Corporate report

Eighteenth meeting of the Libraries Taskforce

Published 16 February 2018

Meeting date: Wednesday 7 February 2018: 12.00 to 15.00

Location: Woolwich Centre Library, 35 Wellington Street, Woolwich, SE18 6HQ

Attendees

• Kim Bromley-Derry (Chair) - Chief Executive: London Borough of Newham
• Kathy Settle - Chief Executive: Libraries Taskforce
• Paul Bristow - Director, Strategic Partnerships: Arts Council England
• Professor Steven Broomhead - Chief Executive: Warrington Borough Council
• Jane Ellison - Head of Creative Partnerships: BBC
• Rob Field - Public Policy Manager, British Library
• Felix Greaves - Deputy Director of Science: Public Health England
• Neil MacInnes - President: Society of Chief Librarians (SCL); Strategic Lead – Libraries, Galleries and Culture, Manchester
• Kate McGavin - Deputy Director, Arts, Libraries and Digital Culture: Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) (job share)
• Nick Poole - Chief Executive: The UK Library and Information Association (CILIP)
• Simon Richardson - Head of Libraries: DCMS
• Iain Varah - Chief Executive: Vision Redbridge and Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association representative
• Sue Wilkinson - Chief Executive: The Reading Agency
• Julia Chandler - Communications Lead: Libraries Taskforce
• Charlotte Lane - Programme and Project Manager: Libraries Taskforce
• Foluke Oshin - Business Support: Libraries Taskforce
• Sheila Bennett - Policy and Secretariat Manager: Libraries Taskforce

Apologies:

• Cllr Mike Bell - Local Government Association (LGA): Culture, Tourism and Sport Board
• Dr Neil Churchill - Director of Participation and Patient Experience: NHS England
• Sue Cook - Interim Chief Executive: Suffolk County Council
• Polly Hamilton - Assistant Director, Culture, Sport and Tourism: Rotherham Council and Vice-Chair: Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association
• Roly Keating - Chief Executive: British Library
• Liz White - Head of Strategy Development: British Library
• Helen Williams - Deputy Director, Arts, Libraries and Digital Culture: DCMS (job share)

Observers:

• Giles Smith - Interim Director of Arts, Tourism and Heritage: DCMS
• Alyn Thomas - Commercial and Customer Insight Manager: Kent County Council Libraries Service

1. Introduction

Prior to the meeting, Taskforce members had the opportunity of an introduction to, and an informal discussion with, Michael Ellis MP, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, who was now responsible for the libraries portfolio in government.

At its December meeting, the Taskforce had expressed an interest in spending more time looking at local arrangements and initiatives where Taskforce meetings were hosted by library services around the country. The visit to Woolwich Centre Library (run by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) on behalf of the Royal Borough of Greenwich) had been arranged because the library service in Greenwich had been shown over some years to be one of the most successful in sustaining and increasing use. From 1.49 million visits in 2009/10 to 2.55 million in 2016/17, and from 656,000 book issues in 2009/10 to 762,000 in 2016/17. Figures supplied by GLL indicated that Greenwich’s 12 local libraries had seen the highest number of visits per 1,000 residents of any borough in the UK over the last 2 years.

Woolwich Centre Library had been consistently amongst the top 5 visited libraries in the country. Total visits had increased by 108% since 2011/12 and, for the last 4 years, Woolwich Centre library had exceeded one million visitors. Meanwhile, the number of books issued had increased by 24% overall, and the number of children’s books issued by 106%.

The Taskforce received a tour of the library and heard from the council’s portfolio holder (Councillor Denise Scott-McDonald), who gave a brief introduction. She emphasised local councillors’ strong leadership and commitment to library service provision and to making them valued community hubs, and the importance of the strong relationship that the council had built with GLL. The council had used S106 opportunities to put capital investment in new buildings. It had also been active in integrating libraries into its other strategies and service delivery; for example, into work it was doing to promote healthy lifestyles and strengthen families.

Tim Hetherington, Greenwich’s Interim Client Manager and Diana Edmonds, GLL’s head of libraries, talked about their overall approach, and then what is happening in Woolwich Centre Library in particular.

The discussion focussed on work GLL had done on developing:

• library spaces
• IT
• stock
• programming
• staff

Library spaces

In particular, the importance of designing these to enable a range of different users and their needs to co-exist. Efforts made during refurbishments to vary the look and feel of each branch in a way that was sympathetic to the existing building whilst maintaining a consistent GLL branding.

IT

IT was fast becoming the main factor in supporting and upholding visitor numbers in many places, with a vital need for it to be reliable, clean, with a fast connection, and good print facilities. This was likely to grow as online applications for jobs and Universal Credit became the norm. GLL had found that interest varied according to local needs and interest, but they had found ways to try things out in a flexible way, and to move various pieces of kit around to maximise usage.

