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The open library model represents a new way of working for public libraries. It is designed
to be used a complimentary and integral part of the overall service delivery. The idea is
based on a successful model pioneered and extensively used in Scandinavia. It uses
technology and processes to enable a library to open with or without staff needing to be
present. This technology enables councils to make further choices about how services are
delivered and can be used to maintain or even extend opening times to suit the needs of
the individual community they serve at a time when austerity is forcing Local Authorities to
reduce opening hours or even close libraries. Open Libraries offers a significant departure to the service delivery, this innovation and new
way of working offers potential benefits far beyond just the extension of library opening
hours.
The potential is limited to the imagination of those stakeholders engaged in
optimising the benefits of the library service and lies in the creation and maintenance of
community hubs and in supporting the national aspirations for libraries across the United
Kingdom.
Based on actual evidence in both the United Kingdom and the Scandinavian region, there
is significant potential for the local authorities to benefit from the open library model. There
is potential to significantly increase the value of the library where the service has self-service
solutions that offer the ability to borrow and return items and access a range of council
services and is co-located with an active engagement of its stakeholders.
The value of open Libraries are based on actual quantifiable benefits such as;

Targeted staffing models to meet the demand of the users
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
The ability to extend library opening hours with reducing budgets

The implementation of new systems and procedures improves the library security

The ability to open the service to suit demand and can be customised to suit the
needs of the local community

Increase rental income from the premises for events and meetings

Increases staff time by managing the buildings systems to open and close the library

Increases the efficiency of the service and frees up staff to support library users

Secondary benefit to audit existing systems and to upgrade where necessary
meeting compliancy for EIA, H&S and Insurers.
However notably there is anecdotal evidence that deliver benefits to the community and
providing social outcomes to the disadvantaged, these are actual examples of feedback
from UK Local Authorities using open libraries;

Support for vulnerable people and the lonely, Libraries are lifelines for those who live
alone, one example in an open library in the UK is a vulnerable user who spend his
hours in the library when it was open for 23-hours a week. He lives alone and going
to the library is one of the few contacts he has with people each week. Now that
library id open for 37-hours per week this user has stated he has benefitted from the
company of other self-service library users and a group of regular visitors has formed
to create a friendship group who help the vulnerable with their isolation issues and
job searching.

Support for Job Seekers, with high speed internet access and the free availability of
computers, Libraries are often used by job seekers who use the PC’s to look and
apply for employment. One example in an open library was a user (who was a
carer) who spotted a job advertisement and was able to access the library during
open library hours to complete and submit her application within the closing date.
Her application was successful and she used the library PC’s for interview
techniques. She was successful and is now in full time employment. She says that,
“this would not have been possible before as the deadline for applications was
really tight”.

Supporting Children and Families, Libraries are often attached to or used as
Children’s Centres this is a way to bring new mothers together to share their
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experiences, in one open library which is shared by a Sure Start Centre ran a course
to make story sacks whilst I non staffed mode. The result has been, now that the
course has concluded, the group of mothers continue to meet up in open library
time, one mum commented, “it’s a wonderful safe and free environment to meet
up with other mums so that I don’t feel so isolated”.

Supporting reading, literacy and digital literacy, Libraries are a valuable resource for
schools to bring children in to learn about literacy and engage with reading
materials at an early age. One open library provides teachers with a library card
and they bring groups of school children into the library in non-staffed time. The
teacher commented, “It’s about giving the library back to the community so it can
be used by everyone”. Examples across numerous Local Authorities have seen an
increase in the use of public access PC’s, “there has been an increase in the use of
computers, particularly by men who may not be able to access the internet or library
during the day”.

Supporting young adults, Libraries that can extend their opening hours can attract
different sections of the community because their opening hours can reach those
people who want to use the service at the time of their choosing. One open library
in the UK now has a study space for young adults and it is used as a meeting place
for children after school and college. In another example, a library user who home
schools her children uses the library in non-staffed mode to use the space and
materials to educate her children.

Supporting Social enterprise, A library in a local authority who does not use the open
library system has seen the benefits of the system in a nearby library and the users
have formed a community trust that have submitted a joint bid to buy land and
develop the library. The plan is to use the open library model as part of the library
offer. This represents an example of the community taking control of their own
service model and making improvements to the delivery of the Library.

Supporting each other, there are many incidences of groups forming independently
of the library service and in one open library a self-help group has formed to assist
member with library questions and technology and report back any concerns they
have to the library service to resolve.
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