Corporate report

Minutes of the second meeting of the Leadership for Libraries Taskforce

Updated 11 February 2016

Meeting date: Tuesday 19 May 2015, 15.00 to 17.00

Location: Local Government Association (LGA) - Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ

Attendees:

• Ed Vaizey – Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy
• Councillor Ian Stephens – Chair of Culture, Tourism and Sport Board: LGA
• Dr Paul Blantern (Chair) – Chief Executive: Northamptonshire County Council
• Kathy Settle (Chief Executive) – Government Digital Service and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Brian Ashley – Director, Libraries: Arts Council England (ACE)
• Laura Caton – Senior Adviser: LGA
• Jonty Claypole – Head of Arts: BBC
• Mike Cooke – Chief Executive: London Borough of Camden
• John Dolan – Trustee: Chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals (CILIP)
• Ciara Eastell – President: Society of Chief Librarians (SCL)
• Jane Ellison – Commissioning Editor: BBC
• Colin Gibson – Policy Adviser: DCMS
• Felix Greaves – Deputy Director of Science: Public Health England
• Dominic Lake – Deputy Director of Arts, Libraries and Cultural Property: DCMS
• William Sieghart – Chair: Independent Library Report for England
• Keira Shaw – Head of Libraries: DCMS
• Mark Taylor – Director of External Relations: CILIP
• Anna Wadsworth - Secretariat: DCMS
• Liz White – Head of Strategy Development: British Library
• Sue Wilkinson – Chief Executive: The Reading Agency

Apologies:

• Pat Ritchie – Chief Executive: Newcastle upon Tyne City Council
• Roly Keating – Chief Executive: British Library
• Professor John Newton – Chief Knowledge Officer: Public Health England

1. Update

Updates since the last meeting.

Ed Vaizey:

• is pleased to be re-appointed as Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy
• has re-stated the government’s commitment to libraries and strongly endorsed the work of the Taskforce
• discussed the massive opportunity to help libraries, recognising that some difficult local decisions need to be made in light of the continuing tight fiscal position
• described how there has been a focus on library closures/ changes and the need to modernise library services and communicate what libraries are contributing to society
• highlighted the notable achievements to date including WiFi funding for libraries
• said how his main role was to help co-ordinate other government departments, he has already spoken with Department for Communities and Local Government and will encourage other government departments to come to the table with firm support

Ian Stephens:

• welcomed the work done by the Taskforce to date
• re-confirmed LGA’s commitment to the five priority areas of the Taskforce

Paul Blantern:

• raised how important it was that Kathy has joined the team
• gave an update on WiFi, the need to manage to completion by March 2016, the launch planned in summer with implementation in autumn/winter which will be advertised widely
• gave an update on e-lending:
  • pilots have been completed
  • feedback to all of the key stakeholders has taken place
  • the pilots have provided some interesting modelling and have been very successful in building agreement around the 4 key principles, outlined in the Sieghart report (lending should be free of charge; library members should be able to borrow digital books remotely; only one user should be able to access one copy at any time; each digital copy would have a lifespan similar to that which exists for physical books)
  • there is continuing support for the concept of rolling out e-lending more broadly, this is likely to take a phased approach to expansion until becomes default
• a report will be published alongside a partner press release which will confirm their support of findings – due in June - need to put in European context
  • next steps being developed

2. Libraries of the future

The paper contained a high level overview on libraries for use with government ministers.

This generic statement would be augmented with specifics on the library offer relevant to the government department in question.

The paper also contained details on future events, which were an opportunity to promote / discuss the library agenda.

Comments made included:

• adding in a variety of facts and include citations
• targeting the vision at a variety of audiences
• identifying channels for communication and use

ACTIONS:

• all to provide secretariat with useful facts and figures including citations that will be included in future updates
• all to provide secretariat with updates on events / opportunities to promote libraries

3. Agreeing common lines

A number of priority issues for libraries were discussed in anticipation of ministers seeking advice on these whilst recognising that they help to provide the local and national context for the work of the Taskforce. DCMS confirmed that libraries remain a priority. This was an opportunity to think about roles for libraries and they would welcome discussion about how we connect policies.

Taskforce discussed views on the following areas:

3.1 National strategy / framework

Comments made included:

• how local can benefit from the national and vice versa
• how any national framework needs to respect and reinforce local accountability and reflect the localist and devolutionary direction of travel
• the need to focus on actions at the same time as considering strategic framework
• that working strategically is more important than setting out and publishing a strategy, need a sense of outcomes and measures of success
• how doing actions in partnership will help set expectations
• that terminology is important
• that frameworks have been well received well in Public Health England

ACTION: secretariat to look at approaches taken in other countries/organisations and provide briefing paper for consideration by the Taskforce

Conclusions were:

• that some sort of framework would be helpful, developed together and setting out the sense of purpose, this should help the library sector to engage externally
• this will recognise local democratic accountability
• how the key thing is to continue actions whilst considering the framework
• the critical need to focus on outcomes which should be bold and aspirational
• the Taskforce agreed to recommend to LGA members and ministers that there was merit in developing a sector led national framework for libraries in England to provide a shared direction and purpose and a focus for collaborative action, whilst respecting local democratic accountability
• it was reinforced that this should be developed alongside delivery of already identified priorities
• any national framework and relevant recommendation will be discussed and agreed by ministers and LGA members, which the Taskforce jointly reports to

