HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Agenda Item No.
CULTURE CABINET PANEL
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH AT 2.00PM
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LIBRARIES, CULTURE AND LEARNING RESPONSE TO THE EFFECTS
OF THE RECESSION AND THE CREDIT CRUNCH
Report of the Director of Children, Schools and Families
Author: Glenda Wood
Tel: 01707 281584
Executive Member: Keith Emsall
1.
Purpose of report
To respond to the request from the Policy and Resources Committee
to outline how the Hertfordshire libraries and Hertfordshire Adult and
Family Learning Service (HAFLS) can respond to changing needs
resulting from the recession and the credit crunch
2.
Summary
This report outlines
 How core library services are already meeting changing customer
needs.
 Opportunities for developing and targeting library services
 How HAFLS is developing and targeting its services to meet
changing customer demand.
3.
Recommendations
The Panel are asked to note existing service provision and invited
comment on the opportunities for further development
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4.
Background
4.1
Year on year increase in visits and issues Oct - Dec 2008
The positive impact from the increase in opening hours introduced in
March 2007 is still being felt. Third quarter use of libraries for 2008-9
shows a year on year increase of + 4.3% (issues) and + 3.2% (visits).
National Year of Reading activities (promotion and reader
development) also appear to have had a positive impact on use.
4.2
Libraries universal offer
Public libraries are a statutory service delivered in Hertfordshire
through a network of 46 community libraries and 13 mobile vehicles
with extensive opening hours. These libraries are supported by the
Central Resources Library (CRL) and Local Government Information
Service (LoGIS). Membership is free and provides access to:



Over 1.4 million items for adults and children: not just books
but DVDs, CDs, magazines, books on tape and CD,
community language material and language courses
514 internet PCs
A wide range of subscription websites via the Online
Reference library (ORLib)
ICT based taster sessions (2000+ sessions delivered in
2007-8)
4.3
Libraries are well known and well used by a large proportion of the
population. The 2008 Active People Survey found that over 51% of
adults aged over 16 in Hertfordshire had used a public library in the
last 12 months. Libraries have always offered free, authoritative, nonjudgemental information services and staff are trained and skilled in
helping people to find information and in signposting to other services.
This support has been widely recognised through an increase in
positive press and media coverage about libraries over the past few
months. The value of the library network to HCC is recognised in the
Hertfordshire Local concept, providing ‘walk-in’ access to HCC
information and services in all the major communities of the county.
4.4
National media recognition of the role of libraries
Recent months have seen significant references to the role that
libraries can play in beating the recession. Examples include:
Newspapers
Observer 18 Jan 2009: Home truth: how staying in is the new going out
'...another option is to join a local library for free. This gives you
access to movies, music and games’
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Television
BBC 1 ‘The One Show’ ran a feature on public libraries on Monday 9
February, prompting 130 comments to be posted on the One Show
blog. The vast majority of these were positive comments on the role
and value of libraries in a time of recession in providing free access to
books, newspapers, computers and online resources.
Internet
The ukfamily.co.uk website currently features an article entitled
‘How can families pull together to combat the credit crunch?’ UKfamily parenting writer Sally Watkin says... Use free facilities:
rediscover your local library (for books and computer access)
5.
Hertfordshire Libraries and the Recession
With the advent of the credit crunch we began to target our marketing
activity to people on a low income and to rework our marketing
materials to highlight the free services that the library service offers. A
new strapline “Read for Free” is being used on a many of our
promotional materials. Targeted marketing will also form a major plank
of our marketing activity in our 2009-10 plan.
6.
Libraries as community hubs
6.1
Libraries are local, free, neutral and informal public spaces in the heart
of Hertfordshire communities, and so provide convenient venues for a
wide range of community activities, many of which will provide valuable
support during the recession. For example:o West Herts College and North Herts College use library IT suites to
provide basic computer classes in 7 libraries.
o Work Solutions run regular sessions in Welwyn Garden City and
Hoddesdon libraries, aimed at getting lone parents and people on
Incapacity Benefit back into work.
o Youth Connexions run regular drop-in sessions at Bishops Stortford
Library offering young people information, advice and guidance
about learning and work.
6.2
The South Oxhey Community Library Project, financed by the Big
Lottery Fund will remodel and expand Oxhey Library to provide
additional space for community activities. When the new library opens
in September 2009, it will provide a venue for ICT classes, literacy and
numeracy classes, a homework club, debt counselling and advice
sessions, a Youth Connexions drop-in, and a job club organised by the
local voluntary organisation ASCEND.
7.
Hertfordshire Local and access to information
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7.1
During the course of 2009, the Hertfordshire Local initiative will be
rolled out across the County, promoting libraries as local access points
for County Council information. Library staff are skilled in assisting
members of the public to find the information they need.
7.2
Libraries have long been regarded as sources of impartial and
authoritative information, and this reputation is particularly valuable
during the economic recession. In recent months we have produced
promotional flyers on the Credit Crunch (Appendix 1) and Information
for Job Seekers signposting people to recommended websites for job
searching and financial advice. The Credit Crunch flyer has proved
particularly popular and has now been reprinted. It will also be
featured on the hertsdirect.org website and in press releases during
February
7.3
The Online Reference Library (ORLib) offers Hertfordshire Library
members free access to a range of subscription websites, including
encyclopaedias, dictionaries, directories, newspaper articles etc. Most
of these resources are available in all Hertfordshire libraries and
remotely via the hertsdirect.org website. Titles of particular relevance
during the recession are:


