This week the British Library launches New Strategic Directions, which
outlines our plans for the next five to seven years. The responses of
staff, readers, customers, visitors and all those who use library services
in the UK will be sampled to give us an insight into the balance of opinion
among our user and stakeholder groups. There is a survey at the Library's
website www.bl.uk, which we hope that our users (and potential users) will
complete. All respondents will be entered in a draw to win £20 Amazon
vouchers to spend on books and music.

The consultation survey is being widely promoted into all UK libraries by
mail-shots, posters, information leaflets and e-mails to users. There will
be a PC dedicated to the web survey in the Front Hall of our London
building and PCs for access in the Reading Room at Boston Spa in Yorkshire.


Strategy Content

One of the Library's core values is that access to knowledge and
information empowers and enriches people. From that belief comes the
Library's vision of 'making accessible the world's intellectual, scientific
and cultural heritage. The collections of the BL and other great
collections will be accessible on everyone's virtual bookshelf- at work, at
school, at college, at home.'

In order to realise the vision, the Library will concentrate on
understanding the changing needs of users, creating opportunities to work
in partnership with other libraries, and bringing the Web centre stage in
our activities.

New Strategic Directions incorporates the recent reviews of Collection
Development, Remote Document Supply and Patent Provision and develops two
main themes:

Collections strategy:  improving coverage of the UK's published output and
of digital collections while developing greater collaboration with other
libraries in collecting, preserving and providing access to research
material

Access strategy:  making the collections more accessible to a wider
audience, reshaping services where there are alternative sources of supply,
and contributing to making library provision more effective in the UK.

The text of New Strategic Directions and the survey are available on the
Library's website www.bl.uk. Users and stakeholders without their own PC
can use one of the Open Access PCs in the Library's main buildings to
complete the survey. If you would prefer print copies of either document,
please email mailto:[log in to unmask]

If you have further questions about New Strategic Directions, please e-mail
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]

For press enquiries please contact [log in to unmask]