Issue - meetings
There are no requests for deputation at this time
Meeting: 28/03/2024 - Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee (Item 4.)
4. Deputation Request for item 11.4 - Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Update PDF 181 KB
Decision:
The Committee heard the deputation and will be recoreded in the minute.
Meeting: 06/07/2023 - Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee (Item 4)
4 Deputation Requests PDF 287 KB
Additional documents:
- Library Footfall Analysis pre and post COVID pg 1, item 4 PDF 202 KB
- Library Footfall Analysis pre and post COVID pg 2, item 4 PDF 190 KB
- Library Footfall Analysis pre and post COVID pg 3, item 4 PDF 91 KB
- Request for Deputation Template Karen, item 4 PDF 191 KB
Decision:
The Committee resolved:-
to note that two deputation requests had been received in relation to item 11.2 on the agenda - Aberdeen’s Future Library and Information Service.
Minutes:
The Committee received two deputations from Ms Laurie Mackay and Ms Karen Barrett.
Ms Mackay in her presentation, outlined that
libraries were about people and the way
people had access to local libraries across Aberdeen had changed
due to multiple changes in opening hours and a reduction in access
to community branches across the city. Ms Mackay advised that
whilst more people were using and seeking digital resources, there
was still digital poverty in the city meaning these resources could
not be accessed from every home either due to a lack of education,
a lack of IT equipment, affordable internet, language barriers or
disability. Libraries were also not all about accessing information
and books, but also about learning, getting support to access
information, and connecting with communities.
Ms Mackay presented a table ahead of the deputation and explained
that it showed how library visits fell and then had been gradually
increasing. Ms Mackay outlined that the total library visits did
not reflect this within the context of the number of branches open,
the total hours they were open for compared to how they once were
before the COVID-19 pandemic closures. She advised that they also
did not reflect the need in some areas, particularly where schools
did not have a library and school librarian. Ms Mackay intimated
that an empty classroom with books on display was not the same as a
staffed school library service and noted that a school library had
very limited access for communities, and that not all families
educate their children through the schools. There were many
families in Aberdeen who use libraries as part of their child's
home learning instead of registering them at school.
Ms Mackay also stated that she hoped that as housing developments were approved in areas around the city, amenities such as community centres and libraries that were accessible to people of all ages were within a safe walking distance from their homes, noting that Stirling Council had been increasing its branches, opening up new staffed community libraries.
Ms Mackay explained that consideration needed to be taken with location. She indicated that many people in Garthdee were unaware of their local library service due to it being based in Kaimhill School as well as it being closed for 2 years during the pandemic. She advised that often libraries within school buildings proved to be a barrier to people in the community who did not have children who attended that particular school.
Ms Mackay said that lower library footfall or lack of engagement in the consultation in neighbourhoods where there was the greatest need to improve mental health, educational attainment, and child literacy levels should not be used as a reason to reduce or close a community library service, but as an indicator that more needed to be done to help people to feel safe and welcome to access the services that could benefit them.
Ms Mackay advised thatan important factor was to do consultation with communities who had lost their ... view the full minutes text for item 4