Future Libraries: Change, Options and How to Get There
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Culture, tourism and sport Future libraries Change, options and how to get there Learning from the Future Libraries Programme Phase 1 Contents Preface 2 Executive summary 4 Introduction 5 The reform and change model 6 Part One: Four models of reform 9 Service location and distribution 9 New provider models 10 Shared services across council boundaries 12 Empowering communities to do things their way 13 Part Two: The ingredients for generating change 16 Political and managerial leadership 16 Governance arrangements 17 Positioning library service to priority outcomes 19 Internal capacity to support change 20 Digital opportunities 22 External support and challenge 23 Analysis of need 24 Understanding current and cost performance 25 User and community engagement 26 Partner and stakeholder engagement 27 Future libraries 31 Further information 32 Appendix: The pilot change projects 33 Preface When we launched the Future Libraries We have been hugely encouraged by the Programme in August last year, it was progress so far and with the partnerships that in recognition of our shared belief that have developed. The ten phase one projects innovation, led by the energy and experience have commissioned practical support and of local authorities themselves, was going advice to develop a wide range of options to provide the best recipe for modernising and ideas to save money while minimising libraries. the need for cuts to front line services and meeting communities’ needs. These include There was an exceptional level of interest new collaborations across council and in the programme – 51 projects submitted organisational boundaries, the use of digital expressions of interest with the participation opportunities and closer engagement with of over 100 local authorities. Ten were communities. taken forward involving 36 councils. This publication brings the learning so far to the We have widely shared the learning so attention of a wider audience. far with councillors and senior managers responsible for library services through The Future Libraries Programme is a events, online case studies and regular partnership between the Local Government communications. But the vivid examples Group (LG Group) and Museums, Libraries given in this document resonate far beyond and Archives Council (MLA), and is driven library services. The best libraries are by local authorities themselves. It is about at the heart of the council’s approach to sharing good practice. It is about library everything from lifelong learning to wellbeing, sector professionals increasingly looking to job seeking, volunteering, education and each other, and beyond their own service, to encouraging more people to get online. share and capture knowledge and to develop imaginative solutions that can save money We hope that the early ideas presented and improve outcomes for communities. And, here will add to those you are exploring crucially, it is about harnessing local political locally with your communities, partners and leadership and professional expertise in the neighbouring authorities. We are extremely same direction. grateful to the participating local authorities for their commitment to this project. 2 Future libraries – Change, options and how to get there We would be very interested in receiving Please email feedback to your comments on this document. [email protected] and we look forward to keeping you updated on progress. Ed Vaizey Councillor Chris White Minister for Culture, Communications Chair, LG Group Culture, Tourism and and Creative Industries Sport Programme Board Future libraries – Change, options and how to get there 3 Executive summary Big challenges demand big solutions. In order to identify and secure sustainable Innovative approaches are opening up efficiencies and serve communities, the through the need to address the complex journey requires: challenges faced by communities and their councils. Library services can • time to deliver the change before savings become more effective and sustainable in begin to kick in (12 to 18 months), with the future by working with key partners, more time needed as partnerships get more for example communities, neighbouring complex (Tendering services out also takes councils and creative partnerships. time and needs to be planned into timelines) • commitment and appropriate engagement The Future Libraries Programme has on key issues from council leadership distilled some of the headline approaches (political and officer) that councils are pursuing and the essential success factors in developing, planning and • good quality management capacity implementing change. • strategic needs analysis that drives changes in provision The emerging delivery models are frequently hybrid – a combination of approaches to • effective engagement and communications meet local political priorities, community with communities and the media needs and aspirations and the ambitions of • open encouragement of external challenge other partners. The models in summary are: and support • delivering the service network in different • ability to clearly and fairly apportion costs ways through co-location or new, non- and benefits from new arrangements traditional outlets and service points between participants. • using external providers such as Trusts Investment in a good process will achieve and charitable companies, other councils the best outcomes both in terms of efficiency or through the private sector and effectiveness for local residents and • sharing services with other councils to communities. The publication sets out the varying degrees of integration main ingredients of the process, which aims to open up the possibilities and harness the • empowering communities to do things in ideas of communities and partners. their own way. Change will only happen if political leadership and professional expertise are harnessed in the same direction. Hence this publication is aimed at those leaders who will drive the change. 4 Future libraries – Change, options and how to get there Introduction This publication is for leading members It also includes learning from other councils and chief officers and charts a route developing innovative approaches. along a change process for public libraries towards a choice of destinations. The Future Libraries Programme is still ‘work in progress’ and does not purport to have all All public services face continual challenges the answers. However it has invested time of improved efficiency and effectiveness. and effort and generated enough learning More than ever, the current financial to be worthy of sharing at this stage, so environment is testing and challenging the that councils considering the future shape ability of political and managerial leadership of their library services can benefit from to deliver change, meet community needs the knowledge, experiences and emerging and save money. solutions. Public library services are one of the This publication does not aim to be a most highly valued local authority elective technical ‘step by step guide’ to follow services. They attract a wide spectrum of sequentially or to a specific blueprint. There the community, from young to old and from are other documents produced by MLA all backgrounds. They are valued not just for and LG Group and available through their the range of services they provide but also websites which address specific aspects for the shared public spaces and focal points of library service provision in more detail. they provide in communities – from town Rather, it distils some of the potential and city centres to urban neighbourhoods delivery models for future libraries and the and rural villages. As a result, any proposed key ingredients in a change process to changes to library services can spark voluble determine the best options for your council campaigns and legal challenges, as has and communities. been the case over recent months. It invites political and managerial leaders This publication is for leaders of councils, to invest in a change process that will have elected members, chief executives, the greatest potential to deliver the statutory corporate directors and senior managers requirements for a ‘comprehensive and who are reviewing their approach to the efficient library service’ which not only saves public library service. It sets out the learning money but serves communities in a twenty from the ‘Future Libraries Programme’ which first century context in terms of demographic supported 10 change projects involving and social trends and digital opportunities. 36 councils, helping them to innovate and develop robust solutions to the challenges they face. Future libraries – Change, options and how to get there 5 The reform and change model The learning from the Future Libraries At the heart of the model is ‘improved efficiency Programme has enabled us to develop a and effectiveness’, in which, simply put: powerful model to support councils who want to reform and change their library • Efficiency = ‘doing things in the right way’ – services. being cost effective and providing value for money. The publication is organised around the • Effectiveness = ‘doing the right thing’ – setting ‘Library reform and change model’ which the right targets and outcomes to meet the has emerged through the Future Libraries needs and aspirations of communities. Programme. Partner and Political and stakeholder managerial engagement leadership User and Governance community arrangements engagement Service Shared location and services across