COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF TERENURE/RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Tuesday, October 9th 2007

HEADED ITEM NO 6

LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2007 – 2011

CONTENTS

Library Mission Statement and Objectives
Background and Context
County Profile and Services
Consultation Process
Library Infrastructure

ICT

Access and Inclusion
Resources
Stock Policy and Readers Services
Local Studies
Children’s and Schools Services
Promotion
Customer Care
Culture

LIBRARY MISSION STATEMENT AND OBJECTIVES

The structure of any plan should be informed by the mission statement and objectives of that organisation.

South Dublin County Libraries being an important focal point at the heart of the local community aims to be pro-active and dynamic in addressing its various needs, particularly in the areas of information, culture and heritage, literature and lifelong learning.

South Dublin County Libraries inspires the spirit of exploration, the joy of reading, the pursuit of knowledge for all peoples of all ages and backgrounds. As cornerstones of their neighbourhood our libraries connect people to each other, their local authority and their greater community. The library service promotes and enriches the democratic, cultural, educational and economic life of this evolving and diverse area.

South Dublin County Libraries preserves and promotes universal access to a broad range of human knowledge, experience, information and ideas in a welcoming and supportive environment. New technologies extend access to global information beyond library walls. South Dublin County Libraries provide free and equitable access to public library services which meet the changing needs of a growing community

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

1.Local Government Act 2001

The Local Government Act of 2001 states that a library authority shall from time to time, adopt a programme for the operation and development of its library service.

Every library development programme prepared by a library authority shall include:

(a) an outline of the existing library services,
(b) the development objectives and priorities for the library service,
(c) the measures taken or proposed to be taken to secure those developments
objectives.
(d) the financial or other implications of the library development programme,

2. County Development Plan 2002 - 2012 - South Dublin: A Place for People

The County Strategy forms the framework for all the plans drawn up by its member agencies. The Libraries Department have an input into the main themes of the plan:

a) An Informed Place where the libraries contribute to the provision of information to the public
b) A Collaborative Place where the libraries actively engage in creating links with other agencies in the county.
c) A Place for Everyone and an Equitable Place where the libraries promote its service as a space for everyone
d) A Cultural Place where the libraries provide services and opportunities for all people regardless of their backgrounds
e) A Learning Place where the libraries cater for educational and development needs by a number of delivery methods of all citizens

3. South Dublin County Council Corporate Plan and Towards 2016

South Dublin County Council’s Corporate plan contains broad guidelines for the libraries service. The Libraries Development Plan adheres to and enhances each of these objectives. It draws on these documents to set in place a framework for a modern, dynamic and holistic library service for the citizens of the County. The lifecycle framework for policy development and delivery as outlined in Towards 2016 is one which South Dublin Libraries has always embraced. This five year plan will continue to develop improvements to service across the stages of Children, People of Working Age, Older People and People with disabilities.

The main objectives in the Corporate Plan that will inform the content of the sections of the Library Development Plan are:

ICT

ACCESS AND INCLUSION

STOCK POLICY AND READERS SERVICES

LOCAL STUDIES

PROMOTION

CULTURE AND IMAGINATION

ALL SECTIONS

This plan reflects the proposals contained in Towards 2016 regarding modernising of services, co-operating with community groups, measuring performance, Performance Management Development System (PMDS), customer care, partnership, health and safety, the national disability strategy and a continued expansion of ICT services.

The plan is also informed and builds on the recommendations and guidelines of national reports on the library system such as Branching Out and Joining Forces.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

The consultation process included submissions from the public following a series of notices in newspapers and on the library website. Focus groups were conducted throughout the county and a questionnaire was drawn up for library users to determine their opinions on service development.

Library staff have made suggestions for inclusion and the Library Partnership Group have over the last year been considering contributions to the Plan

COUNTY PROFILE AND LIBRARY SERVICE

South Dublin covers an area of 223 km sq. The population of the County stood at 246,935 in 2006, an increase of 8,100 (3.4%) over the previous 4 years. In South Dublin 29% of the population are 19 or younger.

