Yorkshire Library Issue:
Letter sent out to Library users
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Dear Borrower,
Earlier this year we commenced a review of the Yorkshire Libraries and Information (YLI) Music and Drama Service, as part of an ongoing review to ensure efficiency and value for money.
In addition, to inviting user feedback through an online survey, a review group consisting of representatives from different local authorities examined all aspects of the service. This included:-
* Results of the customer survey
* Alternative suppliers of music and drama services
* An analysis of stock
* An analysis of the loans
* Alternative charging options
* Alternative types of organisation
* Potential staff savings
* The possibility of external funding
* The ability to remain a specialised library
* The ability to be self financing within 3 years
* Alternative premises
* The cost of moving from existing premises at Balne Lane in Wakefield which is closing in 2012
Faced with the review findings the YLI Council at their meeting on Friday 30 September decided “in principle to cease the music and drama collection and service as currently constituted” from 31 March 2012. The 12 local authorities who currently subscribe to the service, namely, Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Doncaster, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield and York, all supported the decision.
At the Council meeting it was also agreed we would investigate other ways in which the collection could remain available to the public from April 2012. Possible options include dividing the collection across sub-regional library authorities, or gifting the collection or parts of the collection to other authorities, institutions or groups.
YLI Council will consider these options at their meeting on Thursday 3 November 2011.
Your suggestions or comments on future service delivery are most welcome; please send them to Kate Holliday, YLI Manager, by Wednesday 2 November to the address above or
kholliday@wakefield.gov.uk
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Andrew Pinnock
Chair – Yorkshire Libraries and Information Council
