Help us design a new delivery model for Buckinghamshire Libraries

Overview

We are asking you to help us design our services so that staff are available at the times when you need them most.

Buckinghamshire libraries have transformed over recent years and offer a wide range of services and activities. A new vision and strategy for Buckinghamshire Libraries was agreed in 2023. Our vision is to provide welcoming and safe spaces for everyone to access reading, culture and the information and services they need to learn, discover, imagine, and thrive.

Buckinghamshire Council must save a total of £95.3 million over the next three years, with £41.3million to be saved in the current financial year (2024/25). The library service must make savings of £555,000 by April 2026.

To reduce costs and help ensure the library service remains resilient and sustainable, Cabinet agreed on 18 June 2024 to implement ‘Library Flex’ subject to consultation.

Library Flex

Library Flex means ensuring our staff are available at the times of greatest customer need and using self-operated technology to provide access to library services at quieter times.

This technology is already in use in 45 local authorities across England. It allows customers to use their membership card to access libraries during set times when staff are not present. During these times you can:

• take out and return books
• use wi-fi, public computers, loanable tablets and printers
• access a space for study, reading or socialising
• access the Council Access Point phone to get help with council enquiries such as council tax, benefits, waste and recycling

To do this, you will need to be at least 16 years old and to have completed an induction programme. Children will be able to use Library Flex when accompanied by a registered adult.

Staff will still be available during the times when customers need them most. We have information about the most popular times for our customers, but it is important that we hear from you about the times when you would like staff to be available. We want to hear your views whether you currently use a library, or not.

We are planning to introduce Library Flex in the following libraries:

• Amersham
• Aylesbury
• Beaconsfield
• Buckingham
• Chesham
• Hazlemere
• Marlow
• Princes Risborough

Partners, community groups and organisations

Library Flex will allow us to make better use of our buildings with more activities and services taking place. It will also provide opportunities for room hire for community groups outside of our current opening hours.

We want to hear from partners, community groups, volunteers and organisations that have an interest using library spaces outside of staffed times.

High Wycombe Library and Burnham Library

High Wycombe Library and Burnham Library have not been selected for Library Flex. Instead, we are considering other options.

Related documents and links

For more detailed information, please have a look at the following documents and links:

• Library Flex: Library Service Transformation – Report to Cabinet
• Buckinghamshire Libraries – Developing a Vision and Strategy
• Plans for High Wycombe Library floor 1 (PDF 0.22MB)
• Library Flex frequently asked questions (PDF 0.14MB)

How to have your say

You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:

• complete the online survey using the link at the end of the page
• complete, and return, a printed version of the survey (PDF 0.43MB)
• complete a printed version of the survey at a Buckinghamshire library

If you have any questions about this activity, please email us at library@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Please tell us your views by 11:59pm on Wednesday 18 September 2024.

What happens next

The responses we receive will inform the opening and staffed time at Library Flex libraries as well as the support we will provide to customers.

They will also inform the opening time of High Wycombe Library and Burnham Library.

Detailed proposals and an implementation plan for each library will be presented to Cabinet in November 2024.

Privacy

We will use the information you provide here only for this activity. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details. For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions about data and privacy, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.