PRESS RELEASE - Apologies for Cross Postings

LISU’s Public Library Materials Fund and Budget Survey Ceases Publication

LISU has been forced to discontinue this annual statistical series because 
of the withdrawal of financial support for its compilation from the 
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The issue covering 2004 –2006 
data, published in September 2005, will therefore be the end of a series 
which has run for some 20 years, and which has provided invaluable 
management data on the materials budgets of public libraries.  

LISU’s Director, Dr Eric Davies, remarked: “The Public Library Materials 
Fund and Budget Survey represented a valuable tool for those concerned 
with the management and delivery of services, and it offered an objective 
and independent picture of what was going on. However, without funding to 
pay for its compilation we could not continue producing it. Most 
regrettably, valuable trend data will gradually wither as no more is 
added.”  

The Survey gave details of both the estimated and actual expenditure on 
various categories of materials by public library authorities in the UK as 
well as summary figures and commentary on trends. Changes in staffing 
levels and service points were also covered. As such it represented a 
valuable resource for policy makers, the library profession, the book 
trade, academics and the media.

Professor John Feather of Loughborough University, Chair of the LISU 
Advisory Board, said: ‘We greatly regret that we have been forced to take 
this decision, but without financial support we cannot continue the work. 
It seems particularly unfortunate that the service has to be withdrawn at 
a time when public libraries are increasingly recognised by government and 
by business as an essential element in the UK’s knowledge economy.’

The final issue can be downloaded from:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/lisu/pages/publications/matfund05.ht
ml

More information from:
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Dr J E Davies
Director - LISU
Holywell Park
Loughborough University,
Loughborough. Leics. England. LE11 3TU.
Tel; +44(0)1509 635681
Fax:+44(0)1509 635699
email: [log in to unmask]
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About LISU
LISU is a national research and information centre based at the Department 
of Information Science at Loughborough University. LISU comprises a team 
of experienced Information Managers, Statisticians, Researchers and 
Administrators focusing on the analysis, development, interpretation and 
dissemination of statistics, performance assessment measures and related 
management data. LISU seeks to contribute, in appropriate ways, to good 
management practice in the various public and private sector agencies that 
make up the strands of the information economy and cultural services.