BUILDING LIBRARIES FOR THE FUTURE

Belfast Education and Library Board

BUILDING LIBRARIESFOR THE FUTURE

Challenges Facing Libraries in Belfast

BACKGROUND

The Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) provides a public library service through a range of facilities and service points:

t The Central Library

t Branch Libraries

t Mobile Libraries

t Outreach Services

The Central Library provides an in-depth reference and research facility for Belfast and Northern Ireland. A Central Lending library is also provided at the Royal Avenue site.

Major educational, demographic, lifestyle and technological changes have meant ongoing re-organisation and re-focussing of services.

Despite some significant capital investment in the library service over the last 20 years, a number of older buildings are no longer fit for purpose, while other libraries have slipped to extremely low levels of usage. This means a major reassessment of library provision in the city is now required.

The BELB want to provide a library service that meets the needs and expectations of 21st century Belfast. We wish to hear your views on how a modern library service should look and how best it would meet the needs of your community.

The ‘What to do now’ section at the end of this booklet explains how you can contact us with your views.

Jim Rodgers,Chairperson, Belfast Education and Library Board

David Cargo,Chief Executive, Belfast Education and Library Board

What should a modern library service for Belfastlook like?The BELB recommends a library development programme involving substantial capital investment

which will ensure the people of Belfast have a service equal or superior to any city in the UK. In

November 2007 the BELB Library Committee set up a sub-group to look at library provision in the city;

they produced a consultation document entitled ‘Future Vision for the Library Service in Belfast 2008-

2013’ which is available on the board’s website at www.belb.org.uk/publications/275.pdf.

This document outlines what a possible future public library service in Belfast could look like. The main points recommended by the sub-group are:

t a new Central Library to serve the city and to continue to provide a provincial reference and information service

t an ‘anchor’ library in each quadrant of the city. These libraries will offer enhanced services and facilities such as meeting rooms, exhibition space and extended opening hours

t a network of branch libraries offering core library services which are:

modern and well-equipped

large enough to accommodate a comprehensive range of services and facilities

near or associated with other community and lifestyle services such as health, shopping and leisure. Libraries situated close to other services are more convenient and accessible, and attract greater levels of use

able to offer an enjoyable, relaxing and rewarding experience for visitors

accessible to all and as far as possible located on arterial bus and public transport routes.

a modern mobile library service providing tailored services to communities and individuals who find it difficult to travel to a static branch

What does Future Vision for the Library Service in Belfast 2008-2013 say about your area of the city?

North Belfast

Current provision includes the following branch libraries: Ardoyne, Chichester, Grove, Ligoniel, Oldpark

and Whitewell.

Future Vision for the Library Service in Belfast 2008-2013:

t branches such as Chichester and Ligoniel libraries should eventually

be replaced. These libraries were not purpose built and do not provide

the range of library services and facilities required

t recommends that appropriate new sites be sought in the greater Cliftonville and

greater Ballysillan areas to provide two major replacement district libraries offering a

full range of modern services and facilities

t identifies Oldpark Library as now unfit for purpose. This was originally

a purpose-built library, but due to demographic changes, it is operating

in a much reduced catchment area and has suffered significantly from

declining levels of use for a number of years

t notes that modern libraries located in conjunction with other social,

community and/or retail facilities will enhance the service for North Belfast

t notes that North Belfast is now also served by Grove Library which is

located within the £22million Grove Wellbeing Centre, the first in

Northern Ireland to offer, health, leisure and library facilities under one roof

t recommends that mobile library services ensure that targeted groups

will have regular access to the public library throughout the area

South Belfast

Current provision includes the following branch libraries: Finaghy, Lisburn Road, Ormeau Road and

Sandy Row.


t recommends a redevelopment of the existing Ormeau Library which

is ideally situated at a major traffic intersection. The intention is to

develop the site into a new, modern ‘anchor’ library providing state of

the art facilities to meet 21st century needs

t recommends a new and well-equipped library be built to serve lower Lisburn Road,

encompassing the Village area and Sandy Row/Bradbury Place as well

as the extensive student population. This library would provide state of the

art facilities for residents of Donegal Road, Sandy Row and Lisburn Road areas

t recommends that mobile library services ensure that targeted groups will

have regular access to the public library throughout the area

East Belfast

Current provision includes the following branch libraries: Ballyhackamore, Ballymacarrett, Holywood

Arches and Woodstock Road.


t recommends that Holywood Arches Library is developed into an anchor

library for East Belfast and that core services are provided at Woodstock

and Ballyhackamore Libraries

t notes that the boundary with the SEELB area provides several opportunities

for the development of enhanced services

t notes that the Knock area offers potential for a major library serving a number

of communities connected by major traffic routes which converge in the area

of the Knock crossroads

t recognises that, as Holywood Arches will be the anchor library for the area,

service provision at Ballymacarrett would need to be reviewed given its

close proximity (½ mile) and the declining use over recent years



West Belfast

Current provision includes the following branch libraries: Andersonstown, Falls Road, Shankill Road,

Suffolk and Whiterock.


t recommends that Falls Road and Shankill Road Libraries (both recently

refurbished) continue to provide a full service – both are well served by

public transport and easily accessed

t recommends that Whiterock Library continues to serve the Upper

Springfield area

t recommends that a modern library in the Kennedy Way/Upper Falls/Andersonstown

Road area should eventually replace the facilities at Stewartstown Road and

Slievegallion Drive. This area is recognised as the main commercial and social

focal point in the area with excellent transport links



t notes that the other major branch library in the area is Colin Glen (SEELB)

which is also well located and easily accessible

The challenge for BelfastMany of the existing library buildings in Belfast are old, small or inflexible and unsuitable to deliver a

modern library service.

They do not allow staff to provide the kinds of essential services for children and adults that are required

from a modern service and the levels of use will continue to fall.

New Finaghy and Grove libraries are examples of the facilities we believe should be available throughout

Belfast. A visit to view these facilities is well worthwhile.

Funding to run libraries (provided by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure) has fallen significantly

and with the continued pressure on public funding, this situation is unlikely to improve in future years.

Levels of funding have dropped by 20 per cent over the last five years.

The challenge for the BELB is to concentrate its limited and reducing resources on providing a network

of accessible, up-to-date libraries, with state of the art facilities and longer opening hours. Ideally these

will be located on or near main bus routes and associated with other public services in a district.

Modern mobile libraries with wheelchair access should provide a service tailored to the needs of library

users who are unable to get to a static branch.

Key Questions

1. Do you accept that the library service should be delivered from modern, attractive buildings which are fit for purpose?

2. Do you agree that the local library should have space and facilities for community use,

such as work with young people?

3. Is it important and helpful if libraries are available at places where people go to shop,

and visit other facilities such as doctors’ surgeries, social services and leisure /

recreational activity?

4. How should the BELB use its limited and reducing library budget to ensure that the

best possible modern library service is available to all the people of Belfast?

5. What is the maximum distance any household in Belfast should be from a library?

Government guidelines suggest that 85 per cent of households should be within two

miles of a branch library.

6. What is the best realistic outcome for your district?

What to do now

Your views relating to the location, facilities and services available in Belfast libraries are important to us. Please let us know what you think future library provision in Belfast should look like.

You can do this by sending your views and any other comments, by 30th January 2009, to:

Katherine McCloskey,

Chief Librarian,

Belfast Central Library,

Royal Avenue,

Belfast, BT1 1EA

Email: [email protected]

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BUILDING LIBRARIES FOR THE FUTURE