County Councillor Mike Hill, Cabinet Member for Community Services and James Person, Service Improvement Manager of the Libraries, Registration and Archives Service in attendance to answer questions about Library provision in the District.

The Chairman welcomed County Councillor Mike Hill; Cabinet Member for Community Services, James Pearson; Service Improvement Manager of Libraries, Registration and Archives Service, and Donna Dunn Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells Services Manager, to the meeting, who gave an overview and answered questions on library provision within the District.

County Councillor Hill explained that libraries were the largest service provided under his portfolio and that it was a well loved service by the public. He advised that libraries would remain open as much as possible as they were an important part of the community. In the County there were 99 libraries in total, within the District there were 5 libraries. It was important that the library buildings were used to their full capacity and therefore other services, such as registrations were being included in library buildings. 

James Pearson advised that the libraries, registration and archives had been an integrated service since 2012 that had been internally commissioned. The focus was on quality outcomes and the positive difference that the service was making, as libraries were a crucial part of the health and wellbeing agenda. In the District there were 3 libraries that provided the service of registering birth, deaths and weddings.  The mobile library service had been redesigned and the performance statistics would be known in August 2017. There were 192 volunteers in this District which was the most in Kent. The summer reading challenge for school children had a 23% increase from 2015. Other activities that were adding value were baby rhyme time, story time and talk time sessions.

Questions were asked of County Councillor Hill, James Pearson and Donna Dunn. 

In response to questions from the Chairman, Members were advised that figures from November 2016 showed that Sevenoaks Library had 194,000 visits. This was down 2% from 2015 but it was a small decline, which was in trend with other libraries. Swanley Link had 195, 815 visits.  Although printed books were losing their popularity, many people were using the libraries for other services.

Members were advised that the number of employed staff had been reduced with the introduction of self service. Staffing levels were constantly being reviewed to make savings as required. Different opportunities were being explored for apprentices and to develop future archivists, and to give career pathways to employees. The exact number of professional librarians was unknown but staff had a variety of roles and a range of skills to fulfil them.

A Member asked what services were available for older and more vulnerable residents. James Pearson advised that the home library service was there to visit those who were unable to get out of the house, and for many it provided them with someone to talk to. There were talk time sessions and teach new world service which provided loaning iPads to older people to teach them how to use skype and connect with their families. Reminiscing sessions were popular with those suffering with dementia and there was a postal loan of audio books.

Some Members commented that although it was positive to see the libraries used by a high number of people, it could be difficult sometimes for it to be used in a traditional manner for quiet spaces to study and do research. Donna Dunn advised that comments would be taken on board. 

In response to a question County Councillor Hill advised that as well as some of the buildings being refurbished new and replacement books were purchased.

The Chairman thanked County Councillor Hill, James Pearson and Donna Dunn for their attendance.

At 19:40 p.m. the Chairman adjourned the Committee for the convenience of Members and Officers. The meeting resumed at 19:45 p.m.