The Libraries are part of the Community Department of South Dublin County Council

There are full-time libraries at Ballyroan, Castletymon, Clondalkin, Lucan and the County Library, Tallaght. Part-time libraries are at Whitechurch and in the grounds of Stewart’s Hospital. There are four mobile libraries, based at Library Headquarters, which visit the areas not serviced by a library building. South Dublin County Libraries operate a housebound service through out South Dublin County.

The Schools Library Service is centrally located in Tallaght and supplies library materials and offers an advisory service on reading and library provision to all primary schools in the County.

The administrative headquarters, providing support services to our branch library network, is located Tallaght.

LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE

The current library service consists of five full-time libraries and two part-time libraries.

This is not adequate for the size of the county. There are many areas that do not have easy access to a library building. An accessible, flexible and responsive library should exist at the heart of each community. Some of our existing branch libraries are constrained by their size and layout and this is impacting on the levels of activities ands services provided to customers. This plan addresses these issues and presents a blueprint for excellence in service development over the next five years. In all the projects the idea of flexibility will be upmost in the planning and design. It is essential that the library buildings can adapt to new uses in future years.

The image of the library service in many cases is portrayed by the exterior of the buildings. This plan will attempt to create a new fresh image that will encourage the public to enter the libraries and use the services.

ICT

South Dublin County Libraries are widely recognised as innovative and cutting edge in the application of new technologies to service development. The Library service was the first in Ireland to introduce e-books digital audio books from its website www.southdublinlibraries.ie . In recent years assistive technologies and improved software and hardware have been introduced. WiFi has been installed in all the branch libraries and the mobile libraries have been fully automated. The aim of the Libraries Services is to continue to be an innovator in ICT provision as laid out in the following actions.

ACCESS AND INCLUSION

Access and social inclusion are an integral part of “Connecting with Communities”, as outlined in the South Dublin County Council Corporate Plan 2004 – 2009. Measures to address poverty, exclusion and inequality are threaded throughout the plan.

South Dublin County Libraries aims to provide a welcome and inclusive space for all citizens of the County. Our Libraries should be places without barriers to usage. A place that presents no barriers to its usage. Significant improvements have been made in this area but more needs to be achieved. There is also a need to publicise the fact that the following services are currently available and to continue the promotion as new services are introduced.

Further initiatives within the life of this plan will be

RESOURCES

Human Resources

South Dublin County Libraries acknowledges that a quality library services can only delivered by enthusiastic, motivated and trained staff. The Library service currently employs one hundred and twenty staff. The knowledge, experience and expertise of staff is a critical element in advancing the vision of this plan and will be achieved by:

Financial Resources

While recognising that an excellent library service is dependant on trained and dedicated staff, a further crucial element is adequate financial resources to implement the Library Development Plan .The current budget for South Dublin County Libraries (2007) is €7.22 million. Funding of library services to the highest national and international standards will be achieved by:

Buildings and Infrastructure

The Library service, through its branch network is frequently the face of the local authority in the community, a focus for cultural and community events and in their own right are an effective marketing and promotional tool for the library service. South Dublin County Libraries will actively strive to provide quality premises by:

· progressing a library buildings programme

· maintenance of existing buildings to the highest possible standards of attractiveness, comfort and safety for our customers and staff.

· particular attention to requirements for standards of health and safety as specified in building and related legislation

· working within the terms and brief of the National Disability Strategy, as administered by South Dublin County Council, to ensure equality of access to our library buildings

STOCK POLICY AND READERS SERVICES

South Dublin County Libraries existing stock policy states

“The policy must ensure that the library community have access to a variety of materials in a variety of formats and to ensure that materials are available as speedily as possible”

South Dublin County Libraries are also aiming to fulfil the aims set out by both IFLA/UNESCO and CILIP

IFLA/UNESCO Public Library Manifesto states

“The services of the public library are provided on the basis of equality of access to all, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, nationality, language or social status.

All age groups must find material relevant to their needs. Collections and services have to include all types of appropriate media as well as traditional materials”

CILIP Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals declares

“The function of a library service is to provide, so far as resources allow, all books, periodicals etc, other than the trivial, in which readers claim legitimate interest.

