Library statistics 2021
Dear Wandsworth Borough Council,
FAO The Library Service.
Hello, I have two freedom of information (FOI) queries that should be quick. This is being sent to all UK library services so be assured you aren't being singled out! If the operating of the library service has been outsourced to a separate organisation then please fulfil this request by retrieving the response from that body.
1. Does the library service complete annual library statistics to be sent to CIPFA? And specifically, have these been completed for the financial year 2020/2021?
2. If the answer to the above is Yes, please include a copy of your 2020/2021 CIPFA library statistics return in your response. This should be sent in the same format as was sent to CIPFA (e.g. an Excel spreadsheet).
It is important that this should be an exact copy of the data sent to CIPFA. I am not requesting any data that is owned by CIPFA, such as their own aggregated reports. As the data is compiled by the library service it is public library data, and subject to Freedom of Information.
To try and cover any concerns about the second part of this request, I have answered a number of potential worries below. Please have a quick look through these before responding!
- Data Format. The data should be sent as structured data in spreadsheet format. Guidelines from the Information Commissioner's Office specify that it is reasonable to request data in a re-usable and "Machine-readable" formats. For example, if the data were exported to a PDF file then that would not be acceptable, as that is a document rather than structured data.
- FOI exemption: accessible by other means. Occasionally, requesters in the past have been told that this data could be exempt from FOI as it accessible from CIPFA when it is published. However this fails the test of being 'reasonably' accessible due to the high cost for a member of the public. This exemption would certainly be overturned on appeal.
- FOI exemption: commercial interest. Commercial interest exemptions do exist in FOI legislation but this would not apply to a single third party (e.g. CIPFA) who use public data. Their commercial interests are in the value they provide in reporting on that data.
Thank you in advance!
Yours faithfully,
Dave Rowe
Public
Wandsworth Request for Information - 2021/4925 - Library statistics 2021
Thank you for your request for information received on 15/09/2021.
This will be processed in accordance with the appropriate access to information regime but may be delayed due to the Council prioritising the operational requirements of Covid-19. We remain committed to responding to your request and will reply as soon as we are able.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Should our response to you breach the statutory time frame you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner:
Regards,
FOI and DPA Officer
[email address]
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Public
Wandsworth Request for Information - 2021/4925 - Library statistics 2021
I refer to your request for information received on 15/09/2021. Please see
the information below in response to your request: -
1. Does the library service complete annual library statistics to be sent
to CIPFA? And specifically, have these been completed for the financial
year 2020/2021?
2. If the answer to the above is Yes, please include a copy of your
2020/2021 CIPFA library statistics return in your response. This should be
sent in the same format as was sent to CIPFA (e.g. an Excel spreadsheet).
Please see attached for our response.
I hope this information meets your needs. If you do not understand the
information provided or wish to discuss anything further, please feel free
to contact me and I, or another member of the team will be able to assist
you.
Please note, all material provided by Wandsworth Council in response to
your request for information is for your personal, non-commercial use.
Wandsworth Council reserves all rights in the copyright of the information
provided. Any unauthorised copying or adaptation of the information
without express written confirmation from Wandsworth Council may
constitute an infringement of copyright. Any intention to re-use this
information commercially may require consent. Please forward any requests
for re-use of information to the FOI officer.
If you are dissatisfied with the information provided in relation to your
request, you may make representations to the FOI and Accountability
Manager. Any such request for an internal review should be made within 40
working days from today's date. Correspondence should be addressed to:
Room 162, Wandsworth Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 2PU
[1][email address]
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
[2]www.ico.org.uk
Regards,
FOI & DPA Officer
[3][email address]
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