Date: 25 February 1994

Dear Colleague

I enclose for your information part of a report looking at the future of the library service in Dorset, giving specific reference to the likely impact of local government reorganisation.

Annexe 2 specifically looks at the likely impact on the Dorset library service if it were to be divided between a number of authorities, and also highlights the research we are currently undertaking with the Department of National Heritage on externalisation, which is one route by which the service might be kept together in the light of any changes.

I thought you might find the report interesting, and please contact me if you require further information.

1. PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To report the findings and recommendations of the Members' Working Party.

2. INTRODUCTION

The Working Group was established to review two key national reports recently published, and the impact of the recommendations of those reports on the library service in Dorset. The two reports were "Borrowed Time?: the Future of Libraries in the UK" published by Comedia, and 'Library and Information Provision to Rural Areas in England and Wales" published by the Department of National Heritage. The Working Group has met three times and considered carefully the impact of these reports on Dorset, and now presents its report on the issues which they feel are of relevance to the future of libraries in Dorset. The key issues and recommendations are highlighted in the summary below.

The Working Group also felt that they could not consider the future of the public library service without looking at the potential impact of proposals for local government reorganisation, and competitive tendering. The Group felt that the integrity of the closely integrated Countywide stock resource, library network and the various special collections needed to be retained in any changes made. There was a strong view that the service to be cost-effective should be retained as a single operational unit, and concern was expressed at the likely costs of splitting up the service and retaining its present level of service.

The Group also looked at the Government's proposals for 'externalising' the library service, and noted the research which was currently in progress. It was felt that the results of this research should be looked at carefully when it was available to identify the best way forward and try and influence Government thinking.

The Group also wished to make it clear that additional resources will need to be made available to the service to implement many of the recommendations which they are making, and which will ensure the continued effectiveness of the library service in coming years. They also felt it was important that library staff be fully trained, and that there should be adequate professional resources available to the service.

3. SUMMARY OF THE GROUPS RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 EDUCATIONAL ROLE

a) Children

Extra resources are going to be required in the future, to improve the level of service even if not fully to satisfy demand.

This is a key role for the public library and one which complements the educational role, and without this role the future educated, literate society is much diminished.

Young people should be encouraged to use libraries, and not just for school work.

Multi-media resources should be developed to the full.

There should be co-ordination between schools and libraries.

There should be help readily available for children who are slow readers.

Some staff should have specialist expertise in regard to working with children.

b) Students on full time courses

No particular extra provision needs to be provided for such users, except to ensure that in new and redesigned libraries adequate study space is provided.

c) Adults following part time distance learning, or informal study

It is important that the library service can operate from a large base to provide a significant range of titles.

The half-time post of librarian to work closely with institutions and students undertaking part time and distance learning courses should be maintained and strengthened by increase to full-time.

3.2 SOCIAL POLICY

a) General Community Provision

Every effort should be made to improve the attractiveness of libraries for those visiting them, and to ensure that they are a key centre of the community.

There should be a larger role for local Councils in influencing the library provision in their area, and they should be able to pay for extra hours and services in consultation with the County Council if they wish. There should also be consultation over the opening hours of libraries, and regular reports to them on the library service in their area. The initiative between the County Council and Town and Parish Councils is supported, but it is felt that a similar facility should be provided for District and Borough Councils, particularly for those communities which do not have a Town or Parish Council.

b) Special Community-Needs

Ways will need to be found to encourage more volunteers to come forward.

It will be necessary to explore ways in which increasing demands from residential homes might be met in the future.

Research should be undertaken to identify the effectiveness of the housebound library service, how far it meets the needs of the individuals, and what changes or improvements could be made. it is felt that outside funding might be available to support such research.

c) other Social Groups

The fundamental objective should be to make access to the library service the norm.

Library service staff should work closely with Social Services staff to identify particular needs of social groups in the community, identify the size of those groups, and ensure that appropriate provision is made.

3.3 INFORMATION ROLE OF LIBRARY

There will be the need for significant capital investment, and opportunities for networking and the added use of on-line databases should be investigated.

The expense of duplicating important Reference resources, or making co- operation arrangements will clearly be an issue for the future.

It is recommended that Poole should continue as the centre for the HATRICS information service for the present County of Dorset.

3.4 SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS

The network of rural and mobile libraries should be used to a greater extent for the dissemination of information to local communities.

