Thanks to the person who back channelled me quoting the original Act:
'...Public Libraries Act 1964 sets out the general duty of library
authorities ( local authorities ) "..to provide a comprehensive and
efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof ,
and for that purpose to employ such officers , to provide and maintain
such buildings and equipment , and such books and other materials, and
to do such other things as may be requisite..." (s. 7(1) )'
In saying "for all persons desiring to make use thereof" implies no one is to be
left out of the service.
But I just wonder if the sense of the word comprehensive might have
something to do with the sense as in Comprehensive School (dating back to
1949). Quoting from the wiki page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprehensive_school again:
"A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on
the basis of academic achievement or aptitude ... In principle it was originally
conceived as a 'neighbourhood' school, which all students in its catchment
area are meant to attend, irrespective of ability ..."
"a comprehensive school teaches a full range of subjects across the academic
and vocational spectrum"
There is this article from 1964, but I have yet to trace down a copy in a
library: Comprehensive and Efficient http://tinyurl.com/ylgulyf
A Copac http://copac.ac.uk/ search on "Comprehensive and Efficient" (in the
subject field curiously enough, 'twas accidental) results in a number of more
recent library reports http://tinyurl.com/yjql4w2
See also the original post to this thread http://tinyurl.com/ylxysbb
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