Agenda item

The Chairman invited Isobel Hunter, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected, and Lauren Lucas, Adviser, to introduce the report.

Lauren introduced the which outlined the progress made to date on the Public Libraries Service Accreditation project and research findings. Board Members had previously determined that the LGA should sit on the Public Libraries Accreditation Board as an observer, rather than a full member. This was because of concerns raised by Lead Members and other Members of the CTS Board about the potential for library ‘standards’ to conflict with the LGA’s position on the importance of sector-led improvement. Now that the shape of the project is more defined and in keeping with sector-led approaches, the LGA had again been invited to become a full member of the group.

Isobel thanked Lauren for her dedication as an observer on the board and excellent contribution to the discussion representing the LGA’s point of view and local government perspective. She stated that the Public Library Service Accreditation project was funded by Arts Council England and focused on English Public libraries. She explained the first and second phases of the project (consultation phase and design phase), what the phases had and would include and how the scheme might interact with LGA’s improvement contract with Arts Council England, referring specifically to the well-received, effective peer review challenges.

Members made the following comments:

• How will this happen? Will all authorities bid and request the accreditation, or would it be spot-checked?

• If we are holding a national standard of accreditation of libraries, it is a very positive step forward. I have found that some authorities prefer quantity over quality, quality is very important.

• We’re moving into a difficult area for libraries. The Conservative group are fully supportive of this project.

• Section 5 of the report refers to the monitoring of community need and digital policy. What work is being undertaken to ensure that children with limited access to I.T equipment are supported?

• With regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, to what extent is this framework being adapted to reflect the changing priorities that libraries have had over the last year?

• The feedback that one has been getting from professional libraries has been really positive. From my peer challenge experience and being heavily involved in putting forward various peer challenge exercises, what is clear is that this business of qualitive as well as quantitative assessment is very much welcomed and has been well-received. Can I suggest that we explore in depth the way in which the new qualitative assessment, its endorsement and new relationship could bring additionality to our investment into the library services that we currently run?

Isobel responded to the comments made by Members:

• There are 150 library services in England, one of the critical things to work out is what the incentive is for the scheme. We can learn valuable lessons from the archive and museum schemes and the incentivisation of services, the roll-out would be a phased-approach.

• In terms of how long the accreditation would last for, this is yet to be decided. One of our key principles is to ensure that the scheme is realistic and simple so that libraries are not burdened with paperwork.

• With regards to children and young people’s access to I.T equipment, work was being undertaken to explore ways in which the library universal offer framework could help to shape this. The universal offer framework sets out the key areas that libraries should deliver against. I envisage that through accreditation libraries, we’ll need to show how they’re thinking about community needs and responding to digital inclusion.

• The challenge for the framework is to be flexible and scalable, it is difficult to create a core scheme that fits all different types of service. We need to time-proof the framework in these unprecedented times. At Libraries Connected, we’ve been talking about the future of libraries and a 3-part library service which has been accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the physical service from the buildings will remain very important. We need to develop and grow the digital offer and address constraints.

Cllr Tom Hollis stated that, with the Chairman’s indulgence, he would be very keen to support and represent the project’s Board.

Decision:

Members noted the progress and the projected direction of the project and approved the LGA becoming a full member of the project’s Board.

Action/s:

The LGA to accept full membership of the Steering Group. Cllr Tom Hollis to provide Board oversight of the work.