A report on the subject was recently discussed at a meeting of the leadership board.
The changing shape of library provision has been discussed(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Renfrewshire Council will look to adapt its library model as it strives to modernise services, increase impact and cut costs.
An exercise has examined current provision through the existing 12 library facilities as well as the home delivery and schools’ library services.
This has involved analysis of the finances of each aspect of the service, the level of usage and measurable “outputs” from each location.
That’s according to a report to a meeting of the leadership board, which confirmed officers from the council and OneRen are working on the model.
It explained: “It is clear from the data gathered to date that library provision has developed considerably in the last 25 years, in response to the changing requirements of local citizens and communities, but also in response to factors such as Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
“This can be evidenced through footfall data which indicates a significant number of visits take place in relation to social connection or cultural opportunities or to access digital facilities and support, in addition to book lending itself.”
The report said performance measures in Renfrewshire currently focus on outputs such as book lending and opening hours, rather than how libraries can support wellbeing and learning.
It added: “To address these changed demands and expectations the library delivery model has developed to provide a focus beyond the traditional library model reflecting the practices being observed and the data collated as part of this review.
“The aim is to modernise services and increase impact while reducing cost.”
Councillor Graeme Clark, a Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said at the meeting: “I have five grandchildren who use the library and, as a lover of books, libraries are great providers of books … but they also have a community function.
“Children go in and they have play areas and other activities, there are knitting groups and all sorts of things in our libraries, so I’m just asking that when the reform of the library model is worked out that there’s good community participation in that reform and that it’s not just books that are taken into consideration or library loans but also the community function of each library.”
Council chief executive Alan Russell responded: “Libraries are so much more than just books. They already fulfil those functions and you touched on many of them yourself, Councillor Clark.
“The review moving forward is about how do we ensure that our library service, rather than the library building, meets that developing demand for what a library is within our communities?
“It’s about the focus on the library service that is provided and what that provides within our communities and also, as we move forward, where best is that provided from.
“I think if you move forward in the years to come – across not just Renfrewshire but across communities the length and breadth of the country – libraries will be co-located next to a number of different services and they will provide a range of community services and resources that are focused around about books, because that’s a key part of a library, but they’re so much more than that.
“I think that’s increasingly recognised and it’s why they’re a key part of our communities.”
