How to have your say about the proposals for Northamptonshire Libraries Most words are explained where they are used in this document. Some other words, when they are written for the first time are written in bold with a line underneath. The meaning of these words is explained in a list right at the end called the List of Words. Northamptonshire County Council (the council) has to say what money it has and how it will spend it every year. The council budget says how the council will spend its money. This document tells you about the council plans to review the libraries in Northamptonshire. When you have read this information you can fill in the easy read questionnaire to say what you think. About Libraries Northamptonshire Libraries and Information Service called LibraryPlus, provides lots of services through 36 community hub libraries and 1 mobile library. More than 3 million customers use public services through the libraries. They do this face to face or on-line. LibraryPlus has services like: a large range of books, audiobooks and DVDs to borrow wellbeing assessments computers for people to do things online Blue Badge, Bus Pass and Charity Link applications Children’s centres at 21 libraries Information about other services and how to contact them Keep Safe Places Libraries cannot make any more changes to the way they work to save money. So other big changes will have to be made to libraries. Before the council makes any decision about libraries it will look at how often they are used and what they are used for. The council wants to know what you think about the 3 options it has. All 3 include closing some libraries and children’s centres unless community groups say that they can run a library for the council. You can see more information about the options below. You can then have your say by filling in the Easy Read Questionnaire either online or a paper copy. Option 1 Council keeps 8 big libraries and 7 medium libraries and develops them to be community hubs as well in: Corby Cube Weston Northampton 1 Favell Central Wellingborough Kettering Rushden Daventry Towcester Irthlingborough Hunsbury Duston Burton Latimer Oundle Brixworth Brackley Council keeps the online, business and information services across the county Offer 21 small libraries to community groups or other organisations or businesses to manage Danesholme Higham Ferrers Wootton Desborough Raunds Long Buckby Rothwell Thrapston Woodford Halse Earls Barton Abington Deanshanger Finedon Kingsthorpe Middleton Cheney Irchester Far Cotton Moulton Wollaston St James Roade Stop the Mobile Library but have more Library to You services Look at having more Library services in another place in Corby Children’s Centre services would not be run in the libraries in the second table above Option 2 Council does most of the things in Option 1 But does not offer the 21 small libraries to community groups or other organisations or 2 businesses to manage Children’s Centre services would not be run in the libraries in the second table above Option 3 Council keeps the 8 big libraries only and develops them to be community hubs as well in: Corby Cube Weston Northampton 3 Favell Central Wellingborough Kettering Rushden Daventry Towcester Council keeps the online, business and information services across the county Stop the Mobile Library but have more Library to You services Children’s Centre services would not be run in the libraries in the second table above List of Words Children’s Centre - a place where local families with young children can go and take part in activities or get support and advice Hub libraries - libraries that offer more services than just borrowing books, like help with application forms, advice, and Children’s Centre services Library to You - volunteers choose books for over 250 people who aren’t able to leave their house and go the library. They deliver the books and have a chat. Mobile library - a van stocked with books that visits villages and towns in Northamptonshire so that people who can’t get to their nearest library can borrow books from it Options - a group of things that you can choose from Proposal - a plan or suggestion made by someone for others to think about and help them make a decision. It is usually written down Statutory - rules the government says have to be in place .