Corporate report

Minutes of the seventh meeting of the Leadership for Libraries Taskforce

Published 24 March 2016

This was published under the 2015 to 2016 Cameron Conservative government

Meeting date: Thursday 10 March 2016: 9.30-12.30

Meeting location: Northamptonshire Central Library, Abington Street, Northampton, NN1 2BA

0.1 Attendees

• Dr Paul Blantern (Chair) – Chief Executive: Northamptonshire County Council
• Kathy Settle – Chief Executive: Libraries Taskforce
• Brian Ashley – Director, Libraries: Arts Council England (ACE)
• Rebecca Cox – Principal Policy Adviser: Local Government Association (LGA)
• Ciara Eastell – President: Society of Chief Librarians (SCL)
• Jane Ellison – Head of Creative Partnerships: BBC
• Felix Greaves – Deputy Director of Science: Public Health England
• Roly Keating – Chief Executive: British Library
• Nick Poole – Chief Executive: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
• Simon Richardson – Head of Libraries: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Iain Varah – Chief Executive: Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure and Immediate Past Chair: Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association
• Sue Wilkinson – Chief Executive: The Reading Agency
• Julia Chandler – Communications Lead: Libraries Taskforce
• Sharon Kirkpatrick – Libraries Taskforce Secondee: Dorset
• Charlotte Lane – Programme and Project Manager: Libraries Taskforce
• Foluke Oshin – Libraries Taskforce
• Darren Smart – Libraries Taskforce Secondee: West Sussex
• Anna Wadsworth – Secretariat: Libraries Taskforce
• Sue Wills – Libraries Taskforce Secondee: Poole
• Liz White – Head of Strategy Development: British Library
• Sheila Bennett – Policy and Secretariat Manager: Libraries Taskforce (from 4 April)

0.2 Apologies

• Laura Caton – Senior Adviser: LGA
• Mike Cooke – Chief Executive: London Borough of Camden
• Dominic Lake – Deputy Director of Arts, Libraries & Cultural Property: DCMS
• Pat Ritchie – Chief Executive: Newcastle upon Tyne City Council

0.3 Reminder of Taskforce priorities for 2015/16

Priorities for the Libraries Taskforce for 2015/16 are:

• digital enablement – including the provision of universal WiFi access, e-lending, digital shared network and quality content
• libraries adding value – making stronger, strategic links between libraries and other policies such as health and wellbeing and business and economic growth
• best practice – helping local authorities and library services through sharing and linking to existing/new best practice. Building sustainable long-term models for libraries/community hubs
• workforce development – building the skills needed to help the library workforce deliver these priorities and to take on new roles as part of wider service provision
• communications – promoting the value of libraries, highlighting innovation and good ideas

1. Introduction

Minutes of the 6th Taskforce (21 January 2016) meeting were published on 5 February. All actions have been or are in the process of being completed.

The chief executive provided an update on the staffing of the Taskforce team.

Anna Wadsworth (secretariat) is returning to the Department for Communities and Local Government at the end of March 2016 when her loan concludes. The Taskforce expressed their thanks to Anna for her work for the Taskforce and in supporting the Independent Library Report for England prior to this.

Sheila Bennett will be taking on the role of policy and secretariat manager from 4 April on loan from Cabinet Office. The communications lead (Julia Chandler) and programme and project manager (Charlotte Lane) posts have been extended now funding for future years has been confirmed.

The chief executive also provided an update on recent meetings with / briefing requests for government departments:

• Nick Gibb - Department for Education
• Lord Freud - Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• Jane Ellison - Department of Health
• No 10

There was a recognition of the value and importance of these meetings/ briefings in helping to highlight the value of public libraries.

2. Dashboard and roadmap

The dashboard and updated roadmap set out the key developments for the Taskforce since the last meeting.

Discussion points were raised by:

• the programme and project manager who will be populating the dashboard and roadmap for 2016/17 and will circulate for updates
• the British Library who gave an update on the Living Knowledge Network
• DCMS who provided an update on the Culture White Paper and WiFi rollout

ACTIONS:

• programme and project manager to circulate the 2016/17 dashboard and roadmap for comment / input
• All to ensure dashboard and roadmap is kept up to date

3. Communications

The communications lead provided an update on Taskforce communications including an evaluation of National Libraries Day activity and the consideration of a communications sub-group to focus on future national events.

Discussion points included the:

• positive feedback on the impact of the National Libraries Day activity
• need to consider how future golden moments can connect with other national events (eg Children in Need), reflecting on the contribution of libraries to those events
• agreement to the creation of a dedicated Taskforce Communication Sub-group to co-ordinate communications activity across the sector which will report to the Taskforce at each meeting

ACTIONS:

• Communications Sub-Group to be set up and the terms of reference to be finalised at their first meeting
• all to make the communications lead aware of events / announcements

4. Community run libraries toolkit

This covered the Taskforce’s second guidance/ good practice package being developed for local authorities when working with volunteers and community-led libraries. It also included advice for those communities who are thinking of taking on the running of a library.

The toolkit highlights that the Taskforce does not endorse community-run libraries but recognises that some local authorities are, for various reasons, considering moving some libraries into community management - and some already have done so. If this happens, the Taskforce want to ensure that all parties involved make informed decisions; understanding the pros and cons and learning from others who have gone before, so that a high quality service is provided to local people.

