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Libraries takeover moves a step closer

August 01, 2011

Discussions are likely to begin later this month between Wokingham Borough Council and private companies interested in taking over the running of Wokingham’s libraries.

At a meeting of the full council on Thursday, July 21, Councillor UllaKarin Clark, executive member for internal services, told members a dialogue process was likely to begin with shortlisted companies in August.

The chosen organisation will take over the day-to-day running of the borough’s 10 libraries in a bid to save the council £170,000 a year.

Speaking at the meeting of the full council Cllr Clark said: “Hopefully we will have three to six organisations by early August. We will then begin a more detailed discussion known as competitive dialogue. That means we will tell the shortlisted parties and we will ask them how they suggest we improve our library services.”

Cllr Clark said a business case will be provided by the companies and then the final decision of whether to proceed with the tender will be made by the council’s executive committee.

If approved Wokingham would be one of the first local authorities in the country to outsource its library service to a private organisation and a new company could be in place by May next year.

The council has said it will not be closing any libraries through the plans and the leader of the council, Councillor David Lee, reiterated the message to members at the full council meeting.

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At long last, I have received and compiled the FoI requested data on Wokingham libraries.

If anyone is interested in reading it, then I've posted it all (along with a narrative summary) up on my blog: http://matthewsdent.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/foi-wokingham-libraries/

Matthew S. Dent, Wargrave
11/10/2011 at 08:24

Just to add an update, I've had a response from the council in regards to library usage figures, but what they've provided me doesn't really answer the question. Thus I've submitted a new FOI request, asking for a breakdown of UNIQUE users for each library in the borough, as well as information on funding and spending.

Matthew S. Dent, Wargrave
08/09/2011 at 12:01

What nonsense - 90%+ of people don't use police services. You don't need to dial 999 to benefit from the police force. Seriously Devoncatt, can you imagine life without a police force? It would be like the London riots 24/7.

Clown.

Mr Wokingham, Wokkers
19/08/2011 at 10:47

Mr wokkers thinks that 95% of the residents don't use the libraries we should outsource them. Perhaps then on the same logic since 90+% don't use the police ,fire or council services we should outsource or close them as well? The costs of the library include inflated figures for council services and can amount to much more than they are allowed to spend on books. Perhaps WBC should consider other options for the libraries such as charitable status ? Private companies have to make a profit how can they do that without charging for services that are now free? Devoncatt

devoncatt
18/08/2011 at 10:24

Spin Bar is open 3 nights a week mate!

And out of that 12,000 how many were unique visitors?

Mr Wokingham, Wokkers
16/08/2011 at 09:38

Although, I've just seen this article on the Henley Standard website:

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=965426

According to that, libraries were used just under 12,000 times last year. It also says that library usage across the borough was up by four percent.

It doesn't answer the questions I sent the FOI request to answer, but it certainly gives some background. The part about other events ("...there were 106 events, including author visits, coffee mornings, crafts clubs and bridge.") interests me, as well. That's, on average, two events each week, underlining my earlier point about libraries being about much more than just books.

Matthew S. Dent, Wargrave
16/08/2011 at 08:51

Sorry, Mr Wokingham. Unfortunately, it can take up to a month for a Freedom of Information request to be completed. According to the email I received, I should have a response by 7th September. I promise to post up the response regardless of who they side with.

Matthew S. Dent, Wargrave
15/08/2011 at 23:23

Still nothing from Matthew S. Dent. One can only assume that the numbers weren't to his liking.

Mr Wokingham, Wokkers
15/08/2011 at 11:43

... but libraries are so much more - a sign of a civilised society with a sense of community.

When the Tories have finish selling everything off they will wonder where the sense of community has gone...and blame the police for not putting their reduced ranks on the streets

woodley lad
12/08/2011 at 00:20

Ooooh, this IS tense!

Mr Wokingham, Wokkers
10/08/2011 at 08:57

I've put in a freedom of information request for statistics on library use. I'll post them up here as and when I receive a response.

Matthew S. Dent, Wargrave
09/08/2011 at 12:15

The private school that my children attend has a vast array of books in it's own library.

Mr Wokingham, Wokkers
08/08/2011 at 15:25

I think that Mr. Wokkers doesn't have any children. Small children in particular need to read lots and lots of books to develop and grow properly and I've yet to find a electronic book reader that is rugged enough, reasonably priced and in the bright colours and picture quality that children need and with a full range of media.

But, most all, as it stands, electronic books cost money to read. Library books do not.

Maybe one day we will have electronic libraries with free media for all the residents to use and electronic reader that everyone can afford to own, but that day is not here yet.

Fluffball, Berkshire
08/08/2011 at 10:42

Is there any way of getting data from the library regarding number of visitors?

Mr Wokingham, Wokkers
08/08/2011 at 09:15

Mr Wokingham

Actually, I'm suggesting that a Twitter poll couldn't hope to be an accurate gauge, because it would by its nature exclude significant sectors of Wokingham Borough society. The elderly, the young, and the just not on twitter.

I would, however, point out that although the elderly may not be contributing to central government tax coffers through income tax (though, actually, a lot may still be working and doing just that), there is to the best of my knowledge no OAP exemption for council tax. This means that the elderly are still contributing money to local government, which pays for the libraries.

And I would disagree that libraries no longer matter in the internet age. Even though e-books are on the rise, paper books are still predominant. Do you read all of your books on a computer? Or perchance an e-reader? I'd venture that the majority of people do not have an e-reader, find reading large quantities off a computer taxing and uncomfortable, and still read paper books. Therefore libraries are very much still relevant, and I cannot understand your hostility towards the fight to save them.