Library Opening Hours (and other things) Consultation

[Adrian Essex]

The text pasted in below is the essence of a questionnaire attached to the bottom of the http://www.haringey.gov.uk/data/libraries page. I have attached the first five questions only - the remaining 6 relate to monitoring.

The closing date for responses is 12^th April 2011

 

The complete document is attached, should you wish to download it, complete it and return it.

Haringey Libraries Sunday Opening Hours Survey

As the libraries budget is being reduced, we will have fewer staff to work in our libraries at weekends and less money to spend on library stock.

 

At present, we are proposing to close Hornsey, Marcus Garvey and Alexandra Park libraries on Sundays and would like to know whether this will have an impact on your ability to access libraries in the Borough. Wood Green Central Library will continue to open on Sundays.

 

We would also like to find out what you use libraries for and the type of items you like to borrow.

 

The questionnaire is available at all libraries and on the Libraries website. The closing date for responses is 12^th April 2011.

Please tick the appropriate box.

 

1. Do you use any of the following libraries on Sundays?

Wood Green

Hornsey

Marcus Garvey

Alexandra Park

I don’t use libraries on Sundays

2. If only Wood Green Library remains open on Sundays, what impact will this have on your library use?

 

I will travel to Wood Green to use the library

 I will use the service on another day

  I will no longer be able to use the library service

3. If you will no longer be able to use the service is this because of

Your work schedule

 Cultural reasons

 Personal preference

4. What are your main reasons for using libraries on Sundays? Please tick no more

than three.

Borrowing/returning books

Borrowing/returning CDs

Borrowing/returning DVDs/Blu-Ray

Studying

Reading newspapers/periodicals

Using the People’s Network public PCs

Using the Wi-fi network with your own laptop

Finding something out

Attending an event/exhibition

Other (please state) ……………………………….

5. How often do you use any of the following library materials?

                                                     Regularly Occasionally Never

 

 

Adult books

Music CDs’

DVDs/Blu-Ray

Children’s books

Newspapers

 

Magazines

Online resources

E - Books

Talking Books

Community language books

Community language newspapers/magazines

Any other comments

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

[Ivan O'Pinion]

Well isn't that just typical? I've been on the LBH website and there is no hint of a consultation in the consultation finder (area of interest = libraries, status = current). I was in the library last week and noticed nothing of this. This one is definitely under the radar, well in breach of the of the consultation charter and barely noticeable. The "discreet" way this is being run and the surreptitious inclusion of lots of stuff besides opening hours (why and how do you use a library) points to a hidden agenda. I think thisearlier contribution may have been onto something in suspecting that libraries are about to change beyond recognition

[Maddy Paxman]

It's on the libraries page, but I've tried to fill it in online, but I can't get it to work.

[Adrian Essex]

There does not seem to be an online ooption, so either print and return to the library or email the completed form to [e-mail]

[Adrian Essex]

In this month's Haringey People (p9) Claire Kober writes about libraries. I have pasted in her text at the bottom of this entry. The picture she paints conjures up a nightmare vision of tax collectors wringing payments out of the impoverished, while their children run riot, their grandparents slurp soup, and queues form to enrol in this, that or the other or seek advice on any subject under the sun. Something for everyone indeed, except the quietly reflective reader of books. A cross between the Tower of Babel and Starbucks. 

 

Council Leader Claire Kober explains how the council is bucking the trend and looking to expand the role of libraries
We’ve come a long way since the days when libraries were seen only as places for quiet reflection and checking out the latest best-sellers.

These days Haringey’s nine libraries are abuzz with all sorts of activities – and do much more than the traditional lending of books, important though this is. 

‘Something for everyone’ may be a well-worn phrase – but it really does apply to what’s on offer.

They are places where people can meet up for everything from playing with their children – to reminiscing with friends, health checks and much, much more.

Now we are planning to offer even more by transforming the buildings into community hubs for access to an even greater range of council services.

Among possibilities being considered are:„

• Having customer care staff based in libraries – offering advice, help and support for all council services„
• Expanding drop-in sessions, and lunch clubs, for older people„
• Offering advice to families that is currently available at children’s centres„
• Providing facilities for people to pay council bills.

In addition to all of this, we will also continue to offer free internet access - which is important in a borough where one in five  residents can’t get on the web at home - along with running adult learning courses for people needing help with their English or other basic skills needed to get qualifications.

In short, our libraries already play an essential role in the life of the borough – and are about to buck the trend of closures in other areas by building on this contribution and offering even more for local residents.

Far from bearing the brunt of government-imposed spending cuts, as seems to be happening elsewhere, we want to see libraries expand their roles as the lifeblood of many local communities

[Adrian Essex]

Using the haringey.gov.uk customer complaints e-form I have submitted the following request:

There was a consultation on Sunday Opening hours in libraries which finished on April 12th. I cannot find this consultation in the consultation finder, neither the closed consultation nor the results. Please can you tell me either the results or where to look.

[Harringay Online]

The consultation was run by the Library Service rather than the engagement team so it won't be listed. I imagine if you drop Head of Libraries, Diana Edmonds, an email she'll make sure you get an answer to your question.

[Adrian Essex]

The form I used is loaded with parameters to link it to libraries, and it appears as a link on the libraries page of LBH website. I'd be disappointed if it did not work. If it does not I will follow your tip, thank you.

Haringey as a borough, has a consultation charter, and,  as HoL has identified, a specialist engagement team. Was this consultation a special case, I wonder. Perhaps Ivan's anger, higher up the page, is not entirely misplaced.