1. Sue Williamson Head of Library Services. St Helens Borough Council
Thank you very much for asking me here today to talk to you about my career journey and in particular about our very successful Cultural Hubs programme in St Helens.
There is something very gratifying about being asked to talk about yourself. I am conscious that what I want to do today is enthuse and inspire you about the fantastic rewards of a career in Librarianship, despite some of the doom and gloom around the austerity agenda.
However, I do believe that public libraries and librarians have so much to bring to the table in terms of a vibrant modern 21st century agenda and I still believe that mine is truly the best job ever and I give daily thank that I get paid to do my hobby.

2. St Helens as a Place Rugby League Glass, Pharmaceuticals, Mining
Health Inequalities
Poor Educational attainment
Low Digital Literacy
Low Engagement with Arts and Culture
High levels of Health Inequalities
High incidences of mental health and substance abuse, usually alcohol
High levels of unemployment and 3rd generation unemployment
Low levels of educational attainment
Low digital literacy
Low engagement with Arts and Culture

3. Overview Aims of the Council 5 SCL Universal Offers
Libraries TaskForce 7 Outcomes
Addition of a 6th: Culture
5 Ways to Well-being
Aims of the Council:
Raising and Achieving Aspirations
Having a Sustainable Health and Social Care System
Growing the Economy
Being Connected
7 Outcomes:
Increased reading and Literacy
Improved Digital Access and Literacy
Helping Everyone Achieve their full potential
Healthier and happier lives
Greater prosperity
Stronger and more resilient communities
Cultural and Creative enrichment
5 Ways to Well-Being:
Keep learning,
Connect
Take Notice
Be Active
Give

4. Current Organisational Structure in St Helens
Library Services = Libraries, Arts and Culture and Adult and Community Learning
Part of the department of Public Health and Well-Being
In the People’s Directorate, includes Adult Social Care and Health and Children’s Social Care and Health

5. Recent Changes

6. BLUSH

7. BASH

8. Also In St Helens Bookstart: Bath, Brush,Book, Bed
Autism and Asperger agenda
Perinatal Mums
Dementia
Light exercise programmes with Healthy Living
Emotionally Healthy Schools
Calendar Spikes
5 Ways to Well-Being
5 Ways to Well-Being:
Keep learning,
Connect
Take Notice
Be Active
Give

9. Development of Regional Partnerships
NW Consortium
Time to Read
Development of the Liverpool City Region

10. The Road to Cultural Hubs
2010: Grant from ACE to deliver an action research programme
Role of Arts for socially excluded and
Potential impact on personalised budgets

11. Role of Commissions Other Ways of Telling: Arts and Mental Health
Other Ways of Seeing: Arts and Physical and Sensory Disabilities
Other Ways of Being: Arts in supporting recovery from Alcohol Abuse and in raising awareness

12. Cultural Hubs:The Jewel in the Crown
Audience established
Major target group: ASCH users
ACE: Grants for the Arts in Libraries fund
5th year; 3 successful applications

13. Cultural Hubs 2 Delivered a range of arts performances in Libraries
Supported artists
2 Arts in Libraries Conferences
Spoken at other conferences
Case Study for Ambition
Shortlisted for CILIP award 2015
Won National Lottery Award 2016
Applied for NPO status for our library service (and were successful)
Key shaper of new SCL Cultural offer

14. Cultural Hubs and Public Health:
Expanded and Grown
Arts on Prescription
programme
Commissioned and funded by Public Health
Exceeded expectations, 2nd programme commissioned

15. Cultural Hubs 3 Aims and Objectives Why Libraries?
44% Facebook Friends
44% Cultural Hubs audience from that cohort
37% from lowest SOAs in the Borough
National expected maximum: 20%

16. What next? Potential of Libraries Cradle to Grave Service
1 in 2 people regularly visit a library
224.6 million visits
Saves NHS 27.5 million per annum

17. And in St Helens We have13 Libraries in St Helens
96% of people in the Borough currently live within 2 miles of a library
In 2016/17, 685,514 people visited our libraries
That’s 13,183 per week
Or 2,197 per DAY
120,000 used our computers
Over 45,000 came to our events
What else gives that level of access/face to face reach for the Council?
While our KPIs have shown a decline, in comparison with our CIPFA comparators we are in the top 3 on all counts.

18. Why Libraries? Specialist Libraries
Fake news or Everyone a Google Expert!!
Public Libraries
Framework on offer today
Universality.