The public are entitled to rely on libraries for access to information and enlightenment upon every field of human experience and activity. Those who provide library services should not restrict this access except by standards which are endorsed by law.

In the course of this plan the libraries specifically aim to carry out the following:

South Dublin Libraries are centres for learning and exploration for adults and children across the County. Libraries offer customers a safe place to explore the world of knowledge and information while stimulating discovery and research. Over the next five years South Dublin Libraries will strive to provide more effective learning opportunities to all citizens of the county through:

LOCAL STUDIES

Local Studies is increasingly being seen as a valuable part of the library service. South Dublin County Libraries have been building up a valuable collection in recent years. Many items have been digitized and the libraries have published, in partnership with local authors, in a number of new titles each year.. The actions in this plan aims to build on the work carried out in recent years:

The aim of local studies is to provide a professional service to users and to promote and develop programmes to promote national events such as Bealtaine and Heritage Week. Initiatives will take place in the areas of digitisation, collection development, publications and cross departmental cooperation. In the next five years we will aim to carry out the following:

CHILDREN’S AND SCHOOLS SERVICES

South Dublin County Libraries have invested much time and resources into creating a high standard of library provision for the children in the county. There are children’s sections in each of the branch libraries and on the mobile vans. An extensive development programme is delivered each year, which encourages and fosters reading and promotes greater use of library services. .

The national Childrens’ Book Festival, held each year in late October, includes competitions, events and author visits to engage and enthuse children. Science Week in November brings astronomy and animals among other exciting events to the library.

However there is always more that can be done and in the next five years the following will be advanced:

· Services for children in South Dublin County will be co-ordinated at branch level by suitably qualified and trained members of staff.

PROMOTION

The services available from South Dublin County Libraries need to be strategically marketed and promoted to both our customers and those who do not use the library service. The focus groups carried out during the summer of 2007 indicated that there was a lack of knowledge about what the libraries can and does deliver. South Dublin County Libraries currently publicises events on our website, in local newspapers, magazines, parish newsletters and other relevant publications. Libraries also do mail shot and monthly events mailing to customers

During the course of this plan there will be:

CUSTOMER CARE

The libraries adhere to the customer care charter of South Dublin County Council. This entails that in our dealings with the public we will undertake the following:

· Provide clean, accessible public libraries that comply with occupational and safety standards and, as part of this, facilitate access for people with disabilities and others with specific needs.

· Treat all our customers equally.

· Aim to identify and work to eliminate barriers to accessing services for people using those services.

· Take an active approach in providing information that is clear, timely and accurate, is available at all points of contact and meets the requirements of people with specific needs. Ensure that the potential offered by Information Technology is fully availed of.

· Continue the drive for easily understood forms, information leaflets and procedures.

· Deliver quality services with courtesy, sensitivity and minimum delay

· Give contact names in all communications to ensure ease of all ongoing transactions.

· Establish and maintain a well publicised, accessible, transparent and simple to use system of redress for customers who are dissatisfied with quality of services.

· Provide a structured approach to meaningful consultation with, and participation by, the customer in relation to the development, delivery and review of services. Ensure meaningful evaluation of service delivery.

· Use available and emerging technologies to ensure maximum access to choice of service delivery.

· Provide quality services through Irish and/or bilingually and inform customers of their rights to choose to be dealt with through one or other of the official languages.

· Foster a more co-ordinated and integrated approach to delivery of public services.

· Ensure staff are recognised as internal customers and that they are properly supported and consulted. Continued support for the Partnership model will be maintained.

· Ensure all staff are aware of their role in the promotion of customer care

· Introduce Frontline Training to all staff. Frontline is an online training course in the basic theory and practice of customer care and reader-centred work in the library. South Dublin County Libraries will be the first Irish library authority to introduce this course.

CULTURAL

South Dublin Libraries are hubs of cultural and artistic activity across the County and gateways to local arts and cultural activities. Each year over two thousands cultural and artistic events are organised by library staff. Arts activities, film, local studies, music, storytelling, exhibitions, literary events as well as a range of inter agency activities with national cultural and art agencies are programmed throughout each year.