Content

10.1

The current lease agreement for the public
computers in Sheffield’s libraries will end in February 2025.
We have a solution which will enable us to maintain provision
through 2025/2026, which includes an upgrade to Windows 11.
 
We are proposing a new approach to future
provision based on learning from our customers and trialling the
use of technologies as we replace broken or obsolete equipment.
This approach covers the provision of digital equipment and
software and associated services, including the public Wi-Fi.

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the
Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee approves the
development of a mixed approach in each Council library and the
volunteer run libraries (who continue to use the Council’s
public computers and related infrastructure supported by the
Council’s IT Service). This will reflect customer needs and
usage and will include:

·      
maintaining and upgrading existing equipment,

·      
trialling different types of equipment as well as

·      
leasing and/or buying new equipment as part of a rolling
programme.

 

 

10.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

10.3.1

Without this decision, and approval of the
budget pressure at full Council, the provision of the public
computers in Sheffield’s libraries is likely to deplete and
fail to meet the needs of our communities. This would put us at
risk of failing to meet our statutory requirements.

 

 

10.3.2

In making the decisions to develop a mixed
approach to equipment and develop an ongoing rolling programme, we
aim to meet the changing needs of customers and create flexibility
as habits and technology changes.

 

 

10.4

Alternatives
Considered and Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

Alternative Option
1: We do not offer public computers in our libraries
It is important to meet the expectations of
our statutory duty. The results of the recent survey and computer
usage, highlights that we need to offer public computers in our
library to meet the needs of library users. However, to meet this
need we do not need to offer as many computers as the current
offer.
 
If there were no computers for public use in
our computers, this could partly be mitigated by continuing to have
free Wi-Fi

 

 

10.4.2

Alternative Option
2: We lease all new computers for public use on the Peoples
Network
This option would mean entering into another
4-year lease agreement costing in the region of £200,000.
 
Advantages

·      
Simple to achieve following a tried and tested processes

·      
New and reliable machines with Windows 11 installed.
 
Disadvantages

·      
Not affordable on a like for like replacement as we also need to
install new Wi-Fi infrastructure and offer other options

·      
Many of the current computers on lease are still fully functioning
with high satisfaction rates. This option would see these machines
being returned to the supplier.

·      
This option commits us to a cycle of replenishment every four
years. The costs associated with this mean that the range of
options for customers will be more limited and with no flexibility
in this time frame.