Haringey Council Public Libraries in England and Wales Key Challenges for the 21 st Century Diana Edmonds Assistant Director, Culture, Libraries and Learning 23rd May 2011

Or the customers through the door 1. Getting the Business

Dramatic increase in use levels Wood Green currently has the busiest libraries in London Haringey Experience demonstrates that customers are attracted by relevant services

Money for buildings Money for stock Money for IT Money for staff 2. Getting the Money to Provide the Service

Buildings often in wrong place Poorly maintained Limited capital within the Authority Need to use “other people’s” money to build libraries Money for Buildings

Big Lottery NDC Europe PCT Department of Education (via Connexions) Skills Funding Agency MLA UK On-line And we are constantly looking for more In Haringey, we have used funds from:

Usually has to come from the Local Authority but Are occasional opportunities to gain external funding But essential to maintain funds to ensure the offer remains attractive to the customer Money for Stock

Don’t believe Price Waterhouse Coopers Report! Stock Purchase and Acquisition needs to be Lean and Mean

Haringey outsources all processing and some selection Buys as low as possible Has minimal staff (1)

Allocation Model Stock Fund Adult Children and Young People Audio VisualElectronic

Plus, in Haringey, material for BME customers

Big Lottery Fund provided People’s Network funding which forced public libraries into the 20 th Century Problem to maintain this provision as need to modernise occurs Money for IT

Also need to introduce newer technologies, specifically RFID, to modernise processes 1 year payback on RFID installations in terms of staff reductions Money for IT

Self Issue

Return

Sorter

The Impact of Wireless

Major cost in a public library service Normally at least 60% Key area for cost cutting and therefore professionalism debate a real issue At Haringey, labour costs are currently running at 56% Money for Staff

Staff behaviour also a key issue Problem with sickness management Advantageous contracts Money for Staff

Key drive to reduce staff costs RFID increasingly significant Money for Staff

Each year operate the Service with budget minus same Budget Overview

Essential therefore to increase productivity year on year

And to look for the “new” angle, e.g. Health Learning Culture

Individual Learning Resources

Collaborative Learning Spaces

Cultural Spaces

Running a public library requires: Customer focus Entrepreneurial skill Courage Summary

And now? What about the cuts?

Libraries are under significant pressure

In London, LLCP (London Libraries Change Programme) may help………

The Future ……. Is the future