Welsh Government’s annual assessment (2023-24) of the library service in Bridgend County Borough has recognised its “impressive range of activities”, “support for people with a wide range of needs and interests, in particular those with additional learning needs” and “strong focus on children’s provision”.
The Welsh Public Library Standards (WPLS) framework enables providers to plan their provision, allows the public to understand what they can expect from their local library service, and allows Welsh Government to assess performance against the duties of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.
The library service in Bridgend County Borough is managed by Awen Cultural Trust, in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council. It operates ten libraries (two in conjunction with Halo Leisure), a ‘Books on Wheels’ service for the housebound, and the county-wide Local History Library.
The WPLS assessment found that Bridgend’s library service is performing well, with a notable increase in online book borrowing, the number of active library users and attendances at events; the latter reported as being the highest in Wales per capita.
Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, said:
“We are proud of another successful WPLS assessment which recognises our libraries as thriving and vibrant spaces offering a wealth of information, resources, opportunities and activities at the very heart of the communities we serve. I am always heartened by the feedback we receive from our library users and the impact our supportive teams and service have on their lives; there is real evidence that libraries do so much to reduce loneliness, social isolation and improve wellbeing.
“The assessment also notes the considerable financial pressure facing local authorities and how this may affect the performance of public library services across Wales in future years. At Awen, we are committed to working closely with Bridgend County Borough Council to evolve our provision to best suit the needs of our communities and sustain that which is important to them.”
Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Cllr John Spanswick, said: “Our libraries are often the cornerstones of communities, offering a range of support and resources to the wide variety of groups of people living within the county borough.
“It’s wonderful to see that our focus on children’s provision, and the inclusivity of our library services, are reflected in the assessment, as is the healthy state of our libraries, especially underlined by the fact that we have the highest number of active library users and attendances at events in Wales per capita.
“I am sure that we will continue to go from strength to strength, despite the current financial climate, by continuing to collaborate with our partners at Awen, as well as our communities, and ensuring to adapt and develop as is necessary.”
