A report that recommends the
introduction of ‘self-service’ libraries in Tameside, (Open+), was considered by the Executive Cabinet of Tameside
Council on Wednesday 14 December 2016.
The report incorporates the
findings of a library survey that took place over a six- week period during
July and August and which received 807 responses on-line, but only 794 valid
responses, after invalid responses were removed. The report says that the views
of elected members were sought along with MPs and council staff, as well as
young people and members of the Bengali community, in Hyde.
As part of ‘Vision Tameside’, the report authored by ‘Emma Varnam’, Interim
Assistant Executive Director for Stronger Communities, says that £496,200 is to
be invested in a range of technologies that will allow customers to use
libraries when unstaffed.
As part of their ‘Vision’, the report says that it is
intend to increase the number of volunteers to “support paid staff delivering
the service.” Although the report says that it is not the intention to
run any library using just volunteers, annual savings of £185,000, are to come
from reduced expenditure on library staff, brought about by using volunteers
and self-service libraries, which will include ‘self-issue’, ‘self-booking’ on
PC’s and unstaffed hours. In June, a “Library Service Brief”, informed staff:
“The
implementation of new technology will necessitate reconsideration of staffing
levels i.e. a service review. This will again present opportunities for staff
to apply for voluntary severance.”
In November, Sir Richard Leese,
the leader of Labour controlled Manchester City Council, told a meeting of
voluntary organisations that it was the role of voluntary organisations to “fill in the holes” left by public
service cuts.
The report says that the
introduction of self-service technology will increase library opening hours and
allow Tameside Libraries to be retained in an affordable way. The law, the “Public
Libraries and Museums Act 1964”, requires Tameside Council to provide a
comprehensive and efficient library service for all individuals who live, work, or study, in the
Borough and who are desirous of using the service. Usually following a
complaint, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has powers to
intervene when a library authority fails (or is suspected of failing) to
provide the required service.
Despite having “usable reserves” of nearly £205m as of
31 March 2015, Tameside Council closed five libraries in September 2012 and
opening hours, were cut at the other eight remaining libraries. There are
currently eight libraries in Tameside out of 22 libraries, a reduction of
almost 64%. Most of these were axed well before the austerity Tory government
of David Cameron, or the banking crises in 2008. Not only have Tameside library
opening hours been reduced, but publications such as magazines and books have
also been massively cut over the years.
The report stresses that there
has been a downward trend both nationally and locally in both visits to
libraries and issues. It is felt that the internet, smart phones, tablets,
gaming and e-books, have all played a part in this downward trend. However,
while there may be some truth in this, the report fails to recognise that fewer
libraries, opening for fewer hours, with much reduced stock, might also explain
the reduction in library visits and issues. Curiously, whereas library book
loans, according to Nielsen Libscan, are reckoned to have slumped by almost 16m
in the last two years, book sales for adults and children’s books have
continued to climb. Library campaigners, such as Tim Coates, blame the
reduction in cuts to book stocks and opening hours, which he believes undermine
libraries.
The Tameside library survey
indicates that most people use the library service to borrow books, to access
PC’s, read magazines and newspapers, and to ask for advice and information. The
report also indicates that library users greatly value the work that library staff
do and don’t want to see staff axed. Many people indicated that the number of Tameside councillors should be cut along with their expenses in order to fund services and staff.
The responses given in the
Tameside library survey of 747 people, are extremely interesting and perhaps
not what Tameside Council were expecting. When asked whether they agreed or
disagreed with the proposition that self-issue technology in libraries and
longer opening hours with reduced library staff, was preferable to closing more
libraries, 63.15% agreed and 36.85 disagreed. Some 65.88% of people said that
they used self-service technology regularly, occasionally, or had done so one
or twice. A quarter of responders (25.72%), indicated that they would not use
self-issue technology under any circumstances. The survey of young people (106
people responded), indicates that 50.94% agree with the ‘vision’ but 49.06%
disagreed. Interestingly, most young people surveyed, said they would not use self-service
technology. When asked about voluntary work with Tameside library service, most
people surveyed (86.13%), said they would not be interested in volunteering. No
doubt, many people object to doing a job (unpaid), that someone was previously
paid to do. There also seems to be some evidence that females are reluctant to
use an unstaffed library because they feel unsafe in the presence of men,
whereas, men are more likely to use an unstaffed library. One female
respondent, indicated that she had observed a library user watching pornography
on his library computer.
Although it is proposed to
install CCTV in libraries and that only people given ‘VIP user status’ - a trusted member of the library service - will be
given access to unstaffed libraries, it is felt that this is not sufficient to
mitigate any risk. In “Open+” mode,
children under 16-years-old, must be accompanied by an adult. At some unstaffed
libraries in Stockport, library users are already being warned that they use
the library at their own risk. This of course, does not indemnify any council,
who have a duty of care, to members of the public using their premises. Those who are given access to unstaffed
libraries also have ensure there is no “tailgating”.
The report also recognises that older people may have difficulty using self-issue
technology such as swipe cards. People with disabilities may also have
difficulty with access.
The report makes clear that there
are currently 45.2 full-time equivalent staff required to operate the library
service, whereas, only 38.6 would be required under the new operating model. In
addition, a further 6.6 jobs are to be axed, around 15 jobs in total. However,
in the Tameside Library service, there are more chiefs than Indians (59 library
officers to 45.2 library staff). The report isn’t clear where the axe will fall
on library bosses, if at all.
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