'Let’s Talk Libraries' consultation

Wormella

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Had this via my e-mail

Whether you access library services online, or visit your local library once in a while or more often, you’ll want to have your say in a major public consultation that starts today.

Over the next 12 weeks, thousands of people are expected to have their say on the future of Staffordshire’s library service. Make sure you’re one of them!

As you may know, libraries have changed enormously over the last decade to try to adapt to people’s needs and how they want to access information. However, the number of people visiting libraries and borrowing library stock continues to fall.
We need to act now so that we can safeguard libraries for the future. This means moving away from the county council offering a ‘one-size-fits all’ approach to more flexible libraries that better reflect the needs of local communities.
To do this we need to know what you think. The consultation, which will last until 7th October, will ask people what they think about the county council’s current ideas for a different, more flexible service.



We understand that libraries are important to you, so this consultation isn’t about proposals to close libraries. This is about finding out whether you think our initial proposals are the best way to ensure that you and your community are able to access a library service in 10, 15, or even 20 years’ time.
We are proposing to reshape the library network by offering three categories of library: Extra, Core and Local. All of these libraries will be supported by an enhanced online service.
Under these suggestions the county council will continue to provide a full service through ‘Library Extra’ and ‘Library Core’.
‘Library local’ will be the most localised service, with the community deciding what it wants and then delivering it, with county council support. We want to know from local community groups what support they may need to do this, should the proposals go ahead.
The county council is also suggesting a change to the opening hours for those libraries currently proposed to be a ‘Library Core’ to better match demand whilst representing the very best value for money for the council tax payer.
We also want to invest in the ‘Library Online’ service so that you have a better experience online, with more services and better compatibility with mobile devices, so that you can access services wherever and whenever you want to.
It’s really important that you get involved now. Absolutely no decisions have been made and won’t be until the results of the consultation have been considered. So make sure your voice is heard!
We’ve inviting anyone who lives, works or studies in Staffordshire, or who uses a Staffordshire library to talk to us.
So, what do you think of the proposals? How will they affect you? Do you have ideas to improve them? What support would you or your group need to get more involved in your library?
You can have your say by:
  • filling in a paper questionnaire in your library
  • filling in an online questionnaire at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/connectedlibraries
  • attending one of 47 events happening across the county – including drop in events, more formal Question and Answer sessions and workshops for people to who are interested in finding out more about community libraries.
  • emailing connectedlibraries@staffordshire.gov.uk
  • over the phone on 0300 111 8000
  • or through social media; tweet your thoughts to @StaffsLibraries or search on Facebook for ‘staffordshirelibraries’
More details about all of the ways you can take part in the consultation are on www.staffordshire.gov.uk/connectedlibraries . You can also find promotional materials here to download to help spread the word about the consultation.
Do you have a question about the consultation? Read the Frequently Asked Questions at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/connectedlibraries, ask your local library staff, phone 0300 111 8000 or emailconnectedlibraries@staffordshire.gov.uk
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Sorry - the quote block won't let me clean up the formatting, and I had to fix one of the links...
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
The Council said:
Absolutely no decisions have been made and won’t be until the results of the consultation have been considered. So make sure your voice is heard!
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Is this in fiction or non-fiction?
 
Ecker

Ecker

Well-Known Forumite
Well well, first it was they couldn't rent out the ground floor
of Scaffoldshire Towers, then it was, we are going to move
bits of the library in there (Library Lite) and now it's we want your views
so we can blame you when me make yet another bollocks
of it all.

Many thanks for keeping us informed Wormella.
 
cometcycle

cometcycle

Well-Known Forumite
I heard rumbles about the Local Holmcroft Library last week but apparently no decisions would be made until after the consultation is complete.
I suspect that it'll either have to be Community Ran or will Close. In other words David 'is the' Camera-On's "Big Society - remember that anyone?? will have finally reached Stafford.
 
cometcycle

cometcycle

Well-Known Forumite
Confused said:
Lincolnshire has come a cropper with a flawed consultation process. Staffordshire needs to be careful.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-28343153
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Interesting quote at the end by the PM -

Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "One of the great things in our democracy is that governments have to act under the law and respond to public opinion and pressure - and that's what is happening in Lincolnshire."

Apparently he turns a deaf ear to Stafford though, especially in relation to the Hospital!
 
Ecker

Ecker

Well-Known Forumite
cometcycle said:
Interesting quote at the end by the PM -

Speaking on BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "One of the great things in our democracy is that governments have to act under the law and respond to public opinion and pressure - and that's what is happening in Lincolnshire."

Apparently he turns a deaf ear to Stafford though, especially in relation to the Hospital!
Click to expand...


It's the price we have to pay for his losing to David Kidney the election before last.
 
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