One Million Pounds Saved Through Partnership

Nine Library Authorities share and improve services.

From a 2004 meeting of the Thames Valley Society of Chief Librarians group, a novel idea sprung to life. The six library authorities gathered around the table discussed ways to improve customer service throughout their six authorities, and save money on procurement.

After a study of costs and options, what resulted is today’s SELMS, the South East Library Man-agement System, a consortium of nine library authorities.

Though at its heart the aim of SELMS is the focus on the customer, significant cost savings for the library authorities were made. The original savings amounted to £1m across five years for the founding six members and new members are immediately saving the significant cost of procurement of their own new LMS.

Benefits to the library authorities and to library customers are many. Library users in the region are able to use any library in the nine authorities with one ticket, access all catalogues, directly request items across boundaries, and borrow and return at any library in the consortium.

Library authorities no longer need to go through the tender process for LMS, and benefit from the knowledge and experience of existing members. The consortium is able to reduce costs with shared service delivery.

Mark Taylor, Head of Library Services for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, said: “We have, together, taken a significant step forward in partnership working. We believe SELMS membership has already delivered and will continue to deliver significant benefits to all members in the future.

More library authorities are looking into joining or replicating the SELMS model.
SELMS Authorities
Buckinghamshire County Council
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Medway Council
Brighton and Hove City Council
Milton Keynes Council
Wokingham Borough Council
West Berkshire Council
London Borough Hammersmith and Fulham
Kent County Council