Issue - meetings

This report seeks the agreement of the Executive Member to the future transformation of York Library into an Explore Centre in line with the scrutiny report on the Library Service and as part of the cultural quarter development.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to  approve

(i)                 The principles and priorities of the scheme

(ii)               The expenditure of £95k of the Leisure and Culture budget on this   scheme

(iii)             The views of Members’ on the areas for discussion

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      To enable phase one of the work to begin.

Members considered a report which sought approval for the future transformation of York Library into an Explore Centre, in line with the Scrutiny report on the Library Service agreed by the Executive in 2005.

The Library Service, working in partnership with Adult and Community Education, had developed the concept of library learning centres on the basis of the Scrutiny Board’s ‘vision’ as set out in their report.  The concept was outlined in the document 21^st Century Learning: 21^st Century Libraries, attached as Annex A to the report.  It was planned to introduce learning centres at York, Acomb, New Earswick, Clifton, Haxby and Tang Hall libraries.  The first ‘explore’ centre had been opened at Acomb in February 2008 and had proved very successful, with a large increase in usage.  The second centre would open at New Earswick on 26 June 2008.  Planning had now begun for the next centre, at York’s central library.  This would be a major transformation, costing in total around £5m.

Key principles already established for explore centres, and suggested actions to begin the transformation of York Library, were set out in paragraphs 13 and 14 of the report.  Members’ views were invited on these proposed actions, with particular regard to:

·        What services the centre should offer to young people

·        What should be done with certain collections donated to the library

·        Where the café should be located

·        How to create a modern library space in a Grade II listed building.

Members discussed the following:

• The difficulties surrounding converting the central library given its listed building status. It was the general consensus that the building did need modernising and that a plan needed putting in place to enable this and progress the idea.

• The viability of raising extra capital and creating extra space by auctioning or donating under used collections such as the Marriott Books and Oboe Music Collections.

• Areas of the central library which could be used in a better way. Members would like to see more exhibition space, and the children’s library to be integrated into the main body of the library. It was suggested the area at the top of the stairs could be used as a café.

Members suggested that a plan for the modernisation of the central library should be in place in case funding did suddenly become available. Members briefly discussed the possibility of a new library building in a different location but this would be too costly.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i)                 Approve the principles and priorities of the scheme;

(ii)               Approve the expenditure of £95k of the Leisure and Culture budget on the scheme;

(iii)             Note the views expressed by Members on the areas discussed, as recorded above.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      To enable phase one of the work to begin.