 Stock

Although GLL spent less than many in-house services, it got more usage, primarily because of rigorous measurement of usage around the ratio of stock to loans, and by using data on lending patterns to drive its purchasing policies.

Programming

GLL’s philosophy was that people come to libraries for an experience, and so staff were committed to engage with users and find the right mix of activities to appeal to local people. Most of the activities run in branches were initiated by local staff rather than being dictated from the centre (such as the very successful ‘Wellness Wednesdays’ run in Woolwich). Different branches across the borough had markedly different user demographics and the programmes of activities catered for these different patterns of user needs.

Staff

GLL was staff-owned, as a social enterprise, and placed a lot of emphasis on investing in training (including supporting professional qualifications) and seeking to involve and empower staff in how the service is run.

The chair thanked GLL and Royal Borough of Greenwich for hosting the meeting and for a very stimulating and thought-provoking discussion.

2. Taskforce Terms of Reference

At the meeting held in Chester on 7 December, the Taskforce discussed what its role should be in future. The Secretariat had redrafted the previous Terms of Reference (last updated June 2017) to reflect this discussion. Comments made at the meeting would be incorporated and emailed around the Taskforce members for final sign-off.

Taskforce members agreed to advise the Secretariat by Thursday 15 February if they wished to amend the description of their own organisation in the Annex relating to the role and remit of Taskforce member organisations.

The Taskforce agreed to:

• adopt the proposed revised Terms of Reference subject to the incorporation of comments made at the meeting and to subsequent agreement by DCMS and LGA
• their subsequent publication on GOV.UK

3. Taskforce Action Plan and monitoring for 2018

When it discussed its future Action Plan at the December meeting, the Taskforce asked for this to cover a smaller, more succinct, number of goals and outcomes that the Taskforce would like to achieve. It considered a draft of an Action Plan to be published on GOV.UK, covering not only aspirations for 2018, but also those for 2019 and 2020, and suggested some amendments, which would be incorporated prior to circulation by email for final sign-off. The Taskforce would monitor progress against those outcomes, and the work streams flowing from them, at future meetings.

The Taskforce agreed:

• the contents of their Action Plan for 2018-2020, subject to the incorporation of amendments suggested at the meeting
• that this should be published on GOV.UK

4. Future of the Libraries Taskforce team - next steps

As Taskforce funding is scheduled to cease after March 2020, at its December meeting the Taskforce started to consider how work currently undertaken by the dedicated Taskforce team might be delivered in future.

Meetings were happening with relevant member organisations to discuss whether (and, if so, at what point) certain elements of the Taskforce team’s work might be mainstreamed into their remit. The opportunity was also being taken, through these discussions, to identify any gaps that might need filling to increase the impact of the Taskforce’s work.

The Taskforce noted the action being taken on this and the principles being applied to these discussions. It also noted that a fuller report would be put to the next Taskforce meeting in March, setting out proposals and a transition plan for further comment and discussion.

5. The role of public libraries in health and wellbeing for the general population (Outcome 5: Healthier and happier communities)

During the autumn, the Taskforce benefited from an NHS England policy fast stream flexi-placement. Oliver Andrews, sponsored by Felix Greaves and Neil Churchill, had undertaken work to draw together an overview of current and potential work between library services and health partners, and to identify further potential areas for development. The Taskforce viewed this report as a very valuable contribution to its understanding, with a number of very sound suggestions for tactical actions that could be taken to develop work between health and library organisations. Arts Council England also commented that the report was being widely circulated internally, to help inform work on its longer-term planning.

Felix Greaves led a discussion on what the Taskforce wished to see taken forward and how it could collectively contribute and use the unique capabilities of the Taskforce. It covered the good work already underway between public libraries and health, such as the successful Reading Well Books on Prescription (RWBOP) scheme (jointly managed by The Reading Agency and SCL); and considered challenges in engaging the health system. This included working across its complex organisational boundaries and funding structures, and supporting it to meet its most pressing current agendas, including reducing demand on the system, improving mental health and supporting self care.

There was also discussion about the need to strengthen the evidence base showing the positive impact of libraries in delivering health projects. Both DCMS and the Department for Health and Social Care were exploring ways with both government and non-government funders to undertake and fund research to the standards required by health providers. This linked in to the need to strengthen library services’ ability to engage effectively with commissioners. The Taskforce agreed that it would be useful to draw on and learn from similar previous work undertaken by ACE (focussing on cultural organisations), and by Sport England; as well as engaging with Wellcome to seek its thoughts and involvement in taking this work forward.