The potential of the library in rural areas to support rural business by the provision of employment and training information needs to be exploited in consultation with the economic development staff of the Planning Department.

There should be a fundamental review of the mobile library service, as it is clear that many people use both the mobile and the branch library, and themselves have no difficulty in regularly visiting a town. The mobile library should be seen as basically provided for those who are unable to easily visit their local branch library. There also needs to be some market research on the effectiveness of the library service to rural areas.

It is suggested that the experiment of providing small libraries in village shops, currently being undertaken in Norfolk, should be explored further (there is a separate report to the Amenities Committee on this).

C EARL

COUNTY LIBRARIAN & ARTS OFFICER

February 1994

If you require further information about this report please contact Mr C Earl, County Libra r-'.an and Arts Officer on 0305 or 0202 224456

1. BACKGROUND

Following the general review of the national report entitled borrowed Time: The Future of Public Libraries in the UK" and a separate report entitled 'Library and Information Provision in Rural Areas", at the last meeting of the Group on 15 November 1993 the County Librarian was asked to produce a report which concentrates on the key issues for Dorset, and to suggest terms of reference.

2. INTRODUCTION

The key recommendations in the report "Borrowed Time', highlighted a Plumber of major areas of service where the public library has an impact, and these areas will be used as the basis for the report relating to Dorset. The report will look at key issues in each of these areas, and will then address the question of library and information provision in rural areas.

3 . TERMS OF REFERENCE

In the light of recent national research reports to identify the key issues for the future of the public library in Dorset, and to suggest priorities and areas for research and development.

4. EDUCATIONAL ROLE

The public library service in Dorset serves both the needs of children in full time education, and adults in higher education - both full and part time, and also those pursuing formal or informal courses of study.

4.1 Children

One of the main areas of pressure on the public library service has been the increasing demands from children, particularly those aged ten and above, for background material to assist them with homework and projects. The changes in the methods of teaching in schools has increased the number of projects undertaken by children, and often the resources of the school library, or the time available for children to use it, is limited. An increasing number of children are therefore now making use of their local public library. This increasing pressure results in a heavy demand on encyclopaedias, reference works and non-fiction books. These are often more expensive types of children's books to purchase, and are only available in limited copies. Inevitably, at small libraries there is often only one copy of a book on a particular subject available. With a number of children from the same class often seeking the same material, this puts inevitable pressure on the public library, and creates a demand to provide extra stock to support homework. Use of the public library for research and study is quite proper, and given that children often do not have time during the school day to use the .resources of their own school library it is inevitable that pressure will come on the public library. As such use would appear legitimate and within the current legislation, extra resources are going to be required in the future, even to improve the level of service if not fully to satisfy demand. It is also important in work with children that close liaison is maintained with schools and teachers. This will enable the library to identify the likely needs of schoolchildren in a particular area, and can also ensure that teachers do not raise unrealistic expectations of the public library service in pupils, minds. In the past there was close contact, with an integrated schools and children's library service, but following the changes in Education, with the development of LMS and GMS schools, these services have now had to be split. However, close liaison is maintained between these services. We have in the public library service two (1.5 full-time equivalent) professional staff who specialise in work with children, and it is their job to maintain liaison with children, their schools, and the public libraries. They are looked to for advice and guidance by local library staff on the kinds of material held in the children's library, and the arrangement and display. They are also key people in initiating programmes of activity to attract children into the library. Given the pressures on children's time, these days it is vital that the library is seen as an exciting place, and that a love of reading is inculcated at an early age. This is a key role for the public library, and one which complements the educational role, and without this role the future educated, literate society is much diminished.

In addition, the following should be key objectives:

- Young people should be encouraged to use libraries, and not just for school work

- Multi-media resources should be developed to the full,

- There should be co-ordination between schools and libraries.

- There should be help readily available for children who are slow readers.

- Some staff should have specialist expertise in regard to working with children.

4.2 Students on full time courses

Use of the public library by this group is spasmodic. During term time they will usually make use of the colleges' or universities' own library resources. However, some students at institutions in Dorset find that the public library is often nearer their digs, and will make use of the public library, and during vacation periods large numbers of students who return home to Dorset will wish to use the resources of the library. Often, their main need is for study space, but many students also request some quite specialised and esoteric books to assist them with projects during vacation time. If these books are available they will be supplied, although not necessarily within the timescale required if they have to be obtained from outside the County. It is felt that no particular extra provision needs to be provided for such users, except to ensure that in new and redesigned libraries adequate study space is provided.

