Council welcomes proposals of the Conservative administration to abolish library fines for all ages across Trafford from April 2018.

Trafford will become the first public library authority in the country to adopt this policy which sends a welcome message to our residents in Trafford that they will have access to a completely free library service. This decision will overcome evidence that suggests that this charge is off-putting for customers and help to see a further increase in usage of libraries across the borough.

This change also aligns with the Vision 2031 ambition of ‘no one held back, no one left behind’ as there would be no barriers, either actual or perceived, of people accessing libraries and all they had to offer.

Council notes that most learning of literacy happens in the first 11 years of a child’s life, as does the development of a person’s love of reading and therefore supports a further policy change that WILL result in every child whose birth is registered in Trafford receiving a library card and a book start pack.

It was moved and seconded that:

“Council welcomes proposals of the Conservative administration to abolish library fines for all ages across Trafford from April 2018.

Trafford will become the first public library authority in the country to adopt this policy which sends a welcome message to our residents in Trafford that they will have access to a completely free library service. This decision will overcome evidence that suggests that this charge is off-putting for customers and help to see a further increase in usage of libraries across the borough.

This change also aligns with the Vision 2031 ambition of ‘no one held back, no one left behind’ as there would be no barriers, either actual or perceived, of people accessing libraries and all they had to offer.

Council notes that most learning of literacy happens in the first 11 years of a child’s life, as does the development of a person’s love of reading and therefore supports a further policy change that WILL result in every child whose birth is registered in Trafford receiving a library card and a book start pack.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“Council notes proposals of the Conservative administration to abolish library fines for all ages across Trafford from April 2018.

Trafford will become the first public library authority in the country to adopt this policy which sends a message to our residents in Trafford that they will have access to a completely free library service. This decision will overcome evidence that suggests that this charge is off-putting for customers and could potentially help ensure a further increase in usage of libraries across the borough.

This change also aligns with the Vision 2031 ambition of ‘no one held back, no one left behind’ as there would be no barriers, either actual or perceived, of people accessing libraries and all they had to offer.

Council notes that most learning of literacy happens in the first 11 years of a child’s life, as does the development of a person’s love of reading and therefore supports the continuation of what is a long standing policy of this Council: that every child whose birth is registered in Trafford receives a library card and a book start pack.

However, Council recognises a change such as this – untested elsewhere in the country – could potentially have a negative impact on the library service in terms of more books not being returned due to the absence of deterrent. Council, therefore, agrees to trial this policy for a period of 6 months and review the new approach at the end of this period, to ensure that library budgets are not affected and that it does not impact on the length of time residents are waiting to borrow books – or lead to additional books not being returned, which would deplete the Council’s book offer to its residents.”

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

Further speeches were made on the issue, following which the substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That Council welcomes proposals of the Conservative administration to abolish library fines for all ages across Trafford from April 2018.

Trafford will become the first public library authority in the country to adopt this policy which sends a welcome message to our residents in Trafford that they will have access to a completely free library service. This decision will overcome evidence that suggests that this charge is off-putting for customers and help to see a further increase in usage of libraries across the borough.

This change also aligns with the Vision 2031 ambition of ‘no one held back, no one left behind’ as there would be no barriers, either actual or perceived, of people accessing libraries and all they had to offer.

Council notes that most learning of literacy happens in the first 11 years of a child’s life, as does the development of a person’s love of reading and therefore supports a further policy change that WILL result in every child whose birth is registered in Trafford receiving a library card and a book start pack.