Contact:
  • Customer Service, Libraries & Information
  • Address:
    PO Box 3403, Bath, BA1 2ZG
  • E-mail:
    libraries@bathnes.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
    Tel: 01225 39 40 41  Text: 07797 806545
  • Fax:
    01225 477809
  • Minicom:
    01225 477309
  • Page Updated:
    14/09/2007
  • Author:
    Stephanie Myler
A to Z Index

 

The Way Forward

Being accessible

 

Every week in Bath & North East Somerset thousands of people use their local public library.  Even with universal education, books on sale in every high street and the internet available in more than 50% of homes, going to libraries remains the fifth most popular national pastime.

Yet the idea of a library simply being a place where you borrow books is rapidly becoming outmoded. To satisfy the future customer demands, libraries in Bath & North East Somerset will need to offer much more, delivering ‘one stop shop’ facilities and connecting people with the services they require.

Over the next ten years, in line with the authority’s Better for Everyone Partnership & Community Strategies, Bath & North East Somerset libraries plan to introduce a number of exciting new initiatives. These will include:

  • Sharing premises and working collaboratively with other services, private and public, such as supermarkets, schools, GP surgeries, or even pubs – places where people are.
  • Building on existing relationships including the Adult & Community Education Partnership, schools & the LEA, Youth & Community Services, Early Years Development, Arts Development, Heritage Services, and local Primary Care Trusts, to develop outreach projects to improve awareness of existing services.
  • Pilot projects being developed in priority areas will be supported by clear, well disseminated publicity materials, so that users will know which services are available where & to whom.
  • Although most of Bath & North East Somerset’s existing library premises are already accessible for people with disabilities, where provision is less than ideal, we will be improving facilities in line with the Disabilities Discrimination Act.
  • The service currently offers home delivery for the housebound and is investigating other alternative delivery options such as combining local lending/vending outlets with iPlus Points facilities for the authority’s less accessible regions or piloting home delivery from internet orders.
  • Aiming to raise funds to complete a full refurbishment programme of all premises within the decade, including improved book displays, a more spacious and better signed environment and accessible public conveniences.
  • Increased stock of large print and spoken word books through an award of additional funding which has already been made.
  • Opening hours have been increased at larger libraries and we are investigating feasibility to extend those of branch libraries. Funding awarded for self-service machines should increase efficiency and we have been piloting a volunteer programme to assist with the People’s Network computer facilities.

...providing access for everyone to information, leisure & learning.

Go to next page or back to contents