4. 3 Adults following part time distance learning, or informal study

It is for these students that the public library inevitably, and quite properly, takes the place of the college library. The type of courses which are being provided under these headings are increasing all the time, and the demands on the library service for materials to support study in a whole range of fields is increasing. This puts particular pressure on the range of stocks and makes it important that the library- service can operate from a large base to provide a significant range of titles, even if they are not immediately available in the student's home library. Books available elsewhere within Dorset, given t e new computer system, can now be made very quickly available. Books which have to be obtained from other library services inevitably take some time, and often cause problems for students.

The County Library Service funds a half-time post of a librarian to work closely with institutions and students undertaking part time and distance learning courses, to publicise the resources of the library, and to identify the needs. As demand for these courses increases, the pressure on this officer's time is increasing, and her specialist skills are now being drawn on by librarians across the County. This post is one of the key specialist posts available countywide, and it is important that this facility is maintained and strengthened if the library service is to properly identify the trends and needs of this group of users.

5. SOCIAL POLICY

Under this heading the library service in Dorset operates in two main areas. Firstly, the area of general community provision, and secondly specialist provision for those in the community who cannot use the normal library facilities.

5.1 General Community Provision

The public library in Dorset has been very successful in developing an identity as a key community resource. It is important that this policy is continued, and that the library is seen not only as a venue for obtaining books for reading, but also as a source of information on the community, a place where notices and information about what is going on are displayed, and a venue where local voluntary organisations - particularly those providing help and guidance - can find a location. Public libraries in Dorset can be used by a wide range of voluntary organisations which strengthen this community identity. It is recommended that every effort be made to improve the attractiveness of libraries for those visiting them, and to ensure that they are a key centre of the community. More use should be made of existing premises, developing their role for social/community purposes. One development which can help to encourage this is to have closer, formal links with local organisations, and particularly where they exist with local town or parish councils.

In addition:

- Libraries throughout Dorset should have a standard display for community information.

- Although accepting the need to encourage more volunteers it is felt strongly that they should not be expected to 'fill all the gaps'.

5.2 Special community Needs

one of the areas where there has been most rapid development in the last ten years is the provision of services to those in the community who cannot personally visit the library. Those in prisons are catered for by special joint arrangements with the Home Office, and these services have been significantly improved in recent years, and are now the subject of formal agreement with each Prison Governor. The major developments have, however, been in extending the service to those who are often physically disabled, or too elderly to visit the library. Such people are both in residential accommodation and, also increasingly, in their own homes under the Care in the Community programme. Special arrangements have to be made for the delivery of a service to such people, and for those in their own homes the County Library relies on a network of some 600 volunteers who take books on a regular basis to people at home. This housebound service is now under considerable strain in some areas, particularly in Bournemouth. There are now people waiting to be served and a scarcity of volunteers. Ways will need to be found to encourage more volunteers to come forward, but with the changing age profile of the population this will become an increasing difficulty.

In the case of service to people in residential homes, an experiment to provide a specialised mobile library service to such people was started two years ago. The opportunity has arisen to use Care in the Community funding to provide a second specialised vehicle, if funds can be found for its running costs. Such services increase the opportunity for people in residential accommodation to visit the mobile library and make their own choice of books. For those who are too infirm to visit the mobile library (which has specialised lift facilities) collections of books are left in the residential home and changed on a regular basis. Where this service is not available, collections of books which are exchanged regularly are provided to homes, but the difficulty with this service is that it relies on the interest of the staff of the home, to promote the use of the books.

Clearly this will be an increasing area of demand on the library service, and it will be necessary to explore ways in which these demands might be met in the future. One area for debate might be whether any income should be sought from residential homes which provide such a facility, although legislation on this point is not very clear at present.

5.3 Other Social Groups

It is important that the library continues to identify the special needs of particular groups within the community (mentally or physically disabled, for example) and ensures that appropriate provision is made. It is suggested that the fundamental objective should be to make access to the library service the norm, and that only where this is not feasible should special services be provided. One avenue that might be explored is to see whether any voluntary organisations would be prepared to regularly ferry people to a local library who otherwise would not be able to make their own journey. Such a service is already provided for one or two special schools, who use their own school transport to bring the students to the library.

