Any ideas for a better way to run Haverhill library?
Tuesday, 18th January 2011.
Anyone with an idea for a cheap way to run Haverhill Library is being asked to put it forward.
All Suffolk communities are invited to have their say on the future of the county’s libraries with the launch of a new consultation today which seeks innovative approaches to running the library service of the future.
The consultation begins today and will end on Saturday 30 April 2011, and encourages community and voluntary groups, businesses, local councils and individuals across Suffolk to have their say about running their local library differently and at reduced cost to the council.
As a result of reductions in the county council’s funding, the library service will need to cost Suffolk County Council at least 30 per cent less to deliver within three years.
As part of the New Strategic Direction (NSD), which is being developed to help protect services throughout the current financial climate, the county council is looking for new, innovative ways of running Suffolk’s libraries.
Cllr Judy Terry, the council's cabinet lead for libraries consultation, said: “We have an excellent library service in Suffolk. Despite the cutbacks we are facing, I want it to stay that way.
"For that to happen, we need to look for new ways of delivering the service. That’s why it is so important that Suffolk’s communities respond to this consultation and tell us how we can do things differently and maximise the many benefits of Suffolk’s libraries, while reducing the cost to the council of running the service.
"The reality of the current financial climate means that we have no choice but to reduce funding to libraries by at least 30 per cent over three years.
"Should responses to the consultation prove disappointing, it is imperative that we make the necessary savings, meaning that we may have to close 29 libraries.
"Therefore, I would urge people who are passionate about their library to use this opportunity to come forward and give us their ideas about how we can fund a more efficient service with the reduced resources that we have available.”
This first phase of the consultation will focus on inviting innovative ideas for running library services differently. All ideas will be reviewed, and the next phase will involve formal invitations to express interest.
Shona Bendix, chief executive of Suffolk Association of Local Councils, said: “It is important that every solution is explored for ensuring a library service matching community wishes exists into the future.
"Because town and parish councils are accountable bodies embedded within communities, they are well-placed to support intelligent delivery of services to the community and will be concerned about potential loss of services valued by residents.
"We are working with Suffolk County Council and town and parish councils, including through holding specialist technical events on taking on services divested or stopped by the county council.
"In the context of the county council’s continuing New Strategic Direction, it is essential that we look at all the options for sustainable and worthwhile service solutions.”
People can have their say by reading the full consultation document Have your say on the future of Suffolk’s libraries and completing the questionnaire at www.suffolk.gov.uk/librariesconsultation2011 or by request at any of Suffolk’s 44 libraries or six mobile libraries.
All Suffolk communities are invited to have their say on the future of the county’s libraries with the launch of a new consultation today which seeks innovative approaches to running the library service of the future.
The consultation begins today and will end on Saturday 30 April 2011, and encourages community and voluntary groups, businesses, local councils and individuals across Suffolk to have their say about running their local library differently and at reduced cost to the council.
As a result of reductions in the county council’s funding, the library service will need to cost Suffolk County Council at least 30 per cent less to deliver within three years.
As part of the New Strategic Direction (NSD), which is being developed to help protect services throughout the current financial climate, the county council is looking for new, innovative ways of running Suffolk’s libraries.
Cllr Judy Terry, the council's cabinet lead for libraries consultation, said: “We have an excellent library service in Suffolk. Despite the cutbacks we are facing, I want it to stay that way.
"For that to happen, we need to look for new ways of delivering the service. That’s why it is so important that Suffolk’s communities respond to this consultation and tell us how we can do things differently and maximise the many benefits of Suffolk’s libraries, while reducing the cost to the council of running the service.
"The reality of the current financial climate means that we have no choice but to reduce funding to libraries by at least 30 per cent over three years.
"Should responses to the consultation prove disappointing, it is imperative that we make the necessary savings, meaning that we may have to close 29 libraries.
"Therefore, I would urge people who are passionate about their library to use this opportunity to come forward and give us their ideas about how we can fund a more efficient service with the reduced resources that we have available.”
This first phase of the consultation will focus on inviting innovative ideas for running library services differently. All ideas will be reviewed, and the next phase will involve formal invitations to express interest.
Shona Bendix, chief executive of Suffolk Association of Local Councils, said: “It is important that every solution is explored for ensuring a library service matching community wishes exists into the future.
"Because town and parish councils are accountable bodies embedded within communities, they are well-placed to support intelligent delivery of services to the community and will be concerned about potential loss of services valued by residents.
"We are working with Suffolk County Council and town and parish councils, including through holding specialist technical events on taking on services divested or stopped by the county council.
"In the context of the county council’s continuing New Strategic Direction, it is essential that we look at all the options for sustainable and worthwhile service solutions.”
People can have their say by reading the full consultation document Have your say on the future of Suffolk’s libraries and completing the questionnaire at www.suffolk.gov.uk/librariesconsultation2011 or by request at any of Suffolk’s 44 libraries or six mobile libraries.
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