7.4
COBRA (Complete Business Reference Advisor) offers help
with starting your own business and information about
specific jobs e.g. child minder or window cleaner.
EISODOS – Information on living, working and studying in
the UK for refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers.
Available in all libraries.
EXODUS – Information on international careers including
gap years, studying, working, volunteering and living in
countries worldwide.
The Business Information Point at the Central Resources Library offers
free access to a wide range of company information, financial
information, market research, statistics and other information aimed at
small and medium sized enterprises and business start-ups. The
individual case studies included in Appendix 2 demonstrate how this
work can change people’s lives
8.
The People’s Network
8.1
Public access to computers provided through the People’s Network
ensures that all Hertfordshire Citizens have access to online services
and electronic information resources.
Library members are entitled to use People’s Network computers for
one hour each day free of charge. A charge of 4p per minute is made
for additional time, subject to availability. At present, there are no
exemptions or concessions on these charges, but representations
have been made for us to support jobseekers and people on low
incomes during the recession by exempting them from all People’s
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Network charges. Based on current usage, this could be achieved at
an estimated annual cost of £1750 by introducing an exemption for
people who have a ‘U’ status library card. However, there are some
problems with this approach:o It would not reach all jobseekers – only those in receipt of
benefits who qualify for U status.
o It would be certain to stimulate requests for similar concessions
for other groups, such as children and young people,
pensioners, carers and people with disabilities. Exempting all
these groups from charges would cost around £16,000 each
year.
8.2
A more radical gesture to ameliorate the effects of the recession would
be to remove People’s Network charges for all library members. This
would also fit in with the ethos of Hertfordshire Local, promoting
libraries as free access points for information, although any additional
time would still be subject to availability of computers. However it would
cost around £48,000 each year, which would have a significant impact
on the income target and the rest of the budget.
See Appendix 3 for a more detailed analysis of the impact of charging
for People’s Network computers.
9.
9.1
Support for ICT skills
Libraries offer free one-to-one taster sessions on basic computer skills,
funded by the Learning and Skills Council including:o
o
o
o
Getting started with computers
Internet searching
E-mail
Word processing
9.2
In the academic year 2007-08, 2327 taster sessions were delivered to
1426 individual learners. The majority of learners accessing these
courses have traditionally been older people, but we anticipate an
increased take-up by people needing to update their skills for work,
and will promote the taster sessions through Jobcentre plus in the
coming year.
9.3
We are developing a new taster course on ‘Job searching on the
Internet’. This will be ready in March for delivery from April onwards
and will be promoted through Jobcentre plus.
It may be possible to deliver additional job searching taster sessions in
the academic year 2009/10. It would cost around £12,500 to deliver an
additional 500 sessions, assuming no additional grant funding is
available.
10.
Support for reading and literacy
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10.1
The service offers particular support for those who are job seeking,
retraining, or involved in learning. We have special collections for
learning English, Skills for Life, and Work and Learning which we are
promoting to relevant target groups, in addition to the general support
offered via our non fiction stock and ICT facilities.
10.2
Over the last 3 years, Libraries have supported the BBC RaW (reading
and writing) campaign to support people in improving their literacy
skills. In February 2009, the RaW website will be relaunched as RaW
Skills and will promote a wider range of Skills for Life resources with
an initial focus on financial literacy. Libraries are seeking to work with
