Denbighshire’s
Library Service is one of the best performing in Wales, according to recent
figures.
The service has been ranked the best in Wales for
providing informal training for users, the number of Welsh books borrowed and
for having the best reach for the summer reading challenge, according to
figures published.
A total of 2,918 children participated in the 2019 Summer
Reading Challenge – a reach of 26.6% of the 4-12 year old population, the
highest reach in Wales (Welsh average was 10.7%).
The figures also showed that Denbighshire was
ranked fifth in Wales for the number of active borrowers, sixth for the number of virtual visits to libraries and attendances at events and eighth in Wales for physical visits.
Each council is asked to provide information to the Welsh Government ‘s Museum and
Libraries Division on their performance against set targets.
The
figures, being discussed by members of Denbighshire’s Performance Scrutiny on
January 30, come hot on the heels of Denbighshire’s 2019-2022
Library Strategy, which sets out how the service is due to develop over the
coming years.
A
volunteering strategy was launched in the summer of 2019, and offers a range of
specific volunteering opportunities for adults and young people in libraries,
to enable them to develop their own skills, to gain work experience, or to give
back to their local community.
The roles include digital volunteer, events and
activities volunteer, young volunteer, stock volunteer and local history
volunteer. There are currently 19 volunteers active in our libraries. The
service works closely with Working Denbighshire to provide opportunities for
their clients to gain work experience.
The
service’s activity in the area of health and well-being continues to be a
particular focus and has seen significant progress during the year.
The Reading
Well Books on Prescription: Mental Health scheme in Wales was launched in July
2019, and the service has maximised on the opportunity to reach in to health
and social care services to raise awareness of both the Reading Well schemes
and the contribution libraries make to health and wellbeing and community
resilience.
Working in close partnership with Public Health Wales, the service
has given numerous presentations to key Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
services and teams. The outcome of this concerted effort is that libraries are
now seen as key partners in the preventative agenda.
In
partnership with Conwy Libraries and Age Connect, the service has recently been
awarded funding from the Healthier Wales Transformation programme for mental
health for a project to embed the Reading Well for mental health scheme into
primary care practice, and to develop the skills of the Libraries workforce in
providing services to people dealing with mental health issues, aligning with
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s ICAN strategy of providing support
within communities.
The
service also secured funding from Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council’s
Dementia Aware Denbighshire plan to create dementia memory packs for families
and carers to borrow, working in partnership with TIDE and Denbighshire Arts Service. Denbigh Library hosted
the North Wales launch of Boots pharmacies’ endorsement of the Reading Well
Books on Prescription Dementia scheme.
The
service continues to develop its range of engagement and social opportunities
to encourage community cohesion and to tackle isolation and loneliness – these
range from reading groups and creative craft sessions to family history clubs,
rhyme times for families with young children and lego clubs for older children.
Councillor
Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, with
responsibility for libraries, said: “The library service in Denbighshire has
experienced a very positive chapter in its history.
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