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Title of service being assessed / Libraries
Directorate / -Select-Adult, Health and Community WellbeingChief ExecutiveCommercial, Property and InfrastructureCommunicationsEnvironment, Sustainability and HighwaysFinanceHuman ResourcesIS, Performance and ProgrammesPolicy, Community Planning and RegenerationSchools, Children and Families
Name and role of officer completing this assessment / Anne Brimlow
Contact Telephone Number / 01245 244956
Date Assessment Completed / January 2010
1. Which equality strands have you included in your data collection/ analysis and consultations?
Race and Culture / Disability
Age / Gender
Sexual orientation / Religion and Belief
2. What are the key findings/ observations resulting from the data/ consultations? Please include all findings that demonstrate inequality…You may wish to record inequality issues for additional groups (for example rural isolation, financially disadvantaged etc) please do this using box g.
a. Race and Culture
Ethnicity of our customers
Libraries gather ethnicity data from customers to match library use against census data. This data indicates relatively high levels of use of libraries by people of BME origin although use is low in older age groups (75+).
Libraries do not gather data on the ethnicity of all home library customers. We did ask for this information in a recent survey (2008) and there was only one customer of a non -white background in 454 replies (customers number c. 1300). We will look at partnerships to improve our outreach
Language
Language is a potential barrier for people from ethnic backgrounds whose first language is not English. Libraries stock resources in a wide range of other languages as well as dual language material. The diversity of different languages used across Essex (there are over 150 languages spoken in the homes of Essex schoolchildren) but low numbers overall make it challenging to buy a choice and breadth of stock to suit all interests. Although we use the expertise of specialist publishers to help selection, we would like to involve customers more to make our selection more relevant to local communities. We have done some research and made links with the Chinese community and will continue to develop this.
Gypsy/Traveller Communities
Libraries in Essex have made good connections with Traveller communities and have well established visits to Traveller sites where use by children is high. Schools and EMTAS (the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Attainment team) feel this is a contributor to supporting children's literacy and improving school attainment . Use of static libraries by Travellers is also increasing gradually. Promotion and partnership links need to be maintained
Cultural awareness
Relatively high use of libraries by BME groups in community (see above) and feedback to staff suggests libraries are generally seen as safe and welcoming places by BME groups. We will analyse the satisfaction rates of different BME groups in the 2009 customer survey to see how they compare with satisfaction rates in the population as a whole.
We will also look at ways of cascading cultural awareness information to staff
b. Age
Library use by age
Libraries gather age data from members and we have age information for a high number of customers. December 2009 data shows that libraries' membership is well-represented across the age ranges. Since 2006 there has been an increase in use by children 0-5 but a decrease in use by 10-15 year olds. Membership of the 55+ plus age group has also increased
Older people
The Home Library service has recently been actively promoted county wide and new publicity has been produced. A survey in 2008 and interviews with selected customers in 2009 show high satisfaction rates from customers generally. An action plan is in place
Some customers in care homes receive a less individual service and that is an area we're working to improve through increased use of volunteers and links to the My Home Life initiative (improving quality of care in care homes)
c. Sexual Orientation
Libraries have not recently consulted LGBT customers or groups representing the LGBT community.
A national stock quality check 2007 indicated that the number of gay/lesbian titles in Essex stock was below average nationally, though only slightly, and a recent check against a core stock list was generally positive though indicated some gaps in non-fiction stock .
Original plans to link to ECC consultation with LGBT groups haven't developed and libraries have begun to research good practice in other library authorities, and plan links to key community groups and to the employee group
d. Disability
The Cipfa customer survey (adult survey 2006) showed no significant disparity in levels of satisfaction by disabled people and non disabled people using our services. In fact the numbers of disabled people rating their overall satisfaction as high were slightly higher than non disabled people. Data will be available in 2010 from the autumn 2009 survey and will be compared.
As a library service we have developed considerable good practice in this area and been involved in a number of projects which have received national recognition. Recent developments have included the launch of the Inclusive Communication Resource Centre to support the communication needs of learning disabled people, the creation of customer service assistant posts for learning disabled people (currently 7 posts and 2 work trials), improved partnerships with a number of disability groups and the launch of Book Prescription collections and Read-a-Loud groups for people with mental health issues
Our large print and audio stocks were recognised as excellent by a national stock quality check (Opening the Book 2007) and we continue to buy the majority of large print titles published and an extensive range of audio stock. We ensure key information is available in other formats and are now offering a range of e-audio and e-books
Staff requests for help with queries and isolated customer comments indicate that there are variations in level of staff knowledge and awareness and not all front-line staff are aware of range of services available and options to help. We are raising awareness through workshops and training and are cascading information through meetings and the library Information newsletter.
We also need to look at different ways of reaching disabled customers to ensure they know the range of what we offer
e. Gender
Library membership data shows that a lower proportion of men use libraries than women and this anecdotally matches national trends.
Library use by boys tends to tail off at an earlier age than girls (49% of boys aged between 5-9 in the Essex population are members as opposed to 55% of girls. In the 10-14 age group it's 30% boys to 41% girls. There is positive action to create boy friendly activiities and resources for class visits and activities. The number of boys taking part in Summer Reading challenge is gradually increasing. In 2009 54% of those starting were girls and 46% were boys compared to 55% girls and 45% boys in 2008. The % of boys in Essex who take part in and complete the Summer Reading Challenge is higher than national figures.
Daddy Cool rhymetimes are a very positive initiative to role model book sharing for fathers and children and libraries are also ensuring that class visit and promotions are more boy oriented
f. Religion and Belief
No data collected specifically on religion.
