SALFORD PLANS TO EXPAND LIBRARIES

A report will go to Salford City Council’s cabinet next week (Tuesday September 26) for approval to invest £590,000 over the next four years across  the service, including spending £100,000 on replacing all IT equipment and providing digital learning as requested by members of the public.

The funds will help to provide library services from seven new sites, including a watersports centre and local leisure and community centres.

The money from the council’s capital programme will help the council save £1.26 million over four years through better use of technology and by locating services alongside partner organisations. 

City Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett said:

Quote

 

“This will be an investment in the future of our city.

“Libraries not only help people learn, gain qualifications and open up better paid jobs, they also provide free access to digital technology which helps people save money and gain new skills. They are essential for lifting people out of poverty and developing a life-long love of learning.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety said: “Over 3,600 local residents, including our ward councillors using their local knowledge and many children and young people children responded to our consultation on what they wanted from Salford libraries in the 21^st century. We are very grateful to all of them and they will continue to help shape libraries in the future.”

 

 

Ambitious plans for the next four years will see Salford libraries expand into seven new sites, some offering library services in that area for the first time. These are: Irlam and Cadishead, Worsley and Broughton leisure centres, and Beesley Green, The Valley and Wardley community centres and  the Helly Hansen Watersports Centre bringing library services to the thousands of  people who live and work at Salford Quays for the first time.

Weekly opening hours will be doubled and extra opening hours in the evenings and at weekends are also in the pipeline.

New investment in IT facilities will involve more than simply upgrading computers. Library visitors will be able to charge personal laptops, tablets and mobiles and print from them. Digital novices will be given more support to get online, while those wanting more advanced or specialist learning will also be helped.

Over the past five years Salford City Council has worked with the NHS to boost library services by creating community hubs. Broughton Hub and the new Gateway Centres at Eccles, Swinton, Walkden and Pendleton bring together health and children’s services as well as local libraries, enabling the buildings to stay open late into the evening.

Mayor Dennett added: 

Quote

“Last year nationally over 350 libraries closed and over 300 more faced closure or were being transferred to communities to run them. To be able to announce the complete opposite of that – expanding and upgrading library services – is amazing and such a bonus for the people of Salford. We cannot put a price on the return this investment will generate in terms of supporting local people to learn, grow and achieve.”

 

A Link to the report can be found bellow:

https://sccdemocracy.salford.gov.uk/documents/s4792/Cabinet%2026917%20-%20REPORT%20Salford%20Libraries%20Service%20Improvement%20Programme.pdf