It is suggested that library service staff should work closely with Social Services staff to identify particular needs of social groups in the community, identify the size of those groups, and ensure that appropriate provision is made.

6. INFORMATION ROLE OF LIBRARY

6.1 In Dorset the information role has also increased significantly in recent years. Something like 600,000 enquiries a year are made at our libraries, and the provision of the County Council's new community information service - DORIS - is now generating in the region of 15,000 enquiries a month. Many enquiries continue to be answered either by enquirers searching out the material in books, or by staff using reference books to answer enquiries. Increasingly, however, information is becoming available often only in computerised form. The most popular IT format at present for library information services is CD-ROM. Many directories and other standard works of reference, together with back files of newspapers and similar material are now available on CD-ROM. -This has the advantage of being well indexed and very quick to access. However, it does require considerable capital investment in providing the computers to operate the discs, and subscriptions to such services are usually more expensive than the books they replace. In Poole Reference Library, which is our busiest, the demand for the use of information on CD-ROMs has increased significantly over the last twelve months. It is now inadequate to have only one machine available for the range of CD-ROMs to be used, and, as with many university libraries, we are now having to consider investment in equipment which will enable a number of CD-ROMs to be accessed at any one time. Such provision is also now necessary in the other two major Reference Libraries at Dorchester and Lansdowne, Bournemouth, and I would anticipate our other key libraries at Weymouth, Ferndown and Christchurch following this trend very soon. There will therefore be the need for significant capital investment, and opportunities for networking and the added use of on-line databases should be investigated, together with some extra costs on our purchase fund, to cover the higher costs of CD-ROM material.

6.2 One important principle which has operated in Dorset is that we try and avoid duplication of expensive resources. Thus, Dorchester Reference Library concentrates on the history and topography of the County of Dorset, Poole Reference Library specialises in business and commercial information, and Bournemouth Reference Library concentrates on legal and Government materials. With the use of Fax equipment, as well as the telephone, readers' enquiries can be answered promptly by using materials at one of these other libraries. The expense of duplicating this material or making cooperation arrangements will clearly be an issue for the future, under local government reorganisation.

6.3 Poole Central Library is the Dorset base for the HATRICS information service. This service is based on the public libraries of Hampshire and Dorset, and brings together in a co-operative arrangement university and major business libraries in the South of England. Its purpose is to provide a speedy business information service to businesses, particularly small ones, in the region. A small subscription for this service is payable. It is for this reason that Poole Central Library acts as the major business information centre in Dorset, and its collections have been built up to satisfy this specialist need. It is important that this service is maintained as part of the economic development strategy for the region, and avoids expensive duplication of resources. It is recommended that Poole should continue as the centre for the HATRICS information service for the present County of Dorset,

7. OTHER AREAS OF COMEDIA REPORT

7.1 The other two key areas referred to in the Comedia report are the importance of the library service in what is broadly called 'cultural enrichment', and the importance of the library in economic development both by providing information services to business and by themselves attracting custom to retail centres.

7.2 The library service in Dorset provides a range of cultural events within libraries, within the limits of space available, and provides general business information services as well as the specialised HATRICS service referred to in 6.3 above. It is not felt that there are any particular issues affecting Dorset, other than those which affect the general development of the public library service within the country.

8. LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROVISION IN RURAL AREAS

8.1 The Department of National Heritage commissioned a research report which was published this year on the particular needs and problems of providing library services to all areas. Copies of the report have been distributed to Members, and it is suggested that the discussion should concentrate on the recommendations to library authorities in paragraph 7.2. Each recommendation would be listed, and comments specifically affecting Dorset will follow.

A. Local authorities should involve their library and information services in preparing policy documents and strategic plans for rural areas. They should recognise the value of the existing networks which small rural libraries and mobile services represent, and which provide a local presence in rural areas disseminating information about, and providing gateways to, local authority services.

Comment re Dorset

As far as I am aware there is no overall strategy for the provision of rural services by the County Council. However, increasingly, the network of small branches and mobile libraries has been recognised by departments of the County Council in disseminating information. The library service is also closely involved in the development of an information strategy in which the needs of the rural areas can be dealt with separately, and the importance of the library network in this has been recognised. The network already established by small rural libraries and the mobile service should be utilised to the full.

