Norfolk County Council Mobile Library Consultation 22 July – 14 September
The Mobile Library Service (route DER 502 ) visits Clenchwarton only once a month. But NCC now wants to cut the service budget by half and reduce the number of routes to save money. Please have your say to the consultation launched today. The Mobile Library service is a lifeline for residents who can’t get out. If you know anyone who relies on the service, please share this with them – Cllr Alexandra Kemp
NCC continues to face higher costs and demand for services and, this was the case even before the recent rise in inflation. Initial proposals to save £13 million as part of a £60 million target for next year were considered on 4th July. One of those savings proposals is to reduce the budget for the mobile library service by £200,000 – this is nearly half of the existing budget of £422,000. To make this saving NCC wants to find ways to run the mobile library service in a different way and potentially reduce the number of routes.
The consultation started today on 22nd July and ends on 14th September.
Background information about the mobile library service
NCC currently runs six mobile libraries that visit more than 500 locations in Norfolk every four weeks. Last year, between April 2021 and March 2022, partly whilst we were still coming out of lockdown, there were 41,000 visits and some 145,000 books borrowed from our mobile libraries. Our vehicles stop outside a variety of places within local communities, these range from playgroups, schools, care homes and traveller sites as well as locations where there is high footfall such as parish halls, pubs and supermarkets. There are currently 1,304 stops and time spent at each stop ranges from 10-15 minutes for most places to around one hour or more in others – the current delivery model is based on agreed principles and adjusted to local need.
Mobile libraries currently offer:
– Books, DVDs and audio books for loan and return
– A place to collect reservations or return items to the wider library service
– General information, advice and signposting to other services
– Help to access online magazines, newspapers, eBooks and eAudio
This summer there are two new replacement vehicles arriving which were commissioned from April 2021 to ensure operational continuity: they will replace two older vehicles that are at end of useful life. These new vehicles have an extended offer and will be equipped to provide public WiFi, internet access via onboard computers and an area for children’s books and seating. Plans are also in place to loan digital devices as part of our Digital Inclusion Strategy. We currently have a Transit van fitted out with shelves which helps us deliver some of our services and this is due to be replaced by an Electric Vehicle in 2023, supported by funding from the Arts Council England.
A list of the current routes can be found at www.norfolk.gov.uk/mobilelibraries
Access the consultation online here
Or write to Freepost Plus RTCLXSTT-JZSK Norfolk County Council, Ground floor – south wing, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DH.
Your can request the budget consultation in paper form, Easy Read, Braille or audio by calling 0844 800 8020
Or email HaveYourSay@norfolk.gov.uk
How will NCC analyse and report the consultation findings?
The stakeholder and consultation team will analyse and then summarise feedback and the findings will be reviewed at Cabinet on 7th November.