Agenda item

Members of the Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Director of Communities that provided an update on Oldham Council Libraries’ Performance, highlighting capital and revenue programmes.

The Scrutiny Board was informed that between April 2021 and July 2022 Heritage, Libraries and Arts (HLA) had become an integrated service. This was undertaken to ensure the service could meet required budgetary savings and become a more agile organisation, meeting the needs of its diverse service users.  The total recurring savings achieved amounted to £250k.

The HLA service was therefore an integrated team that combined the offer of the following services:

·         Gallery Oldham

·         Oldham Libraries

·         Oldham Local Studies and Archives

·         Oldham Theatre Workshop

The declared mission was to make a positive difference to people’s lives by connecting them to high-quality information and creative experiences. The integrated team have worked together to develop a new HLA Strategy.

It was reported that the service was gradually getting back to ‘pre-pandemic’ levels which was in line with regional and national trends.  Oldham, after Manchester, had the highest visitor footfall in Greater Manchester. However, it was noted that Royton library had been operating from a temporary site offering limited service, which affects total visitor footfall.

Flexible and resident focused, libraires had adapted to support and deliver services as needs arise, including being at the forefront in responding to the Cost-of-Living Crisis by providing warm, safe spaces and signposting residents to essential services, and more recently delivering the Housing Support Offer from Oldham Library, working closely with housing and doorstep engagement teams. Oldham Libraires were also an integral part of the Family Hub offer, working closely with Children Services to ensure families have access to a range of services across the 0-19 offer. Also, to try and tackle the high levels of digital exclusion, Oldham Libraries are playing a critical leading role in supporting residents to gain digital access, skills and knowledge. For example, libraries supported residents to complete the 2021 Online Census and have developed the digital device lending scheme.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, libraries were recognised by central government as being essential service and remained open during lockdown to offer access to essential PC use and click and collect book service, supporting digital inclusion and mental wellbeing.  In addition, libraries played a critical role in supporting the covid response, from being used as community testing centres, distributors of lateral flow tests, working with partner agencies to deliver covid emergency response services and an anchor site for the community engagement teams.

All library staff were part of the first phase of training to support new ways of working. The Council’s management have facilitated training sessions to support cultural change. This builds on work we are already undertaking with key partners to deliver services from Oldham Libraries including health and community partners.

Members of the Scrutiny Board considered the report in some detail seeking clarification on several issues noting the large amount of volunteering and work-experience opportunities that existed in the Borough’s libraries and the prevalence of accessible ICT facilities including ready access to the internet. Members also noted how libraries had developed from being in years gone by, a book lending service to being now such a central and integral community service that reaches out to so many sectors and groups within the Borough.

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Resolved:

1.    That the report be noted and welcomed.

2.    That officers from the Council’s Library Service be invited to attend the Scrutiny Board in approximately 12 months to update members on their activities and progress against achieving their key objectives.