The Taskforce also discussed how it could best deploy its collective capability, and which areas offered most potential to focus engagement with the NHS. Ideas were to:

• link in with the mental health agenda (which was growing in profile both within government, and across the media), most immediately through the forthcoming PHE mental health campaign, as well as through existing RWBOP mental health material
• explore ways to integrate libraries and the support they provide for self-care and health literacy into health bodies’ locality delivery plans and with integrated care systems
• develop the potential for involving libraries in social prescribing

The Taskforce was also interested in considering how it could achieve traction in councils’ thinking on social care strategies (for example, by demonstrating a positive link between transformed libraries and reduced demand), given the new and closer links between these issues and health at central and local government level.

It noted that there were opportunities to link in strongly with cross-government work on combating loneliness and social isolation. The Taskforce team was actively involved in preliminary work by DCMS on this issue. They would be liaising with Taskforce members to gather evidence and to develop strong and consistent messages about the contribution libraries already do, and could make in the future, to this policy area. In the longer term, it also noted it was likely that there might be work linked to the Industrial Strategy, focused on productivity and ageing populations.

It also discussed the advantages of encouraging health and libraries colocation opportunities as new facilities were created. A number of authorities were using S.106 funding to develop community assets which could provide opportunities to bring health, leisure and libraries together.

The Taskforce agreed to:

• record its thanks to Oliver Andrews for his valuable work on this topic
• ask Felix Greaves and Neil Churchill to bring forward more detailed proposals for further consideration and discussion at its March meeting

6. Ongoing changes by library authorities

The Taskforce discussed the current proposals under consideration by library authorities. In particular, it noted handling of the Barnet complaint case, where interested parties had been invited to make representations about the Secretary of State’s proposed decision (not to hold a local inquiry) by Friday 2 February. As well as the situation in Northamptonshire where the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had initiated a Best Value inspection, and where the council had issued a “section 114” notice under the Local Government Finance Act 1988. This was to prohibit new spending, except for statutory services to safeguard vulnerable people. The council was due to consider recommendations at its Cabinet on 13 February that could mean 21 libraries becoming community managed, with the implementation of these changes deferred for a year to provide a transition, including to develop business plans with local communities.

The DCMS Head of Libraries Policy confirmed that work was underway to provide information for local authorities to consider whether or not a community library is providing a statutory service, and pointing councils towards sound examples of Service Level Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding. Once this was finalised, it would be promoted through Taskforce channels and incorporated into the Community Managed Libraries good practice toolkit.

7. Communications update - Ambition Actions 1, 6 and 7

Taskforce members noted communications activity undertaken since its last meeting

8. Information items

The Taskforce noted progress on the following issues:

8.1 Public Libraries Skills Strategy

CILIP and SCL are continuing work on the implementation of the Arts Council England funded actions in the Public Libraries Skills Strategy. CILIP has been working with the Clore Leadership Programme to develop a bespoke proposal that is better-focused on the public library sector. Due to the time required for the more bespoke approach with Clore, they have approached the Arts Council for permission to extend the deadline for the project. CILIP and SCL are in discussion about the development of an ‘eSkills’ portfolio or syllabus for public library workers.

8.2 CILIP sector consultations

CILIP will be undertaking 2 sector consultations during 2018 (following the Ethics Review and Privacy Review launched in 2017). These will be a sector-wide discussion and consultation on:

• international working, led by CILIP President Ayub Khan
• a review of professionalism and professional registration in the library and information sector, led by an independent chair

Both will deliver recommendations at the end of 2018 for implementation in 2019.

8.3 Annual Library and Information Sector Awards

CILIP has announced that it will introduce the first Annual Library and Information Sector Awards in 2018. These will recognise and celebrate excellent practice (individual and teams), innovation, transformative services and design, architecture and software. Awards will be made against a limited number of categories with a view to scaling up in future years.

8.4 Changes to CILIP membership

CILIP has re-launched its membership offer to the library and information sector with the specific aim of welcoming more library and information workers to membership, whether or not they are professionally qualified. Membership is open to all information professionals including Knowledge and Information Managers, librarians and people working in data science and analytics. Alongside the ‘standard’ membership offer, CILIP has launched a ‘Leaders Network’ membership which includes affiliate membership of the Chartered Management Institute (in support of the aims of the Public Libraries Skills Strategy). More information is available at http://www.cilip.org.uk/membership.

8.5 Summer Reading Challenge

Participation in The Reading Agency’s 2017 Summer Reading Challenge was 761,758 - 6,550 more than last year. 734,552 children between ages 4-11 years took part in the Challenge at their local library (44% were boys). 27,206 children under 4 took part using specially produced Summer Reading Challenge pre-school materials, an increase of 7.05% from 2016. Internationally, the Challenge reached a further 18,400 children who participated through the British Council and the Armed Forces. The Reading Agency also saw 7,763 young people volunteering in libraries to help encourage children to read 6 books.

