Welsh Government CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales Maintaining a Valued Service The Fourth Framework of Welsh Public Library Standards April 2011 – March 2014 Annual Return Pro Forma All library authorities are required to complete this pro forma and are asked to follow the instructions provided carefully as the requirements in terms of reporting differ between sections. All library authorities are requested to provide commentary against each and every Standard (WPLS) and against each and every Performance Indicator (WPLPI) in the ‘Authority self-assessment’ column provided, but only when data is included in the Actual Performance column. Failure to provide commentary could result in the pro forma being returned to library authorities for completion. Completed Annual Returns should be submitted as an electronic document by Monday 2 July 2012 And sent to Dr Sarah Horton, Standards Adviser, CyMAL. E-mail: [email protected] Name of authority: Monmouthshire County Council 1 Please tick as appropriate This Annual Return has been approved by the authority prior to its submission to CyMAL Yes No If Yes, state whether approval was granted by Full Council Cabinet/Executive Portfolio Member Other (state title) ……………………………………………. If No, state when approval is expected and when the definitive Annual Return submission will be forwarded to CyMAL Approval expected …………. Definitive submission to CyMAL by ……………….. 2 Please indicate briefly below: 1. The authority’s scrutiny procedures applied to the assessment of library service performances undertaken by the Welsh Government under the third assessment framework for 2008 – 11 for the year 2010-11, and sent to authorities for their consideration and action in September 2011 by the Welsh Government. The Libraries Museums and Arts Manager has discussed this assessment with the Head of Public Health and Culture and the County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Culture and Environment. 2. What decisions were made by the authority as a result of scrutiny procedures that sought to improve library service performances in relation to the Welsh Public Library Standards and Welsh Public Library Performance Indicators? Our Cabinet Member has asked, in relation to WPLS 8, for further information regarding suggested improvements to staffing levels and in relation to WPLS 3.3 information regarding the mobile library review once it is complete. His decisions seek to improve Library Service performance in these areas. A further decision in relation to Monmouthshire County Council’s recent successful NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) bid includes closer integration of the work being delivered by Libraries and Museums as we extend the MonmouthpediA project out into the rest of the county with the WikimediA foundation. 3. What action was agreed as a consequence of those decisions? Head of Service to advise the Head of Public Health and Culture and the Cabinet Member of developments regarding the above decisions. The Head of Public Health and Culture requires a further briefing regarding comparative total spends for library services across all 22 authorities. 3 4. (a) If you indicated in your Annual Return for 2010 – 11 that your authority was undertaking a formal review of its library service, please indicate whether the review has now been completed: YES NO N/A 4. (b) If your authority commenced a formal review of its library service during 2011 – 12, please indicate whether that review has now been completed: YES NO N/A If you answered YES to either (a) or (b), briefly outline the main recommendations of the review, noting whether these recommendations have been accepted by the authority and at what level (e.g. Full Council, Cabinet, Executive, etc.). Please also indicate what actions have been taken / are planned in order to implement those recommendations: If you answered NO to either (a) or (b), please indicate when the review is due to be completed: 5. Please indicate whether there have been any changes made to the resources available to the library service compared to 2010-11, e.g. efficiency savings, resource reductions/increases, restructuring of staff, etc., and indicate how they have impacted on the service in 2011-12: N/A 4 The Welsh Public Library Standards (WPLS) 2011-14 Notes on completion: Annual data or information is required for WPLS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 Authorities should follow the guidance provided by the pro-forma against each Standard, and returns should be as required – further information and guidance is available within the published Framework document, and authorities should have due regard to this. Authorities may be asked to resubmit Annual Returns if the data or information do not comply with the requirements. 