With apologies for cross-posting

Library and Information Co-operation Council (LINC) News Release


6 October 1998				          For immediate release


LINC's Response to Spending Review paper

The Library and Information Co-operation Council (LINC) has submitted a 
wide-ranging 
Response to the Comprehensive Spending Review published in July by the 
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Reflecting the 
cross-sectoral nature of the organisation, LINC fully supports the DCMS's 
overall objectives on access, excellence and innovation, and the 
nurturing of educational opportunity. In welcoming some of the Review's 
proposals, while expressing reservations about others, LINC hopes that 
the Government will allow more time and a flexible approach for 
consultation and discussion.

On the proposals for the English regions, LINC welcomes the statement 
that "strong regional library organisations should be major players in 
the regional cultural structure", but adds that the Review contains some 
radical and surprising proposals. The contribution by libraries to the 
economic and competitive aims of the Regional Development Agencies needs 
to be stressed, but the agenda for libraries, with their key role of 
information management, is much wider than simply cultural. The DCMS 
proposals might diminish the potential for other equally important 
partnerships in which libraries should be involved.

LINC supports the proposal to establish strong regional bodies with 
executive powers to develop cultural strategies with the support of 
Lottery and other funding, but says that libraries could be disadvantaged 
unless distribution for individual sectors is clearly identified.

On the models that might be adopted for these regional cultural 
groupings, LINC accepts the desirability of achieving one model 
applicable across the country; but DCMS should take account of the 
differences in the regions, and change should be at a pace consistent 
with consultation and agreement. LINC is concerned about the practicality 
of creating a new structure and its ability to maintain the responsive 
and flexible approach to partnership that the cross-sectoral library 
community requires.

LINC understands the principle of co-terminosity but is concerned that 
decisions should not be prescriptive. The proposed new regional bodies 
should correspond to the areas covered by Regional Development Agencies, 
but it is neither practical nor necessary that other contributing 
regional agencies be co-terminous.

LINC fully supports the concept of libraries having a clear and prominent 
focus within the 
proposed regional cultural bodies. It will be sensible to build on the 
recognised strengths and achievements of the Regional Library Systems and 
on the track record of working together across the library sectors. 

However, the proposals for Lottery funding to supplement public library 
bookstocks are a cause for concern. A more effective means of using 
resources would be to consider purchases on a regional basis; this would 
allow funding to fill gaps in special and regional collections. A process 
of individual bids would be random and piecemeal, seen as rewarding 
authorities guilty of neglect and unfair to those which had striven to 
maintain bookfunds. 

LINC agrees with giving the British Library's research functions to the 
Library and Information Commission (LIC ) but, if LIC and the Museums and 
Galleries Commission (MGC) are to be merged, it is essential that funds 
supporting library research are earmarked for that purpose. The proposal 
to combine the Advisory Council on Libraries with LIC, which will aid 
cross-sectoral development, and the proposed LIC role as a public 
libraries IT Development Agency, are both supported.

Among other DCMS proposals, LINC welcomes those for improved co-operation 
between libraries and the education sector, but says the creation of a 
new watchdog, to monitor and improve standards across the areas of DCMS 
responsibility, could add another layer to the bureaucracy that already 
includes the Audit Commission and Best Value. 

On the proposed merger of LIC and MGC, LINC believes the issues are more 
complex than has been recognised. Common ground exists between library, 
museums and archive services, but the distinctive features are more 
important. The crucially important information role of libraries could be 
underplayed, even undermined, in favour of the cultural role. The areas 
of shared interest, eg. IT/digitisation and lifelong learning can be 
developed, LINC suggests, without merging the Commissions - and the LIC, 
having made good progress in a limited timescale, needs time to develop.

/ends


Notes to Editors

1.  Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Comprehensive Spending 
Review: A new approach to investment in culture. 24 July 1998. 
http://www.culture.gov.uk/CSRALL.HTM

2.  LINC is the leading representative organisation promoting 
co-operation and partnership in the UK and Republic of Ireland as a means 
of improving the effectiveness of the library and information sector. Its 
members include the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, An 
Chomhairle Leabharlanna (the Irish Library Council), LISC (NI), 
Interlending Wales, LA, SCONUL, the Society of Chief Librarians, all but 
one of the English Library Regions, and a range of organisations with an 
interest in co-operation.  

3.  For further information or a copy of LINC's full Response to the DCMS 
paper,  contact: LINC Honorary Secretary Paul Turner, County Librarian, 
Hampshire, 81 North Walls, Winchester SO23 8BY.  Tel: 01962 846 109.  
Fax: 01962 856 615.  E-mail: [log in to unmask]
    
4.  News release issued for LINC by Pat Wressell & Associates, Press 
Officer.  
Tel: 0191 281 3502.  Fax: 0191 212 0146.  E-mail: [log in to unmask] 


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