Proposals to consult on the future of Bromley’s library service were given the go ahead by a Scrutiny Committee.
The proposals were discussed at a meeting of the Renewal and Recreation PDS (Policy Development Scrutiny) Committee earlier this week. The recommendation allows for consultation on options for Community Management at the six community libraries in the borough and market testing for the management of the core service. The news follows a review of the library service which includes these options to modernise the service and make improvements, while making significant savings and protecting the core service.
Consultation will take place with library users and staff on the development of Community Management options at the borough’s Community Libraries which are Burnt Ash, Hayes, Mottingham, Shortlands, Southborough and St Paul’s Cray. This option would enable these libraries to remain open and tailored to the needs of the local community, despite the current financial restraints faced. The results of the consultation will be considered in Spring 2015.
Consultation will also be undertaken on market testing to outsource the core service in order to protect the service, keeping libraries open, while making savings. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the core library service will be subject to a full outsourcing market testing exercise, which will be taken in line with any decisions taken regarding the Community Library management options.
The full report containing the proposals can be downloaded by clicking on item 7b on the following Bromley web page :-
http://cds.bromley.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=4791&Ver=4
There is no mention of what happens if there is no local community group willing to provide the volunteers to run it. In that case it seems likely that Burnt Ash library will be closed.
The library is due to be fitted with machines to issue books using the RFID chips fitted to most books. Books without the chips are being sold off at the moment at two for 25p or 5 for 50p. There is a table of these books in the entrance to the library. The book are in good condition.
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