B. Local authorities should recognise that libraries, through their buildings, mobile services, networks, human resources and materials, not only provide for culture and leisure activities but have an important role to play in economic regeneration through support for rural business, and provision of employment and training information.

Comment re Dorset

The value of the library network in this respect is probably not fully exploited by the County Council, and perhaps more needs to be done by the Library Service to promote this function both with the economic development staff of the Planning Department and also with the other economic development agencies with which they work.

C. Local authorities should ensure that their library and information services are enabled to provide the widest range of choice to those able to take full advantage of service provision, and to target services to those in greatest need.

Comment re Dorset

The present policy allows access to the widest range of choice. obviously in small rural libraries and on the mobile library service there is a limit to the resources that can be made immediately available. However, with the developing computer network access can now quickly be provided to both information resources and books within the library network generally. The question of targeting services to those in greatest need is an issue which will need to be addressed in relation to the mobile library service. There is some evidence that the mobile library service in some places is used as a duplicate for those who are mobile, and already use a branch library in a town. It is suggested that this area needs to be fully investigated so that the mobile library service is basically provided for those who are unable to easily visit their local branch library. The library service should play its part in the economic regeneration, especially with the rural economies changing as quickly as they are at present.

D. Local authorities should ensure that their library and information services are encouraged to co-operate with the Rural Development Commission (where appropriate), Rural Community Councils, the Citizens Advice Bureaux and voluntary organisations in identifying needs for information and advice provision in rural areas.

Comment re Dorset

We already have good links with the Community Council, and most Citizens Advice Bureaux, particularly in the rural towns, but we do need to develop links with the Rural Development Commission and work more closely with voluntary organisations. One initiative in Beaminster may provide a model, where we are working with a number of agencies under the leadership of the Health Service, to provide a more effective public information service within the town of Beaminster.

E . Local authorities with significant rural areas should set up corporate monitoring groups to assess the effectiveness of service delivery to rural areas, and ensure that the full resources of the authority are co-ordinated in this task.

Comment re Dorset

This is a matter which, if it is to be followed up, needs to be drawn to the attention of the Chief Executive so that this issue can be looked at corporately.

F. Local authorities should provide funds for: (i) market research to establish what kind of services are in demand in rural areas, and (ii) promoting these services to the rural customer.

Comment re Dorset

We have had in our Service Plan now for two years the need identified for funds for market research on all aspects of our library service, both rural and urban. We have been able to initiate some research in urban areas, using students, but so far no research on rural areas. It is, I feel, important that funds should be identified to enable some basic research on information and library needs in the rural area, and how they should be promoted. Following the Broadwindsor survey recently funded by Help The Aged and the Rural Development Commission, there is perhaps an opportunity to take that research forward and identify the library needs of a rural community like Broadwindsor, if funding can be found for it. It may be that the Rural Development Commission would be prepared to support further research in this area. The County Librarian & Arts Officer should pursue funding opportunities in the context of the Rural Development Area.

G. Local authorities should actively seek to co-operate with Training and Enterprise Councils in the provision of information on jobs, training and education. They should also encourage and support collaborative ventures with the private sector in the provision of library and information services (eg libraries in shops or post offices, or collaboration with IT businesses in the provision of IT hardware and telecottages).

Comment re Dorset

We already co-operate closely with the TEC, and in some libraries provide computerised information on jobs, training and education which the TEC produces. It is not currently provided widely, nor generally in the rural area. This is something to follow up. The suggestion of libraries in shops or post offices in villages is a very interesting one, and one for which the Department of National Heritage has recently supported some research in Norfolk. There may well be potential for providing an improved service to communities of the size of Maiden Newton or Cerne Abbas, assisting the use of local shopping facilities by such initiatives. It is recommended that the County Librarian looks carefully at the results of the Norfolk research, which are due to be published shortly, and discusses with the Community Council for Dorset whether the lessons could be applied to the development and improvement of the library service to larger villages.

H. Local authorities should, at appropriate and regular intervals, publish a report to rural customers of library and information services on what they are providing and how their level of performance has changed since the previous report. Such a report should identify how levels of provision differ for rural and urban customers with reasons stated as to why these differences cannot be resolved.

Comment re Dorset

At present we publish general reports and performance figures on our service, which includes reference to the service to rural areas. Members felt that this was adequate, and separate reports on rural areas were not appropriate.