Some overlap with cultural issues above around ensuring staff have awareness of specific cultural and religious requirements
g. Other
Use by different socio-economic groups
Libraries are using Mosaic to analyse library performance and forming action plans to market service to under-represented groups.
Rural issues
Libraries are involved in the rural strategic partnership and have been developing outreach to rural communities. The mobile library works in partnership with a range of agencies, supporting them to reach customers in rural areas, e.g. community police, carers support. We are currently investigating the way we deliver community information through our mobile libraries
/ Essex County Council Impact Assessment Form Section 2 / ECC40a
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/ Essex County Council Impact Assessment Form Section 2 / ECC40a
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3.We have a duty to promote equal opportunities and promote good relations between community groups as well as eliminate discrimination. Please list below any opportunities to promote equal opportunities or good community relations within your review area.
Equality Group / Opportunity
All groups / Libraries are community places accessed by people of all ages and backgrounds for information and leisure as well as meeting and sharing ideas through reading groups, family and community activities
There is extensive partnership working with local and countywide community groups across all the diversity strands
Audience development staff are allocated areas of work to develop the service. They think about diversity and access issues in all they do and also work on specific commissions to improve access for all, e.g. homeless people, Travellers, LGBT
Race and culture / Participation in cultural festivals – Jiangsu, Essex Book festival, Black History Month and One World festival. Libraries can play a key role in promoting diversity through displays, bookstock and activities such as half term events with a diversity theme.
Age / High profile family events in libraries, e.g. Summer Reading Challenge, half-term events
Links to community groups and joint work including information sharing through libraries – Age Concern, Alzheimer’s Society
Participation in International Older People’s Day and later Life Expo event
Outreach work with young people – Participate, Group Thing.
Strong links to Children’s Centres and other children’s agencies
Disability / Outreach to wide range of partnership groups and their work in and with libraries – Royal association for Deaf people (RAD), Essex Blind Charity, Essex Coalition of Disabled People, Alzheimer’s Society, Rethink, Mind. Partnerships at local and county wide level
Employment of learning disabled people in libraries – in 11 libraries 2009/10. Cafes in libraries staffed by learning disabled people in Clacton and Colchester with additional venues being added soon in partnership with Essex Cares
Participation in joint activity with health and voluntary organisations, e.g. Get Your Life back book prescription schemes, Read a loud groups, poetry competition with SEPT which showcased poetry by mental health survivors and carers, exhibitions in libraries with Rethink and Mind of art work on mental health themes, cancer collections, healthy living events in partnership with Essex organisations
Gender / Activities for Dads and children to enjoy and which will also role model book sharing for fathers and children, e.g. Daddy Cool times
/ Essex County Council Impact Assessment Form Section 2 / ECC40a
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/ Essex County Council Impact Assessment Form Section 2 / ECC40a
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4. Adverse impacts and/or inequalities in policy or service delivery that need to be resolved or mitigated. It is likely that you will have more than one possible solution for each issue
a. Race
Adverse Impact and/or inequality / Possible Solutions
Older people from BME communities less likely to use libraries
Home Library service not reaching BME communities
Potential for some cultural groups to encounter barriers to use
Sourcing appropriate stock / Work with partners to ensure staff awareness, promote services and remove barriers including recruiting more volunteers from BME groups
Ensure service takes account of cultural issues – good practice guidance
Continue to follow up on links made with community groups and encourage customer input
b. Age
Adverse Impact and/or inequality / Possible Solutions
Older people in care homes may not always have access to same level of individual service as people in their own homes
Continued need to raise awareness of staff of services available (see disability section below)
Use by young people, decreases in 10-15 age group / Aim to extend volunteer home library service to more care homes and identify other ways of delivering more personalised service
Continue to develop initiatives such as Group Thing and Participate to increase use by this age group
c. Sexual Orientation
Adverse Impact and/or inequality / Possible Solutions
Limited knowledge of existing use of service by LGBT community in Essex. / Research good practice in other library authorities
Make contacts with key groups such as Essex employee group to identify if any barriers to use and identify improvements
d. Disability
Adverse Impact and/or inequality / Possible Solutions
Continued need to raise awareness of all staff of disability equality issues and ways of improving library services
Continue to promote and raise public awareness of what libraries offer
Generally resource provision is good and adjustments are made to stock, services and buildings. / Develop disability awareness training (March 2010 pilot training to be delivered by Essex Coalition of disabled people )
Training and information cascade to share good practice and improve staff awareness
Develop action plan using range of partnerships and promotional opportunities to reach people with impairments, their families and carers
Continue to keep up to speed on good practice, new resources and IT developments. In particular
- if phase 2 of RFID is rolled out, build in consultation with the disabled community
- ensure our IT offer in libraries meets needs of people with impairments
- install induction loops on mobile libraries
e. Gender
Adverse Impact and/or inequality / Possible Solutions
No significant issues identified
f. Religion
Adverse Impact and/or inequality / Possible Solutions
No significant issues identified. Some potential overlap with cultural awareness issues (see above)
g. Other
Adverse Impact and/or inequality / Possible Solutions
/ Essex County Council
Impact Assessment Form Section 2 / ECC40a
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5. You now need to complete the action plan. You need to prioritise the work that needs to be done. If you have found any adverse impact or discrimination that is illegal you must address these immediately and therefore they will be top priority in your action plans. The notes for guidance will help you to prioritise your other actions. If there are areas which you feel need to be looked at in more detail then the resulting action may be an additional EIA focussing on a specific area of concern.
IMPROVEMENT PLAN