Q1: Why is management of the SPAL collection being transferred to NewSPAL?
A: For budgetary reasons, in 2018 Surrey County Council decided to close its specialist Performing Arts Library in Dorking and to no longer employ specialist librarians to manage the collection. There has been no significant investment in the collection or service since 2018 and, faced with ongoing budgetary pressures, that situation is unlikely to change. NewSPAL is a charity formed by users of SPAL who are convinced that the service can have a long-term sustainable future in the charity sector while at the same time improving the service to users through employing staff with relevant experience and bespoke IT systems. In February 2019 Surrey County Council agreed to transfer the management of the SPAL collection to NewSPAL, initially for a trial period of two years (from Spring 2022).
Q2: Is NewSPAL part of Surrey County Council?
A: No, NewSPAL is a wholly independent charitable organisation which is currently funded entirely from donations and small grants. It receives no local authority or other public funding. Once operational it will be entirely dependent on subscriptions and hire income to cover its operating costs, with any surplus being reinvested in the collection and improvements to the service.
Q3: Where will I be able to browse the SPAL collection?
A: The catalogue will be available to browse on-line 24/7, with the opportunity to check availability of stock, make reservations and pay hire charges all on-line. The collection will also be open for browsing in person at Ewell Library (Bourne Hall) during NewSPAL opening hours.
Q4: Who will be able to borrow stock and hire sets from NewSPAL?
A: Only individuals and groups which have registered with NewSPAL will be able to borrow items from the collection or hire sets. There will be a one-off administration charge of £15 to register as a member of NewSPAL. Individuals will pay a modest annual subscription (with concessionary rates available) but will then be able to borrow single items (books, chamber music, single copies of playsets etc) without further charge. There will be no annual subscriptions for groups which will "pay as you go" for sets hired. Membership of NewSPAL will be open to individuals and groups from anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Q5: How much will I have to pay to borrow or hire from NewSPAL?
A: There will be a scale of charges for hiring sets (whether music or drama) from NewSPAL designed to be nationally competitive for amateur organisations while ensuring that NewSPAL is financially viable without public subsidy. Individuals who have registered as members will be able to borrow single items (books, chamber music, single copies of plays etc) without further charge.
Q6: When will the transfer of management take place?
A: It is expected that NewSPAL will become fully operational in Spring 2022.
Q7: What happens if I have already reserved stock before the transfer happens?
A: NewSPAL and Surrey Libraries will be collaborating closely to ensure that the transfer of management occurs with minimum disruption to users. All reservations made with Surrey Libraries prior to the transfer of management will be honoured but users will need to register as NewSPAL members in order to hire or borrow stock after the transfer takes place.
Q8: Will I be able to order and collect stock from Surrey Libraries?
A: No. NewSPAL is entirely independent of Surrey Libraries so it will not be possible to borrow or return through other Surrey libraries.
A: No, NewSPAL is a wholly independent charitable organisation which is currently funded entirely from donations and small grants. It receives no local authority or other public funding. Once operational it will be entirely dependent on subscriptions and hire income to cover its operating costs, with any surplus being reinvested in the collection and improvements to the service.
Q3: Where will I be able to browse the SPAL collection?
A: The catalogue will be available to browse on-line 24/7, with the opportunity to check availability of stock, make reservations and pay hire charges all on-line. The collection will also be open for browsing in person at Ewell Library (Bourne Hall) during NewSPAL opening hours.
Q4: Who will be able to borrow stock and hire sets from NewSPAL?
A: Only individuals and groups which have registered with NewSPAL will be able to borrow items from the collection or hire sets. There will be a one-off administration charge of £15 to register as a member of NewSPAL. Individuals will pay a modest annual subscription (with concessionary rates available) but will then be able to borrow single items (books, chamber music, single copies of playsets etc) without further charge. There will be no annual subscriptions for groups which will "pay as you go" for sets hired. Membership of NewSPAL will be open to individuals and groups from anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Q5: How much will I have to pay to borrow or hire from NewSPAL?
A: There will be a scale of charges for hiring sets (whether music or drama) from NewSPAL designed to be nationally competitive for amateur organisations while ensuring that NewSPAL is financially viable without public subsidy. Individuals who have registered as members will be able to borrow single items (books, chamber music, single copies of plays etc) without further charge.
Q6: When will the transfer of management take place?
A: It is expected that NewSPAL will become fully operational in Spring 2022.
Q7: What happens if I have already reserved stock before the transfer happens?
A: NewSPAL and Surrey Libraries will be collaborating closely to ensure that the transfer of management occurs with minimum disruption to users. All reservations made with Surrey Libraries prior to the transfer of management will be honoured but users will need to register as NewSPAL members in order to hire or borrow stock after the transfer takes place.
Q8: Will I be able to order and collect stock from Surrey Libraries?
A: No. NewSPAL is entirely independent of Surrey Libraries so it will not be possible to borrow or return through other Surrey libraries.
