Coventry’s libraries will be among the first in the country to undergo a new–style government inspection.

It is anticipated that the service will be subjected to a review similar to that schools face from Ofsted inspectors.

The survey will be carried out over a one or two week period, probably next year as part of the Best Value process, which has been introduced to scrutinise the way local authorities work.

The inspection team will consist of professional librarians and auditors.

Once the process is completed library bosses expect to get an indication of how far behind the national standards Coventry is.

Tough new performance levels could be introduced soon that will force Coventry to spend millions of pounds to reach new targets. The city’s libraries currently fall short of the mark in nine of 23 categories.

Chief librarian Bob Parsons said that if Coventry doesn’t reach a set level by 2004, the government could intervene in the running of the libraries.

But until the process is fully launched, it is unclear what form any intervention will take.

Cllr George Duggins, cabinet member (Education Services) said if Coventry passes the inspection and Best Value process then it could escape action.

He said:

“We may be short of these figures by the year 2004 but as a result of the Best Value review and an inspection report we may find ourselves in the position that the Secretary of State does not make any recommendations about the intervention.”

He added that a comprehensive review of the way the libraries are run – the first for 30 years - was nearing completion.

Mr Parsons said people’s initial hostility to the review was beginning to change,

He said:

“It’s been an interesting process and people have begun to come back to me with alternatives to the way the way the structure could be made more robust and improve the service for the people of Coventry.”