Help us design a new delivery model for Buckinghamshire Libraries

Closed 18 Sep 2024

Opened 10 Jul 2024

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council logo

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.

Customer safety

Customer safety is our priority. The self-operated technology includes automated control of doors and lighting. It will be linked to fire and intruder alarms and have monitored CCTV to keep library users safe.

Volunteer and community group activities

We will also increase volunteer and community group activities in the library during Library Flex unstaffed hours to maintain a safe and welcoming space. We already have many volunteer and community-led activities taking place in our libraries, such as Knit and Natter, Bounce and Rhyme and reading groups. We want to be able to provide even more opportunities for community groups to use the library space.

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.

Opportunities to increase our opening hours

Library Flex will also provide an opportunity to increase our opening hours, benefitting people who work, commuters and students. Many of our libraries open from 10am; with Library Flex they could open without staff from early in the morning until later in the evening, and for longer during exam times so that people can go there to study. We want to hear from you about when you would prefer to be able to visit the library.

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.

High Wycombe Library

High Wycombe Library was not selected for Library Flex because of difficulties in adapting the building. Instead, we will be re-modelling the layout to deliver most library services from one floor and introducing new partner services in under-used areas.

We also want to review the opening times of High Wycombe Library to ensure that we are open at the right time for our customers.

Current opening times

Day

Opening times

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

9:30am to 5pm

Wednesday

9:30am to 5pm

Thursday

9:30am to 7pm

Friday

9:30am to 5pm

Saturday

10am to 5pm

Sunday

12pm to 4pm

We are considering opening High Wycombe Library on Monday instead of Sunday. This would enable us to increase the total opening hours for the library and increase access to the Council Access Point. Initial feedback from room hirers, partners and some of our customers suggest that there is a demand for a Monday service at High Wycombe. High Wycombe Library would continue to be open six days of the week, including Saturday.

We want to hear your views on opening on Monday instead of Sunday at High Wycombe Library.

If you would like to see the plans for High Wycombe Library, these will be displayed in the library at 5 Eden Pl, High Wycombe HP11 2DH. They are also available to view under ‘Related documents and links’ below.

Burnham Library

Burnham Library has not been selected for Library Flex due to the constraints of the building.

Instead, we will seek to make savings by increasing volunteer numbers or by reviewing opening hours.

Burnham Library is currently open longer than most other libraries in the county.

Current opening times

Day

Opening times

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

9:30am to 7pm

Wednesday

9:30am to 5pm

Thursday

9:30am to 5pm

Friday

9:30am to 5pm

Saturday

10am to 4pm

Sunday

Closed

We want to know when you would be most likely to use Burnham Library.

If you are interested in volunteering at Burnham Library, please contact lib-bur@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Related documents and links

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

How to have your say

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

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.

Areas

  • All Areas

Interests

  • Culture
  • Sport & Leisure
  • Libraries
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Communities