Message

Good point, Ian! But, as someone who was present at the Select Committee hearing last Tuesday, I can assure you that this point was made very forcibly by Bob McKee in his evidence when he was being pressed to say which government department he would prefer to see taking responsibility for libraries. He emphasised the difficulties of seeing libraries as primarily concerned with culture or education because they also had a strong commitment to the Knowledge Economy and economic regeneration which would involve the DTI.

Chairman, The Library Campaign - supporting Friends and Users of Libraries

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Ian Johnson

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 2:48 PM

Subject: Re: Press Notice No. 2

Yes, but as usual there is no one there from the DTI, so public libraries' role in business information and DTI's lack of attention to their potential contribution to the Knowledge Economy may get overlooked - unless a friendly Member can be prompted to ask a pointed question or two.

You will find details of the final oral evidence session of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's Inquiry into Public Libraries below. CILIP's press release on yesterday's oral evidence session, at which CILIP gave evidence, was posted to LIS-CILIP earlier today. CILIP will be sending an observer on 14 December but it clashes with CILIP Council and so most CILIP Councillors and officers will be elsewhere. However you will note that the Select Committee is interviewing three Ministers from separate Government Departments which is encouraging and may well be illuminating.

Guy Daines
Head of Policy & Governance
CILIP
Tel: 020 7255 0632
Mobile: 07746 796387
Email: [log in to unmask]

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CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE

HOUSE OF COMMONS C SESSION 2004-05

1 December 2004 No 2

Oral evidence session

Public Libraries

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee announced an inquiry into Public Libraries on 26 October 2004. See: http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/culture__media_and_sport/cms_041026.cfm

The third evidence session will take place in the Thatcher Room on Tuesday 14 December at 10.30am. Evidence will be taken from the following witnesses:

At 10.30am

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Local Government Association

      11.15am (approx)

Ms Jacqueline Wilson


      12noon (approx)

Rt Hon Lord McIntosh of Haringey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Stephen Twigg MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools, Department for Education and Skills

Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, Minister of State for Local Government and the Regions, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Contact

House of Commons Committee Office, 7 Millbank, SW1P 3JA

Tel: 0207 219 6188 (Fax–2031) E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Website www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/culture__media_and_sport.cfm

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