Minutes:
The Assistant Director from the County Council provided a verbal presentation relating to the change in library service for Oadby Library and responded to residents’ questions.
The Assistant Director noted the £13 million of savings the County Council is required to make by 2020 which was the catalyst behind the proposed self- service model with limited staffing for libraries and changes to museums. The County Council Cabinet has endorsed the forthcoming changes:
· Residents were given the opportunity to ask questions.
· Oadby library will continue to be funded by the County Council.
· Work has begun to put a system in place to allow residents` access the library.
· A card with a pin number will allow self-serve access.
· The Library will not be accessible twenty-four hours a day.
· Likely opening Library times will be from 8am till early evening. Opening times have not yet been set.
· The Library will be closed one day a week. It will not be staffed on that day.
· Syston Library was used as the model for the proposed library changes.
· CCTV monitoring will be introduced as well as a phone service. This will allow people to report any issues and promote safety and wellbeing. The CCTV will monitor the public space in the library. The exception to this will be staff workspace. Two Security Officers will monitor the CCTVs. If any Library User, using an unstaffed Library, has an illness and knows they might experience a health issue, it is up to them to know how this should be managed. First Aid trained, Library staff, on duty, would be expected to call Emergency Services as required.
· Groups will still be able to book the Library space for meetings. Library staff will handle bookings.
· Residents will go through an induction process on how to access the library and on how to take out and return books.
· An activated voice recording will play to advertise the Library is closing. If the Library shuts down with anyone left inside, an alarm will be activated and a Security Officer will return to let them out.
· Library usage patterns will be monitored.
· Library staffing times will be displayed and advertised.
· On the question raised as to how Oadby & Wigston Council`s Customer Service will be accessed, the Assistant Director stated this would be worked out with the Council and County Council. The Assistant Director made a distinction between County Council and Borough Council decision-making and added, technically there was nothing at this time to say how Customer Service will operate.
· Concern was expressed by residents as to how local people will be able to access Customer Services. It was emphasised that getting to Bell Street from Oadby was difficult.
· The Chair confirmed that the Borough Council was working out how residents would obtain access to Customer Services outside of Library hours.
· The Assistant Director noted that the Library would be closed for the next two weeks to have adaptations to the Library`s access, egress and lending services completed.
· Concern was expressed that the Library changes would lead to the “killing off and privatisation” of libraries.
· The County Council has worked with disability groups to address issues of access. The Assistant Director stated that the County Council was looking at maybe providing an online service for use by disabled people. The Assistant Director confirmed that libraries cannot be privatised.
· The County Council did some consultation with residents on this proposal through the Community and Wellbeing Strategy. Residents had the opportunity to contact their local County Councillor. One suggestion received was that Libraries should make the best use of technology.
Clarity was requested as to whether people will still be able to access the small car park behind the Library. Will a parking ticket be required and will people face being charged a £100 fine for over staying their allotted time.
Action:
These points will be checked and residents informed at the next residents forum meeting.
· Residents discussed taking a vote at the meeting, requesting a show of hands, to show how many residents disagreed with the incoming changes to the Library services. Some residents asked what was the point of taking a vote noting that the changes were agreed by County Hall and were already being carried out. No vote was taken.
Action:
The Assistant Director agreed to send the Residents Forum information as to when the consultation decision was made to change how the future Library services will work.