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6 June 2007
Public Libraries - What Next?
Posted by Richard Wallis at June 6, 2007 12:49 AM
I've been doing a bit of reading of late. Bringing myself up to speed on the state and the future of the UK public library service, in readiness for some podcasts with some interesting folk in this area.
An obvious candidate for review on the subject was the MLA's A blueprint for excellence - Public Libraries 2008-2011 - "Connecting People to Knowledge and Inspiration" [pdf] The purpose of this document was to describe a process of consultation on the improvement of England's public library service during the next four years. It presented a series of six propositions which have been out for public consultation for the last few months. With the consultation process closing at the end of May, it will be interesting to see the results when in the autumn a campaign to promote public libraries and to gain support for continued improvement, is launched by the MLA.
I then came across the final report of the Laser Foundation entitled Public Libraries What Next? [pdf]. This parting shot by this, now in the process of winding up, organization is a review of the projects and reports they have funded since 2001. In their time they have funded a couple of thought provoking reports on the subject of public library provision - Overdue: How to create a modern public library service by Charles Leadbeater of the think-tank Demos, and Who's in charge: responsibilities for the public library service by Tim Coates.
Finally in my brief sortie in to the world of proclamations about what should be done in our public libraries, I came across my ex colleague Ken Chad's Changing technologies, changing business models: a challenge for public libraries [pdf]- a response to the MLA's Blueprint for excellence.
Wading through this lot, it is clear that all the authors have in common a passionate belief that public libraries deliver massive benefit to our society, and they should be protected and improved.
Things, or I should say more correctly priorities, then start to diverge somewhat. Some of the blogging and other coverage around these reports over the months has to say the least been a bit critical.
It may be just a personal opinion, but I get the feeling that we have had enough position stating around this important subject, and it is about time there was some working together to start to get things done. As I said earlier, it will be interesting to see how the consultation process shapes the content of the campaign that the MLA will launch in the autumn, but forgive me for being skeptical as to its potential for bringing the disparate voices together in this passionate area. Lets hope my skepticism is misplaced.
(Photo taken by MildlyDiverting displayed in Flickr)
Technorati Tags: Talis, Library, Public Library, Laser Foundation, Charles Leadbeater, Demos, Tim Coates, Ken Chad, MLA
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