Jersey Library Services (FOI)

Request

Please could you provide the following information:

A

Please provide data on active membership of the library service for each year for the period 2016 to 2021 (for the year 2020 / 2021, please provide all data on usage that you have up to the date you received this request).

B

Please provide annual usage statistics for each year for the period 2016 to 2021 for your library service for the following digital services. (For the year 2020 / 2021, please provide all data on usage that you have up to the date you received this request).

a. Electronic books and comics

b. Electronic audio books

Please also provide annual usage statistics for each year for the period 2016 to 2021 for your library service for physical library loans.

C

Please provide costings for the amounts paid annually to the providers of these services in the same periods.

(For requests A to C please clarify in your answers if the figures refer to the financial or calendar year).

D

Please provide information on any support services offered by your service to help library users access these electronic services (such as tablet or laptop loans, training sessions) and the relevant costings.

E

What advice is given to library users regarding privacy in use of digital services provided by third parties?

F

Please provide details regarding how the various lockdowns related to COVID-19 have impacted on your library opening hours?

Response

A

Number of active members:

2016: 34,710

2017: 34,545

2018: 34,157

2019: 35,004

2020: 35,670

2021: This data is currently not available*

*Library’s Management System is being migrated from server to cloud based solution and as such is not accessible. As a result, Article 16 of Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied as, it would exceed the 12.5 hours to collate this information manually.

Note: All data for years is from 1 January to 31 December

B

Electronic books and comics

2016: 2,569

2017: 3,159

2018: 3,815

2019: 5,249

2020: 12,151

2021*: 3,473

*For the period 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021

Note: All data for years is from 1 January to 31 December

Electronic audio books 

2016: 266

2017: 2,169

2018: 3,922

2019: 3,654

2020: 6,337

2021*: 1,810

*For the period 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021

Note: All data for years is from 1 January to 31 December

Usage statistics

2016: 342.528

2017: 347,766

2018: 346,873

2019: 344,965

2020: 185,873

2021*: 48,919

*For the period 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021

Note: All data for years is from 1 January to 31 December

C

Amount paid from January to December

2016: £4,447

2017: £11,632

2018: £5,251.46

2019: £11,880.24

2020: £13,351.15

2021*: £3,999.99

*For the period 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021

Note: All data for years is from 1 January to 31 December

D

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic regular drop-in ‘online service surgeries’ were offered in the libraries to support customers to access the library’s online resources. One-to-one training was also offered in the Town Library’s Open Learning Centre. These services were offered for free. The Library Service also worked in partnership with Age Concern and care homes to support their service users develop IT skills and access online resources.

During the pandemic the Library Service developed instructional content which was published on social and local media to advise how to access online resources. See Jersey Library | Facebook

E

Customers are advised as to service data usage when they register for membership of Jersey Library. Information is also available in the Jersey Library privacy policy on the Library’s website (www.gov.je/library) and on the websites of the third party service providers. 

F

All Jersey Library Service’s physical service points were closed to the public during the islands two lockdowns. Full opening hours resumed as soon as restrictions permitted. Digital services, enquiry services, home deliveries and the Schools Resource service continued throughout both lockdowns. Click, Call and Collect services from service points were introduced when it was judged safe to do so.

Article applied

Article 16 A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by the regulations.