Calderdale’s Council Cabinet is currently in discussions regarding the acquisition, management, and accessibility of library books, digital resources, and other assets within the borough.
The Libraries and Information Service, a cornerstone of the Council’s offerings, operates across 12 libraries in the area. Alongside physical locations, it encompasses an extensive online provision and a Home Library Service, making it one of the most widely utilized services by the community.
To ensure the success of the library service, it is imperative to have ample and well-managed resources, a principle guided by the Stock Management Policy. The policy, which has not undergone a comprehensive review in a decade, is now up for approval by Cabinet Members. This revised policy aligns with contemporary trends and recent service enhancements, aiming to maximize the benefits of available resources within the library budget for the people of Calderdale.
The Stock Management Policy encompasses crucial aspects such as the selection of books and other materials, presentation and display of stock, circulation of materials between libraries, management of requests, withdrawal and disposal procedures, and the content of various collections. The overarching goal is to facilitate broad access to diverse materials supporting information, learning, business, cultural, and leisure needs in Calderdale.
Recognizing the limitations of space and budget, the library service aims to provide access to a wide range of materials while acknowledging the impossibility of acquiring everything published annually in print and electronic formats.
The updated policy outlines selection criteria for various library resources, encompassing adult fiction and non-fiction, children and young people’s fiction, information resources, audio and talking books, and more. It also delves into the usage of digital resources such as eBooks, eAudio Books, digital newspapers, magazines, and comics, reflecting the growing trend in their consumption.
Aligning with national standards and professional best practices, the policy’s content has been further refined through recent consultations with library users and local communities.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, Cllr Jenny Lynn, said; “Calderdale libraries are at the heart of local communities and provide an important service – one which we know is really valued by our residents.
“It’s been 10 years since we last looked at the policy which guides how we manage our library resources and purchase stock. As times change, so does the way that people access our library service and with a huge amount of material available and limited funds, it’s important that resources are managed well, and funding spent wisely.
“We’ll be considering revisions to the Council’s library stock management policy, which draws together a number of improvements that have been made over the last few years to the way the library service buys, selects and promotes stock. It also recognises the introduction of other formats, including the popularity of digital resources which are available for library members to download to a personal device.”
The Cabinet members are set to review the revised Calderdale Libraries Stock Management Policy on Monday, 11th March 2024, at Halifax Town Hall, commencing at 3 pm. The meeting will also be available for online viewing at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home.
