Surrey Performing Arts Library and the proposed transfer to NewSPAL

Overview

Give us your views on the proposed transfer of Surrey Performing Arts Library to the charity NewSPAL.

To help you understand these proposals, please read the comparison of the services attached below in the "Related" section.

Surrey Performing Arts Library (SPAL) is currently housed at Ewell Library, following its move from Denbies Wine Estate in summer 2018. The future of the service and how best to keep it operating with reduced funding has been under discussion since 2017 when a public consultation found there was considerable support for a service that is independent of Surrey County Council (SCC) and local government budget pressures.

A charity, NewSPAL, was formed in 2018 with the intention of taking on the service. NewSPAL has support from many of the library’s current users and as a charity would be able to pursue a wide range of funding opportunities which are not currently available. 

SCC asked NewSPAL to complete a business plan for taking over the library. As the plan would change how the service would operate, you are invited to give your views on the proposals. 

The key proposals are:

• Transferring the day to day running of the SPAL collection to NewSPAL.
   
• The SPAL collection would initially be loaned to NewSPAL. It would be transferred permanently once requirements are met and the charity is financially stable.
   
• Moving to a proposed new and accessible location in Woking and changing the opening hours.
   
• Making the future of the collection more financially viable by extending loan facilities to the rest of the UK.
   
• Changing charges and pricing structures.
   
• New collection and delivery arrangements.
   
• Installing a bespoke computer system, available 24/7, with a flexible search facility giving up to date information on availability of items and which will enable self-service reservations and account management.

What happens now?

We are inviting you to give your views on these proposals and how they would affect your use of SPAL. The responses will be considered by SCC’s Cabinet when it evaluates NewSPAL's business plan and before any final decisions are made.

Please have your say on these proposals by filling out this short questionnaire.