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ITEM EX9

EXECUTIVE – 30 SEPTEMBER 2003

PUBLIC LIBRARY POSITION STATEMENT

Report by Head of Cultural Services

1. Over the last few years there has been a requirement on the County Council to submit to the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) an Annual Library Plan endorsed by the full Council. However this requirement has now been removed. Instead, library authorities have been instructed by DCMS to prepare a Position Statements, to be submitted by or as soon as possible after 30 September 2003. If DCMS consider that these new position statements in 2003/04 demonstrate satisfactory performance and engagement with delivering the strategy for better performing library services, they will remove the requirement to submit a further position statement.
2. The draft Library Position Statement is attached at Annex 1 (download as .doc file). The draft is also being presented to the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee, on 15 September, and any comments on their part will be reported at the meeting.

Context and Purpose of Library Position Statement

3. The objective of Public Library Position Statements is to show how English Public Library authorities in general intend to shape and deliver their Library Services in line with the themes of the DCMS 2003 report "Framework for the Future: Libraries, Learning and Information in the Next Decade". Individual library authorities should provide an indication of their current service levels. Position Statements should contain statements and service intentions which are capable of audit scrutiny. Authorities are requested to concentrate on the performance of their library service, and to state how they are improving it.
4. Compared to the comprehensive, descriptive and necessarily lengthy nature of Annual Library Plans (Oxfordshire’s ALP 2002 was over 100 pages), Position Statements are required to be succinct, avoiding descriptions, complete policy papers and appendices. A guide length of 15 – 25 pages is stipulated. The Position Statement is not subject to submission to the full Council. DCMS recommend that the Executive Member should sign the statement as an indication of the political backing within the authority.

DCMS "Framework for the Future"

5. This document (a copy of which has been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre) presents a long term strategic vision for the Public Library Service, having been the subject of wide consultation within the library profession and beyond. To quote Right Hon Baroness Tessa Blackstone, former Minister of State for the Arts, who launched the report, "The proposals are presented as a framework to encourage imaginative innovation and greater operational effectiveness and efficiency, adapted to local need and circumstance". The modern mission for libraries should be based on "evolution", "public value", "distinctiveness", and "local interpretations of national programmes". Three areas of activity are defined as needing to be at the heart of libraries’ mission:

• The promotion of reading and informal learning.
• Access to digital skills and services including e-government.
• Measures to tackle social exclusion, build community identity and develop citizenship.

6. Oxfordshire’s Library Service developed a clear vision and five year action plan from its 2002 Best Value Review. This was endorsed by Council, and accepted as "Good" by DCMS in its ALP 2002 format. Oxfordshire’s objectives fit well with those of the Framework, as is demonstrated in the Position Statement.

Achievement of DCMS Library Standards

7. The Position Statement also provides an update on Oxfordshire’s achievements to date. Whilst there is clearly some way to go to achieve them all, significant strides have been made, both from greater clarity, prioritisation and efficiencies from the BVR, and from major new revenue provision in the 2003/04 budget, in regard particularly to increased library opening hours (Phase 1 to be introduced in 2003/04).

Financial Issues

8. The implementation of the People’s Network over the first three months of 2003, and the progress being made currently on the procurement and roll out of the replacement Library Management System to all 50 Libraries by the end of April 2004, provide the whole county with a modern library infrastructure fit for purpose in the 21^st Century. However, much remains to be done; for example residual pressures to meet the balance of the library opening hours standard ("Phase 2"), along with the complementary current Mobile Library Review, will be brought back to the Executive in October 2003. In terms of Capital, as indicated in the Position Statement, the Library Service is poised to work within the corporate Property Review, to see, for example, how far the model of the Kidlington Library can be developed in other parts of the County where there are significant needs for improved premises, particularly in the large market towns. Options for Cultural Centres, for example, continue to be explored in Abingdon, Banbury and Thame.

Conclusion

9. The draft Library Position Statement 2003 (at Annex 1) (download as .doc file) records the significant progress the Library Service is making to achieve its Improvement Plan, and its continuing challenging future agenda. Further monitoring of the Library Service’s Progress in meeting its targets will be provided in the planned implementation monitoring report to the Best Value Committee on 10 December 2003.

RECOMMENDATIONS

10. The Executive is RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any comments of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee, to approve the draft Library Position Statement 2003, for submission under the signature of the Executive Member for Learning & Culture to the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport.

RICHARD MUNRO
Head of Cultural Services

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officers:
Andrew Coggins, County Librarian Tel: 01865 810212
Charles Pettit, Assistant County Librarian, Information Services & Life Long Learning Tel: 01865 810221

September 2003

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