Please find below the press release we have just issued from the North West
Museums Libraries & Archives Council.
Press Release 5th May 2004
Provocative report misleading
‘Reports of the demise of public libraries have been much exaggerated. In
libraries all over the North West, visitor numbers are going up,’ says
Liverpool City Librarian and NWMLAC Board member Joyce Little. Joyce was
speaking in response to the recently published report, ‘Who’s In Charge,’(1)
which bizarrely predicts that no one will be using public libraries by 2020.
NWMLAC and Libraries North West (2), along with millions of satisfied
library customers, know that public libraries in the region have a fantastic
future. Libraries in our region are reporting visitors flocking through
their doors. For example, using the latest figures available:
Liverpool - visitors up 25%
Manchester - up 12%
Cumbria - up 10%
The reasons for this are clear. More people are using libraries because,
throughout the North West, libraries are getting better.
Here is a selection of key improvements from around the region:
More new books - Many libraries have succeeded in finding more money for
books this year. For example, Bury has an extra £80,000 to spend on new
books this year. Libraries are also achieving even better value for money
by negotiating ‘bulk buy’ deals through consortiums in Greater Manchester
and Merseyside.
Longer opening hours - Blackburn library has opened on Sundays for over 3
years and many other libraries are opening for longer in the evening and at
weekends.
Greater range of services - As well as borrowing books, customers are just
as likely to book a holiday on the internet or use their library to access a
range of services offered by their local council or other service providers.
They might also meet other like-minded people in a reading group or bring
their children to the ever-popular children’s story times.
Exciting major new developments, such as the redevelopment of the Harris
Library in Preston and Liverpool Central Library’s involvement in the City
of Culture programme.… not to mention the many other local initiatives, all
of which will transform the experience of visiting the library in large
cities and small communities alike.
NWMLAC is supporting and leading library services in these changes.
Together with Libraries North West, museums, archives, schools and a wide
range of other partners, we are recreating libraries for the twenty-first
century using the strategic vision outlined by the government in ‘Framework
for the Future’(3).
By 2020, far from being deserted, libraries will be better and more visited
than ever!
Contact: Alan Boughey, Libraries Development Officer, NWMLAC
Tel 01925-625063 E-mail [log in to unmask]
1 Tim Coates, Whos’s in charge? Responsibility for the public library
service. Libri/Laser Foundation, 2003. Available at
www.rwevans.co.uk/libri/downloads.htm
2 Libraries North West represents member libraries in the academic, public
and special library sector in the North West. Contact Sue Valentine on
01244-220362 or see their web site at www.lnw.org.uk
3 Department for Culture Media and Sport, Framework for the future:
Libraries, Learning and Information in the next decade. 2003. Available at
www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications
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