CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
7 Ridgmount St, London WC1E 7AE.
Tel: 020 7255 0500 Textphone: 020 7255 0505 Fax: 020 7255 0501 E-mail: [log in to unmask]
News from CILIP
Monday 15 November 2004
For immediate release (Please copy to online discussion lists)
Government "must do more" to recognise public libraries' contribution to policy objectives
Libraries losing out under present funding system, says leading organisation for library and information professionals
The government is making good progress on public libraries, but there is still much to be done to if the service is to realise its full potential, says CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
In evidence submitted today to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's inquiry into public libraries, CILIP praises government for the development of its 'Framework for the Future' strategy, its investment in the People's Network and the introduction of Public Library Standards. But, CILIP points out, more needs to be done to recognise the contribution that public libraries make to policy objectives across government - and to prevent public libraries from losing out in the present system of local government funding.
"Public libraries are given only half of the weighting given to other statutory services in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) of local authorities," says CILIP's Head of Policy and Governance Guy Daines, "A lower CPA weighting for the library service can mean lower investment as local authorities seek to improve their CPA score by directing their resources towards services that already receive a full weighting."
Public libraries suffer from a legacy of years of under-investment, CILIP emphasizes, calling on government to establish a Standards Fund to provide much needed capital investment in library buildings, bookstock and technology.
"Public libraries represent excellent value for money, and a modest level of additional investment would lead to substantial gains in service quality," Guy Daines continues, "At present there is no direct funding stream to the local library service from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as the responsible government department. This differs from other statutory services such as schools, which receive funds directly from the Department for Education & Skills as well as 'passported' or earmarked funding from local authorities."
Amongst other recommendations, CILIP calls for further revision to the Public Library Standards - including the requirement that Internet access should be free at the point of use - and for urgent action to address staffing issues in the public library service. Finally, CILIP urges government to strengthen the role played by the Advisory Council on Libraries - and to retain this statutory advice function inside DCMS as the responsible government department.
Contact: Tim Buckley Owen, Head of Membership, Marketing & Media.
Tel: 020 7255 0652. Email: [log in to unmask] <Mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Notes to Editors
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.
- Ends -