5 Actual Performance Framework 4 Standard as at March 31 2012 Authority self-assessment 1 (i) Authorities whose resident population density is 20 or more persons per hectare shall ensure that the proportion of occupied households within 2 miles of a ……………. % static library service point will be at least 95% or (ii) Authorities whose resident population density is between 1.1 and 19.9 persons per hectare shall ensure that the proportion of occupied households within 2.5 79.5% miles of a static library service point (or 10 minutes travelling time by public transport) will be at least 75% or (iii) Authorities whose resident population density is 1.0 ………………% persons or less per hectare shall ensure that the proportion of occupied households within 3 miles (or 15 minutes travelling time by public transport) of a static library service point shall be at least 70% Authorities who are failing to meet the stipulated requirement in (i) (ii) or (iii) shall also report on the number of households within a quarter of a mile of each scheduled mobile stop and within 2 miles of any other kind of service outlet providing access to library materials. Library services should briefly describe the nature of Libraries services to the resident population within that provision and the numbers of households served in Monmouthshire are delivered via the four full-time the Authority self-assessment column. libraries. More rural areas are covered by Usk, Gilwern and the Reaching Out mobile library service to older/isolated residents in the community. 6 Actual Performance Framework 4 Standard as at March 31 2012 Authority self-assessment (i) Prisons 2 (i) Library authorities shall provide access to the service Prisoners can access the libraries on both sites on a for those not able to use conventional service points daily basis and there are no limitations on the (ii) Library authorities will continue to provide specialised number of visits made by prisoners as they have assistance, facilities and equipment for people with unescorted access to the library. Prisoners can particular access requirements access Monmouthshire Libraries stock via the Library services should briefly describe the nature of the online OPAC system. provision in the Authority self-assessment column Prescoed Library is open to all prisoners 32 hours a week and has ground floor access. Usk is open to all prisoners 18 hours a week plus 6 hours of additional opening hours for reader development and creative writing sessions. Ebooks ebooks launched 2012 – available 24/7 via the library website Downloadable audio books re-launched – available 24/7 via the library website Chepstow Shared reading sessions at Severn View Residential Home, Chepstow started March 2012 Post natal visits to the Community Hospital in Chepstow All Council employees based in the new corporate hub on the first floor of the Chepstow Library building have been enrolled as library members 7 Reaching Out Reaching Out, our mobile library service is dedicated to meeting the needs of the housebound, people who live in Residential Homes for the elderly or Sheltered Housing. It also serves readers in more isolated areas of Monmouthshire. Based at Monmouth Library it is a specially adapted vehicle with a wheelchair lift and carries a broad selection of books in both standard and large print sizes. There is also a varied selection of audio books on tape and CD. In recent years we have found that there has been a decline in use at community stops and the number of people actually getting on to the vehicle has decreased. Increasingly the emphasis is moving to a more individual housebound service with the driver taking items into the homes of customers. There is an on-going review (started in January 2012) looking at ways of improving and developing the Reaching Out service. Intergenerational work Seven Intergenerational Reading groups met regularly this year. Two schools were involved in an Intergenerational Shared Reading Pilot scheme which provided a good rationale for further development of this kind of group. 8 Macmillan In the first year of partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support the Support and Information officer has created designated information points in libraries, the prison and the Nevill Hall Hospital, established a regular programme of drop-in sessions, made links with a range of other community organisations, and has begun Shared Reading and other therapeutic groups in libraries and the prison. Shared Reading There are twelve Shared Reading Groups throughout the county, meeting in libraries, the prison and Elderly Person’s Homes. Two training days have been held for staff and volunteers and there are four members of staff who have completed the full three day Reader Organisation training this year. Volunteers from the Chepstow Day centre and from the local befriending organisation have also joined us for training in the Shared Reading method and use it in one to one situations. 9 (ii) A stair lift has been fitted at Usk Prison to allow prisoners with walking difficulties to access the library. The Chepstow library refurbishment improved accessibility by adding an automated inner front door and an automated side door and ramp into the new library reading garden A new 23” computer screen has been ordered for each library to improve computer accessibility for customers with visual impairments.