The 2018 Challenge would be called Mischief Makers and the Reading Agency is working in partnership with Beano. Its creative treatment will encourage children to explore a map of Beanotown to find mysterious buried treasure and become ultimate Mischief Makers in the process. Dennis, Gnasher and friends will help young participants solve clues and collect stickers along the way, with some additional Where’s Wally-style activities to make use of the Beanotown map format.

8.6 The Reading Agency work with Princes Trust

The Reading Agency has secured funding from the Princes Trust to pilot a programme of activity aimed at supporting young people’s engagement with reading and, through this activity, building skills and learning and promoting mental health and well-being. The funding is to support 2 pilots in Newcastle and Glasgow.

8.7 Reading Well: Books On Prescription

The Reading Agency was well into the process of creating the new adult mental health list which will be launched in June. The final book selection meetings have taken place.

8.8 Reading Hack

The Reading Agency was in the final year of delivering Reading Hack which has been funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. During the first quarter of the coming financial year, it will hold celebration events and plan the legacy of this programme. Research into the impact of Reading Hack has demonstrated the value of the co-production and co-creation model which has underpinned this programme. The reports highlight the strengths of the Reading Hack approach:

• motivating young people to engage with their libraries and their local communities
• supporting skills development and confidence
• a flexible offer which enables retention and progression
• a cohesive brand and set of messaging which makes library volunteering programmes much more manageable

The Reading Agency has been using the learning from this to develop funding bids for future activity.

8.9 Reading Outcomes Framework

The Reading Agency had completed reports on work funded by BookTrust and by Arts Council England. The Arts Council work showcased the use of the framework in 5 pilots across England. It has demonstrated the role of the framework in helping organisations to measure impact and in making the case for investment. A number of good ideas for additional content and support have come out of this activity and the Reading Agency will be fundraising to deliver these.

8.10 Living Knowledge Network

The Living Knowledge Network and Poet in the City were celebrating a major £215,000 grant award from the Arts Council’s strategic touring fund. They will work with Leeds, Sheffield, Reading, Exeter and Newcastle libraries over the next 3 years to produce poetry programmes and new works in response to themes inspired by British Library exhibitions. This is an endorsement of how the Network is helping to create national partnership and profiles for public libraries.

8.11 Skills in applying for funding

Arts Council England had recently opened up all its funding streams to public libraries, and had run a series of well-received workshops to help libraries develop skills needed to apply for grants effectively. These were being complemented by Taskforce masterclasses during February and March to provide further guidance on applying for grants from other bodies and charitable foundations. Taskforce members were urged to ensure that they publicised these opportunities as widely as possible.

8.12 Director of Libraries

Sue Williamson, previously Head of library service at St Helens Council, will become Director of Libraries at Arts Council England. She starts on 12 March and was hoping to attend the March Taskforce meeting.

8.13 Business support in London

British Library is seeking European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding to pilot ideas for extending business support to SMEs through a wider range of libraries, building on the success of their Business and Intellectual Property Centres. It has had expressions of interest in participating from many London library services, which they will be whittling down to 10 London Boroughs. It will be supplying a final bid to the Greater London Authority on 1 March.

9. Taskforce meetings and governance

9.1 Taskforce minutes

The Taskforce noted that the minutes from the last Taskforce meeting (held in Storyhouse, Chester, on 7 December 2017) had been cleared by correspondence and published on GOV.UK.

9.2 Forward programme

The forward programme lists the proposed dates and venues for future Taskforce meetings. After the next scheduled meeting in March, these would be held on a quarterly pattern (in June, September, December and March).

The Taskforce noted that the next meeting would be held on 19 March at Sheffield Central Library, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XZ.

The Secretariat would be taking action to fix dates for Taskforce meetings through to March 2019 as soon as possible.

The Taskforce agreed that members would send suggestions to the Policy and Secretariat Manager by 15 February on:

• potential venues for future meetings from June 2018 onwards
• any further items to be programmed for future meetings
• any upcoming dates of important sector events they were involved in, to help avoid clashes as future dates were set for Taskforce meetings

9.3 Taskforce membership changes

The Taskforce welcomed Professor Steve Broomhead, the Chief Executive of Warrington Borough Council, who had attended the Taskforce for the first time.

It was also noted that Sue Cook, interim Chief Executive of Suffolk County Council, has agreed to join the Taskforce. She was hoping to attend from the March meeting onwards.

9.4 Date of next meeting

The Taskforce’s next meeting would be held on 19 March at Sheffield Central Library.