The Libraries Sub-Committee of Wirral Council met on Wednesday 3 September 2025 to discuss a presentation by the National Literacy Trust, a review of library borrowing and usage, and the social value of library services. Also on the agenda were reports on library asset condition surveys and library asset capital funds, as well as the committee's work programme.

Please note that this is only a summary of the topics that were scheduled to be discussed in the meeting based on the agenda and associated reports. I have no information on what was actually discussed or decided during the meeting.

Social Value in Library Services

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a report providing an overview of social value in library services. The report considered the key areas in which services can add value to people’s lives beyond the traditional outcomes and performance measures typically provided and quantified by a service or group of services. The report stated that social value refers to the wider positive economic, social, and environmental impact an organisation has on society. It's about looking beyond purely financial profit and considering the benefits to people, communities, and the environment.

The report noted the difficulty in defining the actual value in the context of a library:

Defining the actual value in the context of a library is complex because individual stakeholders are unique, performance measurements tend to be linear, and the operating environment will deliver different outcomes and experiences for individuals.

The report included a summary of strategy-aligned activities that took place in Wirral Libraries during the 2024-5 financial year, illustrating the spectrum of potential impacts that could be realised across social value themes.

Review of Library Borrowing and Usage

The sub-committee was scheduled to review a report providing an overview of data and information relating to library usage and borrowing services. The report provided headline figures as to the performance of library services in the 2023/4 and 2024/5 financial years.

The report included data on:

• Active borrowers
• Age profiles of service users
• Physical loans and transactions
• The availability and usage of e-resources
• Activities and events undertaken by the service

The report noted that between 2012 and 2025 there had been a 68% decline in the number of physical loan transactions, while there had been a 625% increase in the number of e-lending issues.

Presentation by the National Literacy Trust

The sub-committee was scheduled to hear a presentation from the National Literacy Trust, an independent charity working with schools and communities to focus on improving literacy skills. The presentation was set to inform the sub-committee on the mission and work undertaken by the charity, specifically regarding literacy rates.

The National Literacy Trust's vision is to improve the literacy of 250,000 of the UK's most disadvantaged and least engaged children and young people each year. They aim to achieve this by working through communities and partners, bringing the resources of the National Literacy Trust to bear, and responding to the needs of each community.

The presentation included information on the cycle of poor literacy, the wider impacts of low literacy, deprivation, and literacy vulnerability. It also highlighted the National Literacy Trust Hubs, which offer a model for how local innovation can drive sustainable improvements in public service outcomes.

Library Asset Condition Surveys and Capital Funds

The sub-committee was scheduled to receive information about condition surveys associated with library assets. The council currently manages maintenance of its portfolio of assets on a prioritised, reactive basis, repairing elements when they break or wear out, prioritising health and safety and enabling the asset to continue to operate. An alternative approach is to manage assets using a Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) basis, conducting regular condition surveys to plan maintenance over a long-term period.

The council does not currently hold condition surveys for its libraries assets.

The sub-committee was also scheduled to receive information about capital funds associated with the fleet of library assets. Capital funding had been allocated to Wallasey Central Library, Moreton Library, Eastham Library and Seacombe Library in the past to bring the libraries up to a suitable condition. As a result of the Library Review Strategy, it was agreed to consolidate these monies into a single fund. Presently there is £213,543 remaining in this fund. A recent piece of work has concluded there is a requirement to invest in Wallasey Central Library, and it is estimated that works c£200k would be needed, planned to be drawn down from this fund.

Work Programme

The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss its work programme for the year, which is to align with the corporate priorities of the council, in particular supporting the delivery of key decisions which are within the remit of the sub-committee and the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee.

The proposed work programme included standing items such as grant applications to support the library service, as well as reports on:

• Review of Library Borrowing and Usage
• Measuring Social Value of Libraries in the Community
• Library Building Condition Survey
• Developing Literacy – The Literacy Trust
• Library Consolidated Works Fund

Additional agenda items waiting to be scheduled included:

• Revenue Generation
• Library Strategy Review & Update
• Support During Community Asset Transfers
• Engagement with Community Groups
• Family Hubs Expansion

The work programme activities outside committee included working groups, spotlight sessions/workshops, briefing notes, a training development programme for community groups interested in taking on libraries, corporate scrutiny, and a site visit to Sheffield Council.