Tauranga city councillors are today being asked to approve a 'community hub strategic framework model” to kick-start a new direction for the city's library network.

The recommendation builds on an independent assessment of library services that ruled that in spite of ongoing attacks on its budget, the range of services offered is consistent with libraries of a similar size both nationally and internationally.

Budget increases are being sought for City Libraries. Photo: File.

The library is delivering effective service for the resources that it has, and is efficient in terms of operations says the review, which the council has had since July.

The recommendation to councillors is to take the city libraries to the next level, making them a platform for learning, inspiration, innovation and connection and increasing community links to deliver greater value.

The recommendation is for libraries to grow their digital services and capabilities with digital sources of information sitting alongside print as a means of knowledge and local identity.

Recognised changing trends in libraries have seen users utilising them as community learning spaces – particularly around the use of new technology.

City libraries currently operate an increasing range of initiatives that support this type of use, and have a varied range of spaces within the network for community learning.

However, it also lacks strategic digital expertise to drive continuous learning by staff and the community and migrate customers to digital technology.

The recommendations include a range of specifics; make new children's memberships free, stop fines on children's books and extend library hours. The revenue loss on stopping the children's books fines alone is around $25,000.

Removing the internet fee on library computer use would cost a further $60,000. Altogether the recommendations amount to $377,300 through either increase in service levels or reduction in revenue.

Also recommended is an increase in the book buying budget to $1 million for 2016-17. The Long Term Plan budget for 2016/17 and 2017/18 is $798,000.

The increase is requested because the recent fall in the $NZ exchange rate against the US Dollar and the British Pound is expected to impact severely on both the print and e-stock budget in the foreseeable future.

The reduction in the books budget from $1 million in 2015/16 to $798,000 in 2016/17 will result in significantly lower stocks than planned.

Print issues are expected to drop further this year as reductions in print stock from the previous year have begun to result in longer customer waiting lists and limited choice. The drop in print issues is not balanced by an increase in e-issues.