News from CILIP
10th March 2005

CILIP backs call for action on public libraries

CILIP has welcomed the report of the Culture Media and Sport Committee
inquiry into public libraries.

CILIP Chief Executive Bob McKee, who gave evidence to the Committee, said,
"It is heartening to see the Committee's recognition of the value of local
library services and the esteem in which library staff are held by local
people. The report puts libraries at the heart of their local communities and
also puts a welcome emphasis on the importance of books and reading."

CILIP supports the call for action contained in the report to improve public
library services. "We need more consistency and better quality of services
across the country," said Bob, "and CILIP welcomes the Committee's call for
stronger Service Standards and more effective processes of regulation and
performance improvement. The work we are doing with the Audit Commission and
other partners on future arrangements for Comprehensive Performance
Assessment will help to achieve this. There are also important messages in
the report about library staff and CILIP will take these on board in our new
Framework of Qualifications and our work with partners like MLA and Lifelong
Learning UK on library workforce development."

The report calls for a rigorous examination of library stock procurement and
Bob pointed out that this is already in hand. "I am confident," said Bob, "
that the work commissioned by MLA under the Framework for the Future Action
Plan will provide clear guidance on a more effective procurement system."

But improvement also requires investment - particularly in library buildings.
"CILIP has argued for a long time that library buildings need substantial
investment and we strongly support the Committee's call for an action plan to
achieve this," commented Bob. "This is not something that can be left to the
Private Finance Initiative or the opportunism of local development deals - it
needs a strategic approach and a three-way public funding partnership between
central government, local authorities, and the Lottery."

The report recognises the important role of libraries in tackling social
exclusion and this was welcomed by Guy Daines, Head of Policy and Governance
at CILIP. "Libraries should be equally accessible to everyone, " said Guy,
"and that includes people with special needs. The Committee is right to call
for a coordinated policy on access to library services for people with
disabilities."

Equal access means a core service which is free at the point of use and CILIP
President Maggie Haines, who also gave evidence to the Committee, was pleased
to see the report's recommendation that libraries should not levy charges for
access to the Peoples Network. "Electronic resources are part of the core
service of every library these days," commented Maggie, "and it is only by
providing free access that libraries can help to bridge the digital divide
that exists in our society."

"The report speaks up for the positive brand value of the word 'library' and
argues that the service needs to develop on sound foundations as a trusted
civic amenity giving local people access to knowledge in all its forms,"
concluded Bob McKee. "The Committee has put forward important recommendations
for the future of the public library service and CILIP will be pressing the
government to give the report serious consideration and a positive response."

Contact: Bob McKee, Chief executive, Tel: 020 7255 0690
Email: <mailto:[log in to unmask]
Guy Daines, Head of Policy & Governance, Tel: 020 7255 0632
Email: <mailto:[log in to unmask]   

Notes to Editors

List members will be interested to know that the Culture, Media and Sport
Committee (CMS) will be publishing their report on Public Libraries on their
website at 3.00pm today. 

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/culture__media_and_sport/cm
s_050309.cfm 

CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is
the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and
knowledge managers, with around 23,000 members working in all sectors,
including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher
education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the
voluntary sector, national and public libraries.  For more information about
CILIP, please go to www.cilip.org.uk.