Hertfordshire mutual backtrack
HERTFORDSHIRE County Council has decided to scrap plans to hand over control of the county’s library services to a mutual trust – and will instead create a 10 year library strat- egy that will see services remain in- house.
The council’s current 10-year library strategy runs until 2024, and work will begin on its replacement next year. The pandemic has had a significant im- pact on the original proposals to transfer control of the library service. Not only has the lengthy delay to the transfer led to much of the paperwork being out of date, council officers said that changes in user behaviour as a result of the pan- demic meant that the financial and legal conditions would have to reconsidered. They also acknowledged a new under- standing of the library service’s impor- tance. Scott Crudgington, Hertfordshire’s director of resources, told councillors the decision to pause the transfer – despite the board being established and all the arrangements for leases in place (now expired) – was “because of the
uncertainty at that point, and the ability for the new Trust to raise income going for- ward.”
That uncertainty remains and is the main substance of the review, but Mr Crudging- ton also said: “We have learned a lot about the use of our libraries as a result of the pandemic and the importance of them to the county council.”
Cabinet members voted to follow the latest recommendations, which included to: i) cease the transfer of Hertfordshire Library Service to Libraries for Life and for the Library Service to remain in-house with Hertfordshire County Council at this time; and ii) commence the development of new Library Service Strategy in 2022/23, to en- sure the Service is best placed to thrive and support Hertfordshire residents and com- munities over the next 10 years. Councillor Terry Douris, Executive Mem- ber for Education, Lifelong Learning and Libraries said: “Today we’re embarking on an exciting new chapter for our much val- ued Libraries Service. It’s not been an easy nor straightforward decision to cease the transfer but I’m absolutely committed to
ensuring that this next Libraries Strategy will be as inspiring for the next generation of
service-users.The current strategy has been instrumental in the service’s ability to thrive and succeed pre-pandemic, with total visits to the Hertfordshire Library Service exceeding six million in 2019/20 – the highest for well over a decade. “We also know that we are building
on the very best foundations to flourish post-pandemic and preserve its ability to adapt and respond to local residents and communities. We must start to reimagine our libraries’ role in the community that is fit for a post-pandemic future.” A recent report highlighted: “Resident’s consumption and social habits have greatly changed during the pandemic; it remains to be seen whether these return fully to pre-pandemic levels or whether there will be a longer-term shift,” adding: “More turbulence and uncertainty seem inevita- ble, presenting significant challenges and opportunities, from technology advanc- es, future funding levels and longer-term changes in residents’ patterns of use and requirements of the service.”
October-November 2021
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 9
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