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Haringey Council

Public Libraries in England and Wales

Key Challenges for the 21st Century

Diana EdmondsAssistant Director, Culture, Libraries and Learning23rd May 2011

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• Or the customers through the door

1. Getting the Business

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• Dramatic increase in use levels• Wood Green currently has the busiest

libraries in London

Haringey Experience demonstrates that customers are attracted by relevant services

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• Money for buildings• Money for stock• Money for IT• Money for staff

2. Getting the Money to Provide the Service

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• Buildings often in wrong place• Poorly maintained• Limited capital within the Authority• Need to use “other people’s” money to build libraries

Money for Buildings

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• Big Lottery• NDC• Europe• PCT• Department of Education (via Connexions)• Skills Funding Agency• MLA• UK On-line

And we are constantly looking for more

In Haringey, we have used funds from:

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• Usually has to come from the Local Authoritybut

• Are occasional opportunities to gain external funding• But essential to maintain funds to ensure the offer

remains attractive to the customer

Money for Stock

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• Don’t believe Price Waterhouse Coopers Report!

Stock Purchase and Acquisition needs to be Lean and Mean

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• Haringey outsources all processing and some selection

• Buys as low as possible• Has minimal staff (1)

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Allocation Model

Stock Fund

AdultChildren and Young People

Audio Visual Electronic

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• Plus, in Haringey, material for BME customers

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• Big Lottery Fund provided People’s Network funding which forced public libraries into the 20th Century

• Problem to maintain this provision as need to modernise occurs

Money for IT

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• Also need to introduce newer technologies, specifically RFID, to modernise processes

• 1 year payback on RFID installations in terms of staff reductions

Money for IT

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Self Issue

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Return

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Sorter

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The Impact of Wireless

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• Major cost in a public library service• Normally at least 60%• Key area for cost cutting and therefore professionalism

debate a real issue• At Haringey, labour costs are currently running at 56%

Money for Staff

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• Staff behaviour also a key issue• Problem with sickness management• Advantageous contracts

Money for Staff

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• Key drive to reduce staff costs• RFID increasingly significant

Money for Staff

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• Each year operate the Service with budget minus same

Budget Overview

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• Essential therefore to increase productivity year on year

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• And to look for the “new” angle, e.g.• Health• Learning• Culture

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Individual Learning Resources

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Collaborative Learning Spaces

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Cultural Spaces

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Running a public library requires: • Customer focus• Entrepreneurial skill• Courage

Summary

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• And now?

• What about the cuts?

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• Libraries are under significant pressure

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• In London, LLCP (London Libraries Change Programme) may help………

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The Future

……. Is the future