BOOKBUG AMENDMENT COUNCILLOR MICHELLE STEWART Council notes the Bookbug sessions historically worked on a drop in system, and

sessions included anything from 5 50 attendees with no prior notice on numbers. This was not workable, and the Libraries and Cultural Services believed it presented a health and safety risk to participants and was at odds with their duty of care. The Libraries & Cultural Services carried out a review of the Bookbug service and the Councils Early Years provision. Whilst the Bookbug sessions were highly popular and successful, it became clear that the size of some of these sessions was too large, unmanageable and presented a health and safety risk. In addition the department believes that the potential impact and benefits of Bookbug were diluted by the large numbers attending. Therefore the changes to Bookbug Sessions were made. The Libraries and Cultural Services reasons for the changes were: a) To ensure that Bookbug sessions take place in a safe environment for parents, children, staff and other library users b) To give session leaders the ability to develop quality relationships with both parents and children, encouraging parent/child communication and the borrowing of books from libraries c) d) To provide better quality sessions for participants To enable staff the opportunity to develop further resources for children.

e) In response to staff and volunteer comments regarding the size of groups and concerns as to how difficult they are to lead. As a result of these concerns the decision was made to cap attendance to sessions at a maximum of 15 children effective from January 2013. The new sessions aims to ensure safety, and that each child receives the highest quality of service and benefit. Therefore Council does not agree the Motion from Councillor Black regarding the Book Bug Service. However, Council accepts that there will be some teething problems during the implementation phase and asks that a degree of flexibility is applied by the Library and Cultural Services staff in the during implementation. Council requests that a rolling feedback and consultation exercise is carried during the first block of sessions and a report is to be presented to the Educational Services Committee in February identifying any barriers or issues and actions to overcome the concerns identified. As part of the review the Libraries and Cultural Services have expanded provision to include new Storytelling Sessions aimed at children from 3-5 years. This new service enables continuity of service for early/pre schools age children, effectively 0 5yrs. Full details of the improved service are attached to this Amendment.

Bookbug Service Improvement and Risk Reduction 1. Bookbug is supported by the Scottish Book Trust who coordinate the Bookbug Programme nationally. 2. A number of local authorities across Scotland have experienced the same concerns around oversubscription to Bookbug sessions, and have brought about similar changes including promoting smaller Bookbug sessions to increase quality of provision. 3. The changes in West Dunbartonshire were applied to enhance the quality of Bookbug provision, without reducing the number of places. 4. The new programme will have 9 weekly Bookbug Sessions plus another 2 Bookbug sessions working alternate weeks. These have the capacity for 165 children. 5. In addition there will be a new programme of 4 Storytime sessions per week for 3-5yr olds with the capacity for 60 children. The introduction of Storytime will address a previously unmet need. 6. Pre booking for blocks of sessions will take place on a first come first served basis, and waiting lists established if required. 7. Parents have been requested to regularly attend the sessions which they have booked. If this is not the case and three sessions in a row are missed, staff will assume that there was no longer an interest in Bookbug, and another parent on the waiting list would be contacted to fill the place. 8. Where parents wish to increase the number of Bookbug Sessions, the Council will provide training to allow them to facilitate additional parent led sessions in libraries. 9. Parent led sessions already take place in some parts of West Dunbartonshire. 10. The Bookbug sessions will be held in every branch library across the authority, with Storytime sessions being held in the busier branches. Details of the sessions are as follows: Alexandria 2 BB sessions & 1 Storytime Balloch 1 BB session Clydebank 1 Storytime Session & 1 BB / Storytime alternate Saturdays Dalmuir 2 BB Sessions & 1 Storytime session Dumbarton 2 BB sessions & 1 Storytime session plus 1 BB session on alternate Saturdays Duntocher 1 BB session Parkhall 1 BB session

11. The Libraries and Cultural Services would expect all sessions to be busy i.e. close to the 15 child capacity however there is the capacity to meet more than the current demand for child places. 12. In some rare cases parents may require to attend an alternate library close by. 13. The Libraries and Cultural Services will monitor the changes and amend to meet demand in individual branches as necessary. 14. Based on current figures there is unlikely to be an unmet demand. However, should demand develop the aim is to meet this by initiating additional sessions. 15. We are keen to work with parents to support these increases where possible. Parents will be signposted to less well attended sessions to ensure they can participate, and should demand exceed places the Libraries and Cultural Services will aim to meet this. 16. Risk assessments were carried for all activities promoted by Libraries and Cultural Services. The risk assessments for Bookbug sessions were carried out for all venues involved. The results of these were used to inform the review changes. 17. Through consultation with staff we also applied a capacity for each session, this met the requirements of the risk assessments, and was based on the experiences and recommendations of staff involved in leading Bookbug sessions of varying sizes. 18. If a couple of additional parents turn up, not knowing the new system, we would not turn them away as it is recognized that the changes will take some time to bed in and for all parents to be aware of the need to book sessions. 19. Similarly where two siblings wish to attend and only one place remains, both children will be accepted in these circumstances. 20. Other contingencies in place ensure that any children referred from support services e.g. the NHS will be assured of a place at their chosen session.

Councillor Michelle Stewart In speaking to the amendment I would Like to highlight the following points: Firstly, I would like to take the time to recognize the work our Library staff do over and above what we have come to expect of them. They deliver first rate services that are an asset to our communities. Whilst we dont always appreciate what goes on behind the scenes, I know that the management and staff are continuously reviewing services they provide to the public to improve them, make them more productive and also ensure that they are providing a warm, safe, secure environment for reading and learning for all ages. Just some of the services that they provide for our youngest learners are Bookbug, Rhymtime and Storytime. These services have proven to be very popular, in fact they have become so popular that after receiving complaints from parents using the service and listening to the concerns expressed by the staff who provide it, a review of the service was undertaken. The outcome of this review are covered in my Amendment and the attached document but I feel I really need to restate a couple of issues: This is a service improvement. The number of available spaces have increased (from 144 to 225) A new service has been introduced (Storytime) The Library and Cultural Services have put quality and safety at the heart of this review. There will be some flexibility during the transition and the Library and Cultural Services will continue to monitor service demand. There is a real desire to grow the service capacity and involve parents more.

Finally, the review that has taken place was to enhance the quality of the service that was offered without reducing places for children. It is fully supported by the Scottish Bookbug Trust who co-ordinate Bookbug nationally. West Dunbartonshire was not alone in reviewing the quality and safety of Bookbug sessions due to oversubscription. A number of other local authorities have brought about similar changes including smaller sessions to increase the quality that children who attend these services receive from them. I would ask the Council to support my Amendment. Thank you