Open+ at Marple Library: What does it mean for Marple?
Stockport Council are currently consulting on access to Marple Library during unstaffed hours.
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A leaflet (attached to the bottom of this post) introducing the Open+ scheme at Marple Library promotes it as “a way of enabling us to open the library for extra hours each week, unstaffed, using self-service technology.” On the face of it this sounds like a great addition to the library services, allowing people who can't get there during normal opening hours to take advantage of the facilities.
Unfortunately though, it doesn't look like it will be as simple as that!
The preface to the consultation explains that the introduction of Open Library technology and a reduction in staffed hours was a 2018/19 budget proposal agreed by full Council. Reduced core staffed hours will be introduced at the library from 1 April 2019. Who knew until now!
During Open+ hours at Marple Library there will be no access to the upstairs meeting rooms, the disabled toilet and other facilities on the top floor. There will be no staff around to answer enquiries or help with PCs and under 16s will be excluded. Printing from the public computers will not be possible, photocopies will not be available and customers will not be able to take out DVDs. Visitors will only be able to access the downstairs facilities at all if they have attended an induction session and pre-registered for access by providing two documents for proof of identity. So the impact of this change can only be assessed if people know the changes to staffed hours.
How will it impact on Local Groups?
Numerous groups (Book Clubs, Reading Groups, Drama Classes, Exercise Classes, Children's Groups and Community Groups) use the upstairs library facilities for activities, meetings and exhibitions. How will these be impacted by Open+ restrictions? We don't know! So how can we possibly respond to this consultation properly and concisely?
My own group, Friends of Marple Memorial Park, have used the library's upstairs meeting room for 15 years. We arrive while the library is staffed and open during the evening and we are trusted with the keys to lock-up when we leave after it is closed. There are several other groups who have a similar arrangement too. Will this continue or will we be forced to find somewhere else? We don't know! We haven't been told! So how can we assess the impact these changes will have on our local groups?
There is no indication of how will things change in April 2019
The library is currently open Monday 10am–7pm, Tuesday 9am–7pm, Wednesday 9am–1pm, Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–6pm and Saturday 9am–4pm fully staffed. It is not clear how these staffed hours will be reduced from 1 April 2019, so how can anyone assess how changes will impact their use of Marple Library? Obviously we will find out in April next year how much the staffed hours are to be reduced but the consultation will be done and dusted by then and used to show that people supported the introduction of Open+.
Is the consultation flawed because of this?
Let's have a look at some of the questions:
Question 2 shows a grid of 18 time periods covering a six day week. The library is currently staffed for 13 of these 18 time periods but we are asked to choose up to 3 time periods across the week when we would like to use the library with staff available. Is this reasonable? Is 3 periods out of 18 indicative of the level of staffed hours cuts that they propose to make? This would be devastating!
Question 5 asks who you would usually go the the library with? It gives 7 options but asks you to check one box only. In my case, and I'm sure for many other users, to properly represent how I use Marple Library I need to tick at least 4 boxes to show that I go alone, with my spouse, with my grandchildren and to attend a group activity. Restricting people to one response is unrepresentative of how people use Marple Library. So it's recommended you use “Other” and give a full answer.
Question 9 - is simply disingenuous, asking how convenient it would be for you to access the Library outside of the current opening times? It makes no mention of what the opening times will be after April 2019, so any answers will be completely meaningless in that context but are likely to be used to justify whatever changes they make: “Oh, during the consultation people said it would be really convenient to access the library outside of normal hours!”
Question 10 – more of the same! How likely are you to access the library on a self-service basis? How can we answer this? Personally, based on current hours, very unlikely, but if they cut staffed-hours to 3 out of the 18 periods currently staffed (a cut of 83%) then probably very likely!
Question 11 – perhaps the most worrying of the lot! Given that the council will have less money to spend on services in the future, do you agree or disagree with the approach that to introduce more self-service technology into libraries is preferable to closing library buildings? Is there a threat here? Are we being bullied into strongly agreeing with this for the fear that Marple Library will be closed if we don't? Seems like we've been backed into a corner without realising it!
What can you do?
Complete the Consultation and tell as many other friends and family to do it too.
Here's the link: https://consultation.stockport.gov.uk/communications/libaries-consultation/ (https://consultation.stockport.gov.uk/communications/libaries-consultation/)
It's also available in paper form at Marple Library too.
If you agree with it all, then fine, say so, but if you don't, or if you are worried by this like many library users I know, then use Question 12 – Further comments about this consultation – to tell the council your concerns.
The consultation closes on 15 December, so we've got a month to spread it far and wide and get as many responses as possible for the council to take into account when they make their decisions.
You can also:
Write to your local MP William Wragg and tell him why you are concerned.
Contact all 6 of Marple's Local Councillors and tell them your concerns too. You can contact them by email, telephone or attend one of their surgeries at Marple Library and other locations.The Key Message is don't be complacent: HAVE YOU SAY NOW!
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