Decision details
Library service review of charges
PDF 119 KBDecision Maker: Assistant director communities (Historic)
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
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To approve proposed changes to charges for services offered by the library service. A full review of library charges is required to ensure charges are appropriate and easy for customers to understand; that they cover costs and generate additional income where possible; and that they encourage library use, not discourage it. The proposed changes are in response to a cabinet report of 13 October 2016 in which a staffing and efficiency target of £80k was set for the financial year 2017/18 which includes charging. The proposed increases will contribute towards the savings target for the service. They are designed to balance the need to recover costs, against the possibility of discouraging and inhibiting use by some members of the public. They are further designed to encourage library use by key groups, particularly children and young people; and optimise charges to enable easier use of the self-service library kiosks. It is proposed that the changes in charges are introduced during national libraries week along with a week long amnesty on overdue books. An amnesty provides opportunity for promotion along with recalling books people have not returned. |
Decision:
That:
a) the proposed list of charges (at appendix 1) for services offered by the library service be approved and implemented from 9th October 2017;
b) an amnesty on overdue charges across Herefordshire Libraries runs during National Libraries Week (week of 9th October 2017);
c) charges be reviewed annually and where appropriate increased in line with inflation with delegated authority to the Library Services Manager.
Alternative options considered:
Current charges to be maintained. This would potentially be well received by some users, particularly adults, but would continue to discourage usage by children and young people. Maintaining current charges would mean that cost savings for the service would become increasingly difficult to achieve.
Wards Affected: (All Wards);
Consultees
The Joint Actions for Herefordshire Libraries
(JAHL )
Contact: Natalia Silver, Service Director - Corporate Services Email: nsilver@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432260732.
Publication date: 04/09/2017
Date of decision: 04/09/2017
Effective from: 12/09/2017
Accompanying Documents: