery,
visits had initially been 8 per cent below the pre implementation
level. The latest monitoring showed that the gap had reduced to
approximately 4.4 per cent. Local
library managers were preparing audience development plans using
data to identify groups that were not using the service which
included work with schools to increase participation by older
teenagers. Officers offered to provide further information about
the local audience development plans for Bromsgrove and
Rubery.
- Members asked why Bromsgrove and
Rubery showed different conversion rates between registered and
active members. - Officers were unable to provide an immediate
explanation and agreed to investigate.
- Members also asked about the
difference between gross and net staffing savings at the two
libraries. - Officers explained that Bromsgrove was a larger
library with more staff covering its opening hours. A reduction in
staffed hours therefore produced greater staffing savings than at
the smaller Rubery Library.
- Members expressed the view that a
face-to-face induction could prevent working residents from
registering. - Officers acknowledged that the Council might have
been overly cautious and confirmed that they were open to trialling
online registration. This could potentially use a QR code and an
online safety video. The face-to-face
process had originally been retained to address safeguarding and
health and safety concerns. Officers considered that experience
gained since 2022 meant the authority could now assess alternative
arrangements more confidently.
- A Member emphasised that any online
process must retain stringent identity verification. - Officers
confirmed that an individual had to be a library member before
becoming a Libraries Unlocked member and that ordinary library
registration currently included identity checks. The WCC Cabinet Member added that Closed Circuit
Television (CCTV) operated during unstaffed opening hours and staff
at Rubery had reported no particular
safety concerns.
- The Chairman questioned whether,
after two years, use remained significantly below previous levels.
- Officers clarified that use was approximately 4 per cent below
the earlier figure and was moving in the right direction,
suggesting that additional promotional work could assist.
- A Member expressed the view that
there seemed to be national decline for in-person use of
libraries. - Members noted that
increased online activity and changed patterns of borrowing,
particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, could also have
influenced physical library visits. The
WCC Cabinet Member encouraged Members and community organisations
to promote their local libraries and make use of library space,
helping to sustain the service.
RESOLVED
that the libraries “Unlocked” Update was
noted.