the Money Advice Unit to promote the campaign during Adult Learners
Week.
10.3 The service already supports around 320 reading groups providing
stock and reading advice, including groups specifically for emergent
readers. We have extended our reading group collections enabling
easy access to suitable titles that are available in multiple copies. We
are already seeing evidence of new groups who were previously used
to buying their books using the library service.
11.
Volunteers in Libraries
LCL already offers young people and adults opportunities to develop
new skills through volunteering. At a time of economic uncertainty,
those not in paid employment can enhance their skills set in
anticipation of a return to work through working with libraries. LCL
offers training to volunteers alongside permanent members of staff.
Volunteers are currently:
 Delivering books to the housebound through the Home Library
Service.
 Supporting the Summer Reading Challenge by talking to children in
libraries about their reading choices.
 Working with HALS staff on local history projects.
Volunteers will be involved in:
 Making Memories, the Community Archives Project.
 Out of Sight, Out of Mind? St Albans Mental Health Project.
 Youth Connexions Volunteer Placement Scheme – Watford.
V-involved Stock Purchase for Young People Project – Dacorum
12.
Concessions
The library service offers a package of exemptions and concessions on
fees and charges to anyone on a low income (Appendix 4). It includes
concessionary rates for overdue charges and hire fees on audio visual
material for groups such as pensioners and the unemployed. People
with disabilities are exempt from all charges except for the hire of
DVDs. Whilst it would be possible to extend the exemptions and
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concessions the service is under extreme pressure to meet its current
income target, and it is already likely that there will be a shortfall in this
area in this financial year. Extending the concessions would only serve
to further reduce income.
13.
Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service (HAFLS)
13.1 Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service (HAFLS) received
£2,930,570 from the LSC in 2008/09 for the delivery of adult and family
learning within Hertfordshire. In 2007/08 HAFLS delivered courses to
14161 learners across Hertfordshire. The service targets for 2008/09
are to engage 14,524 learners.
13.2 The mission of HAFLS is to encourage and develop enjoyable learning,
achievement and progression for adults in Hertfordshire and in
particular those who are most in need and/or have the least opportunity
to achieve formal and informal qualifications and access to a wide
range of affordable learning opportunities. The recent Ofsted report
commented that HAFLS had “a clear and very effective strategy for
meeting the needs of the most vulnerable communities across
Hertfordshire”.
13.3
Provision is largely delivered by partners including the 4 colleges, the
university, libraries, Herts Music Service and a growing number of
voluntary and community providers. Over 80% of family leaning is
directly delivered by the HAFLS family learning team.
14.
How HAFLS is responding to changing customer demands
14.1
The majority of HAFLS programmes are non-accredited courses for
widening participation and courses for personal development with
some more advanced programmes for skills updating. Courses are
offered in all subject areas, the most popular being ICT, Arts Media
and Design, Family Learning and Preparation for Life and Work
(Literacy, language and numeracy courses and personal development
courses such as confidence building and CV writing).
14.2
Provision delivered under the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived
Communities (NLDC) fund has a specific remit to deliver skills for jobs
and community development. Family Literacy, Language and
Numeracy (FLLN) courses support the development of skills, including
access to national qualifications, which increase learners’
employability and raise aspirations. This year 30 learners have already
taken qualifications with a further 60 planned before the end of March.
14.3
HAFLS has a fee policy that enables learners on low incomes to
receive concessions on courses and some provision such as that
delivered to disadvantaged groups to be delivered for free. All family
