Following the cuts to the libraries budget – which Green councillors opposed – we have had an update on the revised opening hours for Palmer Park library.
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Currently
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Initial proposal
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Final proposal
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Mondays
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0900-1700
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Closed
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Closed
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Tuesdays
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0900-1900
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0900-1200;1300-1900
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0900-1200;1300-1900
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Wednesdays
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Closed
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Closed
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0900-1200
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Thursdays
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0900-1900
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0900-1200;1300-1600
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0900-1200;1300-1600
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Fridays
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0900-1700
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0900-1200
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Closed
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Saturdays
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0930-1300;1400-1600
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1000-1300
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1000-1300
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Sundays
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Closed
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Closed
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Closed
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These hours will come into effect in April 2017. More detail in the full briefing below.
Briefing Note :
Palmer Park Library/Reading College January
2017
Background
A Decision Book report in December sought approval
to enter into a partnership with Activate Learning, the group that operates
Reading College, to deliver library services from Palmer Park Library. The contract will commence in April 2017 and
covers a period of 15 months and may then be extended by a further two years.
The partnership with Reading College offers work-based
placement opportunities for young people with learning difficulties through the
College’s supported employment programme, with an on-site tutor supporting
learning. This will alslow the Council to reduce to single staffing during term
times, thus delivering a saving.
Palmer Park
Library remains part of the Library Service offer and network. The Council will
continue to provide the building and infrastructure such as the Library
Management System, self-serve kiosks, courier service and book stock, as well
as offering professional advice and retaining overall management
responsibility. The Council will also continue to support the public access IT
offer. The building and contents will
remain RBC assets and a member of RBC staff would be on site during all
opening hours.
Current Position
We continue to work with Reading College on the new model of
service delivery for Palmer Park Library.
We have a contract and service specification ready to sign,
following on from the Decision Book approval in early January – Reading College
have signed to approve.
We are proposing that an amendment is made to the initially
proposed opening hours for Palmer Park Library and that 3 hours move from
Friday to Wednesday. This change allows greater accommodation of the student
and tutor model.
The staffing would be 1xRBC staff + 1xCollege tutor + up to
3 students, except a) after 5pm, b) on Saturdays and c) in College holidays.
During these times 2xRBC Library staff
would be in place.
The original hours have been displayed as ‘subject to
change’ on site. The final report on the library service restructure to Plicy
Committee in July flagged that ‘as currently, opening hours will continue to be
monitored and changes may be made as and when required without further
consultation. Books can be ordered, collected from and returned to any service
point as currently’.
The impact of this change is the moving of the Friday
rhymetime which would seem to fit best on a Wednesday. We would communicate
this change well in advance to those attending. The overall total hours open
per week do not change.
The new opening hours will be implemeted in line with all library
sites from Monday 3 April and, as we are then immediately into a College
holiday, the full new model of staffing at Palmer Park Library will start from
Monday 24 April.
Changes to library opening hours across all library sites
will be more widely highlighted from mid February.
In developing a partnership delivery model with reading
College we are working through all relevant policies and procedures to ensure
clear training, lines of accountability and a smooth introduction.
We will report on progress as we move closer to the new model of working from April 2017.
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