London Libraries Consortium subscribes to smartsm to drive efficiencies around their shared collections

Now more than ever, public libraries are having to find ways to make their resources stretch further and as well as buying new material more effectively, there is an opportunity to look at innovative ways to better utilise current stock. smartsm is the world leading stock performance improvement toolset for public libraries. It helps libraries practice the proven Evidence Based Stock Management (EBSM) Methodology allowing them to manage and develop their collections based on evidence.

By analysing the supply:demand balance within individual collections at specific locations in public libraries, the methodology provides action plans which outline to balance the collection to meet demand. This can deliver significant benefits in elimination of waste by helping libraries to get better use from their existing collections, helping them spend their book funds more effectively and also helping them deliver a better service to their customers by getting more of the right material in the right place to drive borrowing figures. Additionally, the product helps deliver efficiencies around savings in staff time through the effective use of data and allowing processes such as stock editing and selection to be streamlined

10 London Libraries Consortium (LLC) members - the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Havering, Merton, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Wandsworth have subscribed to smartsm for a period of three years, meaning that now 18 of the 33 London Boroughs now utilise smartsm taking the national figure to almost 50 percent of UK public libraries subscribing to the solution.

The LLC members between them have 150 branches and smartsm is monitoring a combined collection of over 6.5 million items.

Andrew Green, Head of Library and Heritage Service at Wandsworth said, “Given the challenges being faced by public libraries we are having to explore new ways of working. The LLC has always prided itself on its joined up thinking and we look forward to exploring the potential for smartsm to help the member libraries work even more closely together, drive efficiency and eliminate waste. Smartsm offers opportunities for each authorities to manage stock better both individually and as part of the LLC.”

About LLC

The London Libraries Consortium consists of 14 London Boroughs who have come together to improve service delivery to library users, improve the quality of leadership, to achieve cost efficiencies, and to offer cross-borough benefits to library customers. Started in 2003, the consortium covers over 3 million residents, over 150 library branches and offers over 6 million library items. It constantly seeks to improve services, through ever-changing workstreams
London Libraries Consortium members: Barking & Dagenham, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Hackney, Havering, Kingston Upon Thames, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth.

About Bridgeall Libraries
Based in Glasgow, UK, Bridgeall Libraries are the software company who has developed smartsm®, the world leading Evidence Based Stock Management (EBSM®) solution. EBSM® is the complete library stock improvement methodology, which analyses historic and current information about stock use, to help librarians save time and money, improve stock performance and align stock with local demand. smartsm is the software application which implements the EBSM® methodology to help libraries achieve stock performance excellence. It is implemented using the Software as a Service model of application deployment. Customers pay an annual subscription to access the service.

The London Libraries Consortium can be contacted via Madeline Barratt, Libraries Strategy & Performance Manager, Enfield Libraries: Madeline.Barratt@enfield.gov.uk or 0208 379 3784.

For more information on smartsm, see www.smartsm.com
Bridgeall Libraries Ltd, Hillington Park Innovation Centre, Glasgow, G52 4RU, UK
Ian Downie, Bridgeall Libraries contact@smartsm.com

For media information, high resolution images, or to request an interview, re LLC please contact:
Catherine Dhanjal, TheAnswer Ltd. Tel: 01883 650434 or 0794 166 9925
Email: Catherine.dhanjal@theansweruk.com

This release was published on openPR.