Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

This report provides an update on the library strategy and presents future plans.

The Committee received a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) which provided an update on the Library Strategy and presented future plans.

The main points and themes within the report included:

• Delivering the Library Strategy during the pandemic and beyond;
• Contributing to achieving the zero-carbon target for the city;
• The positive impact of libraries on local residents and communities;
• Equality, diversity and inclusion;
• Examples of the range of services provided by Manchester libraries; and
• Archives.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

• To note the high levels of satisfaction across the city from the Public Library User Survey and to recognise the excellent job that library staff were doing;
• To welcome the investment in library buildings;
• Cultural diversification of library stock; and
• What could be done to encourage library membership, particularly in deprived areas.

The Head of Libraries, Galleries and Culture informed Members that the service had done a lot of work in recent years to ensure that the library stock reflected the community that it was serving, that this would continue and that local residents would be asked what they wanted in their libraries.  He highlighted the proposal to remove library fines, advising that this was a barrier to using the library for some people. 

In response to a Member’s question about Archives, the Citywide Services Manager informed Members that a new web catalogue of Manchester Libraries’ archive would be launched within the next few months and he highlighted that Manchester was the northern hub for the 1921 census which enabled people to access it for free.

Decision

To recognise the important role of libraries and the commitment of library staff and volunteers.