Agenda item

Fiona Williams, Head of Libraries and Heritage, will tell you about the possibilities presented by plans to transform the Central Library into an Explore Learning Centre.

1. Fiona Williams, Head of Library Services, gave a presentation to residents about the new ‘Explore’ plans for the Central Library.

1.1             There are 14 libraries in York, as well as one Mobile Library.  There is also a home library service, which takes books to people who are housebound.  A lot more advertising about this service is due in the next year. 

1.2             Books are really important.  They are why libraries were set up in the first place and still account for 80% of our usage.

1.3             They are looking at buying more books in paperback, as that is what they have been told the public wants.  If anyone is interested in helping to buy books, contact your local library and your name will be forwarded to Sarah Garbacz, the Stock Manager.

1.4             The library is the only place that provides a free, impartial and neutral enquiry service, where you can ask about absolutely anything.  It is this which makes libraries special and there is a focus on improving and emphasising this service in the future.  There is currently a 24 hour internet service called ‘Enquire’, which works with Canada and America, which is proving very popular.

1.5             The library has free access to ancestry.com, a subscription to which would cost £80 per year.  There is also a very good family and local history librarian, David May.

1.6             The library provides free IT training. Mostly these are very basic starter sessions and one-to-one sessions.

1.7             Fiona Williams gave some statistics about York Libraries:

1.7.1              80,000 people visit a York library every month.

1.7.2              2,500 people took part in the Big City Read 2008. This year the Big City Read book is Sovereign by C. J. Samson. 5,000 free copies will be given out to encourage people to get involved.

1.7.3              1 in 5 York children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge 2008. It is proven to keep literacy levels up during the holidays.

1.7.4              14,400 people joined last year, which is one of the biggest % rises in the country.

1.7.5              They lend over 1 million books a year, which places them 18^th out of 150 unitary authorities in the country in terms of lending.

1.8             The new plans for the ‘Explore’ Library play to the building’s strengths and keep in style with its history.  The plans include a café,  children’s library, learning rooms, flexible space with shelving on wheels which can be moved for events such as author days, and self-issue machines, which are much quicker and will free-up the library staff from issuing duties so they are able to help people and take a more active role in the library.

1.9             The library will close sometime in September 2008 and will re-open near Christmas. They are on schedule with the process, and the current stage is that they are just about to apply for listed building consent.

1.10        Other features of the new library include extended opening hours, including Sundays and evenings until 8pm.  The hope is that the library will provide a safe place in the City Centre where the community can come together.

1.11        Residents were given a chance to ask questions:

Q:  Will people be able to go straight in to the café without going through the library?

A:  Yes. It is hoped that the café will draw people in and encourage them to stay, especially those who wouldn’t normally.  From the café they will be encouraged to use the books, and even go on literacy and numeracy courses.

Q:  If I want a rare book from many years ago can I get it?

A: In theory you can get every book which has ever been published.  There are 150 authorities in the U.K., and each one has an active catalogue.  There is currently a process of ‘Universal Membership’ which is trying to get all the catalogues working together.  In York you can request any book for free to any of the other libraries.  However if a book is ordered from outside of York there might be a small charge.