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January 25, 2007
Library policies- and finally
"Comprehensive performance assessment" (CPA) is the method used by the Audit Commission to measure the actitivities of local councils. For each service the council offers there is a complex score and weighting which contributes to an overall score for the council. Libraries carry a small but significant influence on this score. Therefore I propose that: .
1.Library authorities should spend at least £3 per person on books each year.
2. Library authorities should spend at least £3 per person on revenue or capital works to improve library premises
3. Libraries in small towns should be open not less than 40 hours per week, never closed for lunch, and open late at least one eveninig
4. Libraries in large towns and catchments should be open 60 hours per week and at least two late evenings per week
5. Any measures that would cause old stock to be reduced in quality or quantity should be removed from CPA- the rest of the indicators should made comprehensible to the public.
6. CPA should look for book issues and visitor numbers to be increasing in every single library
7. Any proposed library closure should be notified to the Minister with proper quantified explanation shared with the public
8. Councils should have a clear method of regularly reporting the key figures of library cost and performance so they are readily understood and available.The presentation and meaning of terms should be consistent across the country.
9. The public library service standards are not necessary, if these changes are made to CPA
10. These actions should be reflected immediately in the CPA scoring
Posted by Tim Coates at January 25, 2007 7:38 PM