A Good Read: Outcomes of Library Service Peer Review

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th Oct 2005

Milton Keynes Council's Library Service provides high levels of customer satisfaction. This is just one of the many strengths revealed by a recent 'peer review'.

The service was also described as having high levels of use and is working successfully with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to meet the needs of local communities. The report describes how the highly motivated and committed staff are delivering a range of services.

The review took place in early September and included visits, discussions and research by a small team that included three chief librarians and a councillor from other parts of the country. The report gives examples of the good work they saw, such as work with parents and children, planning for the new library in Wolverton and the Friends group in Stony Stratford. It also outlines issues that the Council will be looking at over the next few months, for example, how to capture and share good practice, and how to encourage further library use, particularly among non-users.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Euan Henderson, cabinet member whose responsibilities include libraries, said: "The Council is proud of its library service, which we know does a very effective job in supporting many people, including families, older people and people who have newly arrived in the area. It is good to see that the report picks out a wide range of services for praise, including computer access, local information and family history, as well as books and DVDs. I am confident the service will go from strength to strength."

The report is available on the library website at www.mkweb.co.uk/library_services. The service will be producing an action plan to address the issues raised in the report and welcomes feedback from members of the public through the website, or in writing to the Learning and Skills Manager, Central Library, 555 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 3HL.