An even better library service that is safeguarded for the future and run in partnership with local communities could be a step closer in the Wokingham Borough this month.
The council is in the process of attempting to find a partner to help ensure it provides the sort of libraries people want in the 21st century, with a range of services that meet communities educational, recreational, cultural and information needs.
The next stage of this process will be for the council’s decision-making executive to discuss the high-level specifications that could establish the broad principles of what the council would require any future partner to provide. The exact details of this draft specification cannot be made public due to EU procurement law, but the council can state that, as a minimum, the provider would:
- Allow library users and local communities to input into library policy and services
- Provide an improved and financially-sustainable library service
- Provide libraries that are at the heart of communities and are trusted, impartial places that offer people better opportunities and improved quality of life
Wokingham Borough Council executive member for internal services Cllr UllaKarin Clark said: "I am excited at the prospect of this process moving on and hope the executive agrees the high level specifications. Our aim is to find a partner who can help improve our already excellent libraries. Libraries across the country face challenging times; with cheaper books, greater internet usage, increasing availability of electronic books and - let’s face facts - less public money around. What we are saying is that we do not want our libraries to fall victim to these challenges but, instead, hope to find the right partner to help them thrive."
The borough council is very aware of the high regard in which its libraries are held and respects and appreciates the fact that libraries are well-loved. The specification document includes mechanisms which allow for public engagement in library policy and service design. Also, a cross-party working group has looked at the criteria for assessing the library specification and supported the prioritisation of those criteria.
Cllr Clark added: "I am delighted that the draft specifications to be considered by the executive would be requiring any selected partner to work with library users and local communities in the future. The technicalities of EU procurement law are complicated and restrictive in terms of what we can say - and that is frustrating because it has allowed misconceptions to spread and scaremongering to take place. The truth is that we are seeking a partner to improve our libraries and safeguard the service for the future."