9. GENERAL

The group made some general comments as follows:

- Additional resources will need to be made available to the service to implement many of the recommendations suggested by the two reports.

- Important that library staff be fully trained - there should be a professional workforce.

C EARL

COUNTY LIBRARIAN & ARTS OFFICER

February 1994

Documents consulted.

"Borrowed Time: The Future of Public Libraries in the UK" - Comedia, 1993.

"Library and Information Provision in Rural Areas in England and Wales" - HMSoi 1993.

"Life Styles and Needs of Over 65s in a Rural Parish" - Help the Aged and Rural Development Commission, 1993.

INTRODUCTION

These two major initiatives by the Government will each have a substantial effect on the public library service at present provided, and this report sets out the issues relating to each in turn.

1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION AND THE LIBRARY SERVICE - ISSUES

Dorset's library service is provided by the County Council to the whole of the present County of Dorset. The library service operates as an integrated whole to gain the most effective benefit from the total stock resources of the service, and to benefit from specialist advice and services available at this scale of operation. Because planning and development is done on a countywide basis provision can be made for services by siting branch libraries and organising mobile library routes in the most cost effective way to take account of natural catchment areas. The location of major libraries can also be based on natural catchment areas.

The service provides access to over 1.5m books, representing 450,000 titles (of which 40% are single copies) and access to a number of specialist collections (the local studies collection and collection of drama sets at Dorchester, a major business information service and a health information service at Poole, and a central music library and collection of Government publications at Bournemouth). The stock is totally integrated and is quickly available at any service point.

Although operating as an integrated whole, the service is responsive at the local level to the individual communities served.

The local government review means that this service could be divided between a number of smaller authorities. Will the individual authorities be able to provide the same level and quality of service, and what will be the additional costs?

Any consideration of alternative options for Dorset must address the following key issues:

1. Book Supply. The present service has a totally integrated computer system for the ordering, monitoring and receipt of books for libraries across the County; the decision to purchase is made locally, but the supply and ordering and monitoring is done centrally. This arrangement ensures we receive the best terms from library suppliers and binders. Will smaller authorities with lower purchasing power be able to obtain the same terms?

2 . Integrated stock. The stock of the County Library is held on a central computer record, which also provides a record of the loan and location of books across the County. This system is totally integrated and enables fast identification of the location of copies, keeps a record of books on loan, and facilitates the supply of books required by readers to any library in the County.

Either arrangements would have to he made to keep the integrated stock and computer system, or expensive duplication of resources would be necessary.

3. special Collections. Special collections are held at Dorchester (the Dorset Collection, Thomas Hardy Collection, Dorset Authors Collection, Playsets, the central reserve collection), at Poole (choral and drama sets, a substantial collection of specialist material for the business information service, and the specialist education library). Poole is also the location of Healthpoint, the public health information service provided jointly with the Health Service. Bournemouth Lansdowne has a specialist collection of Government publications and legal and commercial indexes and publications.

These collections cannot be split up without seriously affecting their viability, and to keep them available joint arrangements for their continued funding would be necessary.

4. Mobile Libraries. These are provided across the whole County to both urban and rural areas, and to ensure the maximum efficiency of operation currently operate without reference to any internal boundaries.

If there is not to be wasteful duplication, arrangements will have to be made for the joint provision of a service which will achieve the present economies of scale.

5. HATRICS. This is the southern business information service involving the private sector, and in which Dorset is the key partner with Hampshire County Library Service. Poole is the centre for this service, which provides information for business and industry across the whole County.

This service is currently provided to businesses throughout the County of Dorset, and special arrangements would have to be made to continue its funding.

6. Community Services. These services are provided to people in residential homes and to the housebound. The service is a mix of local delivery from individual libraries backed up by specialist advice countywide. In addition, the service to larger Homes in the County is provided by an integrated specialised mobile library which visits Homes to enable people to select stock themselves.

If the present economies of scale with the specialist advice specialised mobile libraries are to be retained, joint arrangements for their continued funding would be necessary.

7. School Library Service. This service is provided from a single base at Blandford, and provides support and professional advice to schools throughout the County, providing additional books for school libraries, project collections for teachers, and professional advice.

This service cannot be split, and requires the present economies of scale to be financially viable. Joint funding arrangements would be necessary to maintain the service.

Central issue: given the integrated nature of the service, and the large number of specialised services which depend on the economies of scale which the present service provides, very careful consideration would have to be given as to how these services were provided under the options under consideration, and what joint arrangements would need to be entered into to retain the present integrated stock and specialist services which are essential to the delivery of a comprehensive service, as required by statute.

2. COMPETITIVE TENDERING

The Government has accepted that straightforward compulsory competitive tendering for the library service would not be appropriate. However, it has also made it clear that it wishes to proceed with some form of externalisation of the library service, with the intention that the local authority, while remaining the library authority, will not necessarily deliver the service directly itself.

The Department of National Heritage has therefore agreed with the Department of the Environment to undertake research into various options to see how this might be achieved. The Department of National Heritage indicated that it wished to undertake this research in close co-operation with existing library authorities. The initial research projects all looked at ways of externalising elements of the service, or breaking the present integrated service up into various parts for externalisation. The Department of National Heritage was concerned that they did not have research which investigated the feasibility of maintaining the integrity of the service by externalising it as a single hole. As a result of an approach from the Department of National Heritage last May, Dorset County Council agreed to work with the Department of National Heritage to undertake this research. Accordingly, consultants have been appointed, who are currently working with the County Librarian & Arts Officer to identify how externalisation might operate. It is anticipated that the results of this research will be available at the end of February, and will be reported to the Department of National Heritage.

The Department of National Heritage is committed to putting proposals to the Department of the Environment in the slimmer on the options for externalising library services.

The issues to be addressed in any form of externalisation are as follows:

1. Will the present service delivery be maintained as an integrated whole, or will certain elements be identified and externalised separately? This could leave different elements of the service to be delivered by different organisations.

2 . If the service delivery is by an external organisation, how will there be feedback from the users of the service to the library authority which remains responsible for the provision of the service in law?

3. Any division between client and contractor will have to clearly state in a specification what the library authority requires, and how it is to measure the performance of any external provider.

4 . Consideration will need to be given as to how the service would respond to developments and new ideas, and how the democratic oversight of the service would operate in this environment.

Summary

The proposals relating to libraries in this field are very much in line with those the Government envisages for the delivery of much of local government. Members' initial views and comments would be welcome on these issues, although definitive comments should perhaps await the completion of the feasibility study which is at present being undertaken.

C EARL

COUNTY LIBRARIAN & ARTS OFFICER

At the request of the Chairman of the Working Group on the Future of the Public Library Service,-, the information given below is an indication of the order of costs likely to be incurred if the present service were split up and the new authorities were to provide the same level of service as currently operates across the whole county.

Two possible options are looked at: Option 1 which would provide two unitary authorities within Dorset, and Option 3 which would provide four unitary authorities.

Option 1 - Two Unitary Authorities

One unitary authority would need to acquire administrative headquarters to operate the service, process the books and stock, at a cost of about £200,000. One authority would need to purchase a computer system and hardware to operate the book control and cataloguing system. The cost of acquiring such a system could be of the order - together with hardware - of £500,000. Each authority would need to replicate the special collections, which could not be divided up and have been left with the other authority. The cost of this could be of the order of £100,000 initially plus additional running costs. The present integrated service has a significant number of specialist titles available in one copy only, and if the same level of service was to be provided something like £100,000 a year extra on books would need to be provided to maintain this level. Joint operation of the service in some form or other would avoid almost all these costs.

Option 3 - Four Unitary Authorities

At least one authority would have no central library with the books and resources required to operate an effective service. Something like £4m. would be required to provide this. Three unitary authorities would need to provide administrative headquarters, the cost of which will vary but could be of the order of £200,000. In addition, three authorities would need to replicate the computer system at an estimated cost of £500,000. In addition, the special collections would be even more of a problem, as one unitary authority would be left with none at all, and the special collections would be divided between the other three, leaving all authorities having to replace those special collections needed for their service if they are to replicate the present level of service. The cost for each would vary, but would be significant. Additional transport would need to be provided for at least some of the new authorities, which would cost an additional £20,000. In addition, maintaining the present range of titles available in the current County in each authority would cost an additional estimated £100,000 per annum. Joint operation of the service in some form or other would avoid almost all these costs.

C EARL

COUNTY LIBRARIAN & ARTS OFFICER

February 1994