The Scottish Library and Information Council developed a Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix to help public libraries in Scotland evaluate and improve their services. Through a self-evaluation process and external reviews, libraries are rated on a scale from weak to excellent across seven quality indicators. Based on the results, 329 examples of best practices and 292 areas for improvement were identified. The Scottish Government then established a £500,000 Public Libraries Quality Improvement Fund to support projects proposed by libraries that undergo regular self-evaluation and receive adequate or better ratings. Evaluations found that funded projects improved interactions between patrons and staff and increased library membership and user benefits. However, the full social and economic impacts will be difficult to assess over the long term.

1. Scottish Library and Information Council Building on Success :a Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix for Scotland Developing a self evaluation and improvement model Elaine Fulton, Director, Scottish Library and Information Council

2. Scottish Library and Information Council Background Library Legislation – statutory and adequate COSLA standards 1986 and 1995 Best Value Self Evaluation in Education What is it meant to do? Make recommendations for services Define core services for the public Define adequate Demonstrate impact Stimulate improvement Improve service management

3. Scottish Library and Information Council 7 QIs Information Community Access Learning Reading Ethos and Values Organisation and use of resources Leadership Adults Children Special Needs Groups Businesses

4. Scottish Library and Information Council 90 reviews of 34 visits

5. Scottish Library and Information Council What are the results Weak 1 Satisfactory 23 Good 38 Very Good 26 Excellent 2 329 examples of Best Practice 292 areas for improvement

6. Scottish Library and Information Council Toolkits and Support Benchmarks – levelling and consistency Building the Evidence to support – best practice http://www.slainte.org.uk/slic/plqim/plqimindex.htm Impact on services Integrated Performance Management toolkit Service Review and development Motivation – improved performance Impact on stakeholders Impact on users

7. Scottish Library and Information Council Scottish Government Public Libraries Quality Improvement Fund The Scottish Government Public Libraries Quality Improvement Fund is a £500,000 fund for a 5 year period to encourage service development in authorities who already investing and achieving progress in their public library service delivery. Authorities who undertake the self-evaluation process every three years and are assessed externally verified as adequate or better will be able to submit proposals based on their action plans to the Improvement Fund. Evaluation reports Social and economic impact report x 2 National projects

8. Scottish Library and Information Council Types of Successful Projects- Personal and social impact The longer term results from improved literacy, computer familiarisation, etc could be of considerable benefit to particular individuals over their lifetime. Digital Inclusion Learning Improved provision for English as a second or other language (ESOL) Literacy (young people) Increased enjoyment of books Housebound Services : Extended library opening hours Events Reading Groups / development activities

9. Scottish Library and Information Council Impacts and Conclusions All projects resulted positive interaction between customers & library staff, increased library membership and a range of user benefits. Projects created practical and ongoing partnerships that could be sustained Tight timescales provided useful leadership experience for a range of staff Growing network of peer verifiers Provided a focus on modernisation and improvement linked to cycle of self evaluation. Value for money needs to be assessed over the longer terms

10. Scottish Library and Information Council Impacts and Conclusions Small grants v large grants Libraries as venues are attractive to users – provided the buildings are attractive Examples of economic and social Impacts Provision to support migrant workers Glasgow’s focus on under 5s will have effect but difficult to evidence over the long term Shared Services – Ask Scotland, National Reading Promotions Provision of work for local artists and impact of provision on retail Significant Evidence Base Need to evaluate projects over long term Build advocacy campaign

11. Scottish Library and Information Council What now Does it make a difference? Is it robust Is it sustainable? Public Library Quality Improvement Fund and does the “reward” approach create a bigger gap between those performing well and those not. Ensure that self Evaluation further embedded. Continued support from Scottish Government, evidence base for local councillors Support from Audit Scotland SPI for BV2 Transferable evidence – IIP, HMIE, Customer Excellence, How Good is our Council What happens if authorities don’t make the grade?

12. Scottish Library and Information Council More Information Elaine Fulton : e.fulton@slainte.org.uk Rhona Arthur : r.arthur@slainte.org.uk Toolkit and documents free on website http://www.slainte.org.uk/slic/plqim/plqimindex.htm