learning courses are delivered to learners free of charge.
14.4
All HAFLS learners have access to information how they can further
develop their skills. Many of HAFLS providers are also Information,
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Advice and Guidance (IAG) providers offering learners access to
support for progression opportunities and career advice.
14.5
In response to the current economic situation HAFLS Traveller
Provision has increased the number of commissioned accredited
provision including food hygiene and health and safety, qualifications
required by Travellers who run catering vans or units or seeking
employment as cleaners. There has also been an increase in demand
for ICT and Skills for Life courses (Literacy, language or numeracy) as
travellers recognise the need to gain higher qualification in a more
competitive employment market.
14.6
All family learning courses support parents to engage with low cost
activities to support their child’s learning such as making their own
education games. HAFLS Family Learning Team is currently piloting a
30 course hour called “Family Fun on a Budget” at a children’s centre
in Watford. The course aims to increase parents’ skills and knowledge
in dealing with financial issues, including planning a budgeting, debt
management and developing a positive life style on a budget. The
course also helps children to become aware of the value of money.
The course has proved very successful and it is hoped to develop
further courses next year.
14.7
The HAFLS Family Learning Team has recently linked with Work
Solutions. The team will refer appropriate learners to Work Solutions
who will support individual learners gain employment.
14.8
In response to an increasing interest in supporting learners to develop
financial literacy skills, HAFLS has distributed to providers a list of
useful websites that offer learners information and on-line learning
opportunities in developing their financial skills.
14.9
A new initiative developing Community Learning Champions is being
launched this month. The project aims to work with some of our
community providers to support learners to become “learning
champions” to engage and support potential learners in local
communities who may be reluctant to engage with learning. The
project offers volunteering opportunities for current learners enabling
them to develop new skills and obtain a qualification.
14.10 In a climate where there is increasing pressure on families to meet
financial hardship, HAFLS continues to attract those that are the most
disadvantaged or under-represented to their provision, helping people
to develop skills and confidence to enable them to compete in the
labour market.
15.
Summary of opportunities for further development

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Target marketing activity to people on a low income, and rework
library marketing materials to highlight the free services that the
library offers
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
Maximise the use of libraries as venues for learning providers and
other community agencies to deliver services locally, using the new
Oxhey library as a model. For example, Work Solutions, Shaw
Trust, and other agencies offering ‘Flexible Pathways to Work’
courses in libraries.

Promote library information resources on jobseeking, financial
advice and business information on the hertsdirect website and
through Jobcentre Plus and other community partners. Keep
publicity materials such as the Credit Crunch flyer up to date and
responsive to changing local needs.

Review charges and concessions for use of the people’s Network.

Provide additional ICT taster sessions for jobseekers in 2009/10 at
an approximate cost of £12,500 for 500 sessions.

Work with the Money Advice Unit to offer drop-in money
management sessions during Adult Learners Week – featuring
library resources and the BBC RaW Money website.

Promote opportunities for volunteers in Libraries Culture and
Learning projects to build community cohesion, develop skills, and
support employability.

Develop and roll out the ‘Family Fun on a Budget’ course through
the HAFLS Family Learning Team.

Develop Community Learning Champions to engage and support
potential learners who may be reluctant to to take up learning
opportunities.
Background Papers
None
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