Standards, improvement, efficiency: an MLA perspective

1. Standards, improvement, efficiency: an MLA perspective Standards, improvement, efficiency: an MLA perspective Andrew Stevens MLA Andrew Stevens MLA

2. Local government policy framework • Community led priorities and performance management • Community involvement/engagement in design and delivery of services • Cross sector and cross authority working – partnerships and complex delivery chains • Cost reduction and efficiency • Local Authority as commissioner – working with a mix of public and private sector provision

3. Efficiency and public libraries Challenges: • Gershon, Spending Review and more (or less) • Resources too thinly spread • Complexity and duplication of processes • Standardise processes but also fostering innovation • Models to drive improvement • Getting the best from local, regional and national capacity

4. Standards help technology to be a good servant Better for customers • Faster, more flexible service delivery • Seamless, accessible and easy to use resources • Connecting local and wider resources • Membership, inter library lending, catalogue access … Better for libraries • Cost reduction – aggregation and streamlining of backroom process • Reduced potential for error • Know what you get • Value from investment – flexible application Better for suppliers • Clarity of user requirements • Cost reduction • Focus on common agenda for improvement • Innovation focused on added value

5. What next for MLA? • Standards • EDI • Stock categories • Publishers pilot • Link to LMS specifications • Good practice • Costing tool • Good practice • Strategic fit • Emerging libraries action plan • Service models and efficiency

6. Thank you for listening Andrew Stevens andrew.stevens@mla.gov.uk