Building on success
- 1. Scottish Library and Information CouncilBuilding on Success :a Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix for ScotlandDeveloping a self evaluation and improvement modelElaine Fulton, Director, Scottish Library and Information Council
- 2. Scottish Library and Information CouncilBackgroundLibrary Legislation – statutory and adequateCOSLA standards 1986 and 1995Best ValueSelf Evaluation in EducationWhat is it meant to do?Make recommendations for servicesDefine core services for the publicDefine adequateDemonstrate impactStimulate improvementImprove service management
- 3. Scottish Library and Information Council7 QIsInformationCommunity AccessLearningReadingEthos and ValuesOrganisation and use of resourcesLeadershipAdultsChildrenSpecial NeedsGroupsBusinesses
- 4. Scottish Library and Information Council90 reviews of 34 visits
- 5. Scottish Library and Information CouncilWhat are the resultsWeak 1Satisfactory 23Good 38Very Good 26Excellent 2329 examples of Best Practice292 areas for improvement
- 6. Scottish Library and Information CouncilToolkits and SupportBenchmarks – levelling and consistencyBuilding the Evidence to support – best practice http://www.slainte.org.uk/slic/plqim/plqimindex.htmImpact on servicesIntegrated Performance Management toolkitService Review and developmentMotivation – improved performanceImpact on stakeholdersImpact on users
- 7. Scottish Library and Information CouncilScottish Government Public Libraries Quality Improvement FundThe Scottish Government Public Libraries Quality Improvement Fund is a £500,000 fund for a 5 year period to encourage service development in authorities who already investing and achieving progress in their public library service delivery.Authorities who undertake the self-evaluation process every three years and are assessed externally verified as adequate or better will be able to submit proposals based on their action plans to the Improvement Fund.Evaluation reportsSocial and economic impact report x 2National projects
- 8. Scottish Library and Information CouncilTypes of Successful Projects- Personal and social impact The longer term results from improved literacy, computer familiarisation, etc could be of considerable benefit to particular individuals over their lifetime.Digital InclusionLearningImproved provision for English as a second or other language (ESOL)Literacy (young people)Increased enjoyment of booksHousebound Services : Extended library opening hoursEventsReading Groups / development activities
- 9. Scottish Library and Information CouncilImpacts and ConclusionsAll projects resulted positive interaction between customers & library staff, increased library membership and a range of user benefits.Projects created practical and ongoing partnerships that could be sustainedTight timescales provided useful leadership experience for a range of staffGrowing network of peer verifiersProvided a focus on modernisation and improvement linked to cycle of self evaluation.Value for money needs to be assessed over the longer terms
- 10. Scottish Library and Information CouncilImpacts and ConclusionsSmall grants v large grantsLibraries as venues are attractive to users – provided the buildings are attractiveExamples of economic and social ImpactsProvision to support migrant workersGlasgow’s focus on under 5s will have effect but difficult to evidence over the long termShared Services – Ask Scotland, National Reading PromotionsProvision of work for local artists and impact of provision on retailSignificant Evidence BaseNeed to evaluate projects over long termBuild advocacy campaign
- 11. Scottish Library and Information CouncilWhat nowDoes it make a difference? Is it robust Is it sustainable?Public Library Quality Improvement Fund and does the “reward” approach create a bigger gap between those performing well and those not.Ensure that self Evaluation further embedded. Continued support from Scottish Government, evidence base for local councillorsSupport from Audit Scotland SPI for BV2Transferable evidence – IIP, HMIE, Customer Excellence, How Good is our CouncilWhat happens if authorities don’t make the grade?
- 12. Scottish Library and Information CouncilMore InformationElaine Fulton : e.fulton@slainte.org.ukRhona Arthur : r.arthur@slainte.org.ukToolkit and documents free on websitehttp://www.slainte.org.uk/slic/plqim/plqimindex.htm
Editor's Notes
- #4: David and Christine have already alluded to the principles of the Matrix.