Consolidation of Municipalities: Salo

Salo Public Library library activities in the region since 1862 present library building from 1986; extension 2004 numbers from 2008 (before consolidation) staff 27 (professional library staff 22) gross expenditure 1,8 million euros expenditure on library materials 354 263 € loans / inhabitant 38,5 lending circulation 3,9 library visits / inhabitant 16,2

library activities in the region since 1862

present library building from 1986; extension 2004

numbers from 2008 (before consolidation)

staff 27 (professional library staff 22)

gross expenditure 1,8 million euros

expenditure on library materials 354 263 €

loans / inhabitant 38,5

lending circulation 3,9

library visits / inhabitant 16,2

Libraries in consolidation’s frontline Salo’s library strategy from the year 2002: ” In 2007 there will be only one library system in the Salo region” Before the consolidation there was already a common understanding of the future of the libraries in Salo region Change was not too dramatic for libraries!

Salo’s library strategy from the year 2002:

” In 2007 there will be only one library system in the Salo region”

Before the consolidation there was already a common understanding of the future of the libraries in Salo region

Change was not too dramatic for libraries!

Salo 2009 Number of inhabitants grew from 25 500 to 55 000 The old municipalities were suppressed and the new city of Salo was established 1.1.2009 The agreement of consolidation was signed in summer 2007: ” the level of services in the new Salo must be maintained at the same level as it was before the consolidation; it may not be weakened” the agreement is binding for three years

Number of inhabitants grew from 25 500 to 55 000

The old municipalities were suppressed and the new city of Salo was established 1.1.2009

The agreement of consolidation was signed in summer 2007:

” the level of services in the new Salo must be maintained at the same level as it was before the consolidation; it may not be weakened”

the agreement is binding for three years

Library activities 2009 central library 9 branch libraries in six of them only one employee multi-service centres 2 mobile libraries 2 hospital libraries (not open daily) staff 45 (professional library staff 38) appropriation for library 3,2 million euros

central library

9 branch libraries

in six of them only one employee

multi-service centres

2 mobile libraries

2 hospital libraries (not open daily)

staff 45 (professional library staff 38)

appropriation for library 3,2 million euros

What had to be done? lots of cooperation even before consolidation road map to get a timetable for necessary steps regional meetings, agreements and decision-making over common library matters before the consolidation rules practices fees opening hours changes to library program internal education

lots of cooperation even before consolidation

road map to get a timetable for necessary steps

regional meetings, agreements and decision-making over common library matters before the consolidation

rules

practices

fees

opening hours

changes to library program

internal education

Consolidation’s effects on libraries department all units continue as before; there were no demands for reductions resources remained on the same level as before even a little addition to opening hours and man-years lots of independence remains in branch libraries (in acquisitions for example) administration, information technology matters and budgeting were concentrated customer service has improved! common library rules for units transportation of library materials between units has been started co-operation has became tighter common reservation list

all units continue as before; there were no demands for reductions

resources remained on the same level as before

even a little addition to opening hours and man-years

lots of independence remains in branch libraries (in acquisitions for example)

administration, information technology matters and budgeting were concentrated

customer service has improved!

common library rules for units

transportation of library materials between units has been started

co-operation has became tighter

common reservation list

Future challenges to maintain a good service level branch libraries: equal development or specialisation in some subject fields from successful history to bright future space solutions multi-service centres in branch libraries internal and external communications

to maintain a good service level

branch libraries: equal development or specialisation in some subject fields

from successful history to bright future

space solutions

multi-service centres in branch libraries

internal and external communications

Thank you. Kari Pohjola / kari.pohjola@salo.fi