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 Better

 

Over the next decade, Bath & North East Somerset Library + Information Service will aim to:

Better resources

  • invest in more & more appropriate stock & better stock management systems (ongoing)
  • deliver socially inclusive outreach programmes in reader development, culture & heritage, literature & the arts, ICT & basic skills for a variety of target groups, in particular early years, young people, senior citizens & those for whom such involvement might improve their health, well-being and quality of life (ongoing)
  • enhance useability of the People’s Network computer facilities & sustain funding to support future maintenance & upgrade requirements (ongoing)
  • evaluate the existing People’s Network volunteer pilot scheme and extend our work with volunteers as appropriate (2 years)
  • investigate means to increase branch opening hours (2 years)
  • pilot a home delivery service linked to web ordering (2 years)

Better buildings

  • redress the imbalance in service provision across the authority (5 years)
  • provide better library services for Chew Valley & Peasedown St John (5 years)
  • refurbish existing libraries addressing accessibility, signage, atmosphere, etc (8 years)
  • locate ‘one stop shop’ facilities in all main urban centres (3 years)
  • work with other service partners to investigate feasibility for a “community hub” central library or Knowledge Centre housing Library + Information Services, ‘one stop shop’ facilities, a community education learning centre, meeting rooms, children’s library & learning facilities including crêche provision, arts development & exhibition space, a local studies centre linking archive & registrar services with the library’s historical collections, museum services and others as appropriate (10 years)

Better performance

  • deliver efficient, effective, appropriate & courteous services offering access to knowledge & information to inspire & empower individuals and increase interaction with social democracy (ongoing)
  • improve customer satisfaction to achieve status as one of the top 25% of services in the country (3 years)
  • learn from observing best practice in other library services nationally & internationally (ongoing)
  • trial self-service machines to improve efficiency (3 years)
  • evaluate successes & failures and adapt the service accordingly (ongoing)
  • provide staff with appropriate skills and customer care training to enable them to adapt to the changing role of knowledge manager as well as in life long learning facilitation within the realm of public libraries (ongoing)
  • increase visitor numbers, new members & successful transactions by an average of 1% annually (10 years)
  • raise funds from a variety of external sources to facilitate projects and change management(ongoing)

Better service

  • develop a clear customer consultation strategy (1 year)
  • provide customer access to a wider range of Council information & services through a choice of contact options (3 years)
  • work with HBS, the Council’s new partner in ICT & business improvement, to establish effective infrastructure systems supporting frontline ‘one stop shops’ or call centres (3 years)
  • develop a business case for innovative solutions to take library services to less accessible & in particular rural areas (1-2 years)
  • develop individual local plans to support the exact needs of the community (1 year)

...bringing standards up to match the best in the country.

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