3.2 Library closures / changes

Comment included:

• how closures / changes are part of the local context and are decisions taken locally by councillors
• how the Taskforce is building upon work already underway by LGA, ACE and SCL to support sector led improvement of public libraries
• using the experience of other local authorities such as York, Suffolk etc
• how the physical space of the library is intrinsic to its value
• to set out what local authorities are trying to achieve in their community and how libraries can help

3.3 Community-managed libraries

Comments included the:

• need to emphasise the importance of professionally trained workforce
• need for different approaches to governance
• growing agenda of community engagement in the delivery of their library service

Conclusions included:

• that is was not the role of the Taskforce to comment on individual library closures, changes and approaches to library management (which are a matter for local determination by councillors), but that the Taskforce is building upon work already underway by LGA, ACE and SCL to support sector led improvement of public libraries
• how critical it is to engage community in local decision making
• the need to demonstrate best practice models

There was a clear commitment from the Taskforce to support sector-led improvement by raising awareness and sharing examples of alternative delivery models amongst portfolio holders and chief executives in order to assist with the locally-led change process.

4. Priorities / roadmap

The Taskforce discussed priorities / roadmap for the first year, including what their organisations are already doing / can contribute and how any gaps should be handled.

Taskforce’s priorities are:

• digital enablement – including the provision of universal WiFi access, e-lending, digital shared network and quality content
• libraries adding value – making stronger, strategic links between libraries and other policies such as health and wellbeing and business and economic growth
• best practice – helping local authorities and library services through sharing and linking to existing/new best practice and building sustainable long-term models for libraries/community hubs
• workforce – skills needed to help the library workforce deliver these priorities and to take on new roles as part of wider service provision • communications – promoting recognition and support for libraries

Comments included:

• the importance of evidence
• that information is received in different ways depending on the audience
• the need to learn from what others outside library sector / UK are doing
• the need for a skills perspective - what is needed in the future
• how to encourage diversity in the workforce
• that there should be community engagement
• sharing good / best practice to help unlock doors
• that we shouldn’t duplicate what is already out there
• any new programmes / events to be added in
• how to measure success and what does it look like to different audiences

Conclusions

A number of additional continuing projects were highlighted that should be added. It was recognised that prioritisation of actions would be required so that those projects which would deliver the most significant impacts were delivered first.

ACTIONS:

• all to send any further information / comments to secretariat
• secretariat to capture and update roadmap and keep as live document

5. External communications

The Taskforce needs to promote / publicise what it is doing, as well as changing the public narrative on libraries more broadly

5.1 Communications channels

What communications channel are there such as blogs, existing partner communication channels, etc? The Taskforce communications lead (once in post) will liaise with partner communications officers to pull this together.

5.2 Additional resources

What other support / resources can partner organisations offer to help with communications? Following each meeting, a summary of the key messages / actions would be circulated for members to use as necessary.

ACTION: secretariat to circulate a summary of the key messages from the meeting

6. A.O.B.

Discussion on whether the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians should be included in the Taskforce. Conclusion was that they are already represented through SCL.

The next meeting will be in Exeter, Devon (29 July) which will include a tour of the library and FabLab.

7. Summary of key messages / actions following second meeting

• Ed Vaizey, reappointed Minister for Libraries, re-stated the government’s commitment to libraries and strongly endorsed the work of the Taskforce
• this was echoed by Councillor Ian Stephens, chair of LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, who welcomed the work done by the Taskforce to date and re-confirmed the LGA’s commitment to the 5 priority areas of the Taskforce
• with the new government in place, the high-level key messages to new ministers were discussed, it was confirmed that meetings with ministers were underway to promote the library offer
• Taskforce agreed to recommend to LGA members and ministers that there was merit in developing a sector led national framework for libraries in England to provide a shared direction and purpose and a focus for collaborative action, whilst respecting local democratic accountability
• it was reinforced that this should be developed alongside delivery of already identified priorities
• any national framework and relevant recommendation will be discussed and agreed by ministers and LGA members, which the Taskforce jointly reports to
• there was a clear commitment from the Taskforce to support sector-led improvement by raising awareness and sharing examples of alternative delivery models amongst portfolio holders and chief executives in order to assist with the locally-led change process
• the Taskforce reviewed the draft action plan and highlighted a number of additional continuing projects that should be added
• it was recognised that prioritisation of actions would be required so that those projects which would deliver the most significant impacts were delivered first
• an update was provided by DCMS and ACE on the £7.4m, which had been allocated in Budget 2015 for WiFi provision in libraries, more communications on this would follow soon
• an update was also provided on the e-lending pilots, the final report from the pilots is due to be published in the next month
• the next meeting of the Taskforce will be on 29 July in Exeter Library in Devon and members will be able to view the innovative ideas being delivered, this is part of the Taskforce’s commitment to promoting best practice