Discussion points were that the toolkit:

• needs to reflect what has and hasn’t worked in the past
• set out benefits to the community and individuals (skills development)
• draw on experience from other cultural organisations (eg museums)
• include transition periods and timelines involved in the process
• clarifies how or whether community libraries can join in national projects, eg Summer Reading Challenge, Public Lending Right
• highlights what local authorities can do to support a smooth transition, eg ensuring timely involvement of legal, HR, etc

The intention is to publish the toolkit as beta version by 23 March.

ACTION: all to provide any further detailed comments which will be incorporated with the Toolkit shared as final version by 21 March

5. Local government funding and implications for library services

The paper set out the latest overview of local government funding and the implications for library services. It highlighted the strategic view of local government plans for libraries in the context of their overall budget plans for this parliament. It also included desktop information gathered by DCMS from various library authorities on current and future plans/ consultations.

ACTIONS:

• secretariat to include an update of DCMS’ desktop research at every Taskforce meeting
• all to update DCMS with information on changes to library authorities / libraries

6. Ambition for Public Libraries in England

This provided an update on the development of the draft document and consultation process.

Discussion points included:

• a formal thanks to Nick Poole, Mark Taylor and the team at CILIP for helping with the editing of, and illustrations for, the Ambition document
• agreement on launching the consultation on 23 March until early June
• Taskforce Priorities for 2016/17 onwards will flow from the finalised Ambition document and will be formally agreed at the 9th Taskforce meeting (20 July), until then, the current priorities apply

ACTIONS:

• all to provide any further feedback on the draft content and consultation questions by 14 March
• secretariat to recirculate the final draft to Taskforce members for sign-off by 16 March

7. Arts Council England: investing in libraries

This paper provided the context for discussion regarding the investment plans by ACE in support of library development. The discussion provided an opportunity for Taskforce members to feedback on ACE proposals for the investment cycle 2018-2021/2 as part of a wider engagement exercise being conducted up to 24 March.

The Taskforce noted the proposed approach to investment in 2016/18 and will provide comments on the feedback questions for the 2018-2021/2 cycle.

Discussion points:

• celebration of creative talent welcomed
• reflect language in Ambition
• libraries need to develop their skills in bidding for ACE programmes

Action: all to provide feedback and comments to ACE by 24 March

8. Secondee evaluation

This covered an evaluation of the Taskforce secondee programme.

Discussion points were:

• a note of thanks to the secondees
• how their expertise and knowledge has made a significant and positive contribution to both Taskforce work and that of key partners
• the importance of keeping secondee support to inform the work of the Taskforce and delivery of the Ambition actions

The secondees explained / described the positive impact of the secondment for them and their authority.

ACTIONS:

• agreement to extend the secondee programme providing funding can be secured
• Taskforce team to secure funding for secondees

9. Six month progress report

This covered the second 6 month progress report, covering the period 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016. The draft report highlighted the successes and continuing actions for the Taskforce, both for individual members and as a collective.

ACTIONS:

• all to provide amendments, additions and comments on the report
• agreement to the publication of the 6 month progress report following submission to the Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy and the Chair of the LGA Culture, Tourism and Sport Board

10. A.O.B

There has been an increase in refugees being directed to libraries as a place for help and support. SCL issued a statement on this in September 2015. The Taskforce will consider further joint communications to help raise awareness of the help libraries can provide.

Devon’s library mutual ‘Libraries Unlimited’ goes live from April 2016.

Ciara Eastell will be stepping down as SCL President in June and Neil MacInnes will be taking on the role, including representing SCL at future Taskforce meetings.

Discussion of DWP’s announcement that they were considering placing job coaches in schools, social care settings, libraries, and housing schemes. The chief executive will discuss at future meetings with DWP.

10.1 Summary of key messages from 7th meeting:

The Taskforce:

• welcomed an update from the British Library on the Living Knowledge Network
• agreed to the:
  • publication and launch of the Ambition for Public Libraries in England document for consultation from 23 March
  • publication of the beta version of the guidance/ good practice toolkit for local authorities when working with volunteers and community-led libraries, as well as advice for those communities who are thinking of taking on the running of a library
  • creation of a Communications Sub-Group
  • extension of the secondee programme
  • publication of the second 6 month progress report following submission to the Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy and the Chair of the LGA Culture, Tourism and Sport Board
• Noted:
  • the useful meetings with other government departments including numerous discussions with No 10 about the PM’s Life Chances agenda and how libraries supported this
• that during the discussion on the Ambition document, the Taskforce considered the evidence based sources and how they fed into the draft Ambition
• the proposed approach by ACE to investment in 2016/18 and beyond

Regarding community libraries, the Taskforce does not endorse these but recognises that some local authorities are, for various reasons, considering heading down this route - and some already have done so. If that path is taken, we want to ensure that all parties involved make informed decisions: understanding the pros and cons and learning from others who have gone before, so that a high quality service is provided to local people.

The Taskforce thanked:

• the members for their support for National Libraries Day
• the secondees for their work to support the Taskforce
• Nick Poole and Mark Taylor (CILIP) for their input to the production of the Ambition draft
• Anna Wadsworth for providing the role of the secretariat for the last year and noted that Sheila Bennett will be taking on this role from early April
• the Central Library team from Northampton for hosting the event
• Janet Doran, Managing Director of First for Wellbeing CIC, for her presentation on the role of Northamptonshire’s LibraryPlus libraries in the wellbeing and health prevention agenda