--- APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTINGS ------
Five year plan aims to make every library a great library.
(Thursday 15 May 2008)
An Action Plan designed to set the course for Libraries over the next five
years is published today.
The Action Plan from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is the
result of extensive consultation and engagement with stakeholders and sets
out an agenda for change for public libraries in England with the
aspiration of making every public library a great public library. Best
practice is at work in great libraries in communities across England. MLA
will promote excellent services and help the rest match the best.
The Action Plan will also see MLA:
- Examine options for governance, funding, management and delivery
structures to improve the effectiveness and impact of libraries services
and to establish political support for change.
- Maintain support for national ventures such as Find your Talent, the
National Year of Reading, the Youth Offer, Living Places, the Cultural
Olympiad and Personalised Health Services as a means of improving services
- Make an effective case for faster broadband connections in public
libraries with greater bandwidth.
- Manage digital data environments and further extend the provision of free
or low cost reference materials to public libraries through centrally
negotiated contracts with providers.
- Promote ‘Libraries Online’ to deliver 21st century learning, information
and creative digital environments.
Roy Clare said:
“Now the MLA is guiding a drive for improvement in public libraries through
a far-sighted five-year Action Plan that will draw attention to best
practice, promote innovation and work towards new national arrangements for
digital services, including faster broadband and better access for all
people, wherever they may be. Many of our fantastic public libraries are
already playing a vital role and providing essential services at the heart
of our communities; the rest need to catch up with the best”
He continued:
More than 50% of the population are members of public libraries; more
people use them than attend premier league football matches”
Download the Libraries Action Plan at
http://www.mla.gov.uk/news/press_releases/Five_year_plan_to_make_every
_library_a_great_library
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