Library Standards Achievement In Conwy County

Conwy County Borough Council Library Service’s annual assessment by Welsh Government for 2015-16 has highlighted improved performance and acknowledges that the service met all the ‘core entitlements’ that the Welsh Government measures. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councils submit an Annual Return to demonstrate their compliance with the Welsh Public Library Standards, which is assessed by Welsh Government officials, heads of library services and external experts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘Core entitlements’ and ‘quality indicators’ are measured and Conwy County Borough Council’s Customers Overview and Scrutiny Committee was presented with a report this week about the Library’s annual assessment showing that, in addition to meeting all the core entitlements, Conwy’s Library Service is one of only two in Wales to achieve all the quality indicators with targets in 2015-16. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh Government assessment looks at factors like suitable access to libraries, the range of materials and activities, skilled and adequate staffing, investment in buildings, effective ICT and efficient management systems to come to its conclusions about a library service. Annual returns are assessed by a peer group of Welsh Government officials, heads of library services and external experts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Case studies submitted as part of Conwy’s Annual Return demonstrated how Council libraries are making a difference to people’s lives and contributing to addressing issues of poverty, unemployment, literacy, digital inclusion, health and wellbeing. They focussed on the work of the mobile library, community and home libraries, and support for adult learning and literacy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Chris Hughes, said, “I’m delighted with the positive feedback that we received from Welsh Government. I want to thank every member of Library Service staff for their contribution to achieving these high standards. They are a credit to the Authority. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The case studies showed the wide ranging and important work carried out by our libraries. Feedback from library customers has also been very positive, with 97% of customers rating the service as good or very good.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In their assessment WG commented that, “Conwy’s return shows evidence of a service which is improving after a period of extended challenges and restructuring and the investment is now bringing rewards. The authority is to be commended for a positive, high quality service.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​