This is in fact good news, and good to know the debate was held.
Thank you Cilip, but many other people have taken the opportunity of
raising similar and additional matters with both Baroness Blackstone and
Lord McIntosh, including many Heads of Public Library Service, and the
Laser Foundation in a meeting it held with Lord McIntosh.
This therefore shows that working together to influence key people on a
common clear and relevant agenda does have benefits.
Frances Hendrix
Laser Foundation
-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Buckley Owen
Sent: 19 March 2004 14:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CILIP BRIEFING PAYS DIVIDENDS IN LORDS PUBLIC LIBRARY DEBATE
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
Friday 19 March 2004
For immediate release (Please copy to online discussion lists)
CILIP BRIEFING PAYS DIVIDENDS IN LORDS PUBLIC LIBRARY DEBATE
Concerns on funding, performance and joined-up government highlighted
Briefings from CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information
Professionals featured prominently in a House of Lords debate on public
libraries on Wednesday 17 March. Working through its Parliamentary
consultants A S Biss, CILIP was able to brief all the peers who took
part in the debate on the key issues from CILIP's perspective, and to
speak directly to Conservative Spokesperson Lord Luke and to the former
Libraries Minister Baroness Blackstone.
"It's exactly a year since CILIP's Chief Executive Bob McKee met
Baroness Blackstone when she was Libraries Minister, at a special
seminar on the Government's Framework for the Future of public
libraries, at the 2003 London Book Fair," explained CILIP's Principal
Policy Adviser Guy Daines. "The issues looked at then - sustainability
notable among them - continue to give cause for concern."
Three key issues raised by CILIP in its briefing were all referred to by
peers during the debate. CILIP commented that the People's Network of
internet-connected libraries had to remain free at the point of use when
its New Opportunities Fund money ran out, prompting Lord Harrison, who
opened the debate, to say that he was "unclear about the future funding
and expansion" of the scheme. He added that this and other clearly
successful public library initiatives demonstrated a cost-effectiveness
"unparalleled across the gamut of the public services, sponsored by the
Government."
The former Libraries Minister Baroness Blackstone raised another key
CILIP concern when she asked her successor Lord McIntosh for assurances
that the reduced weighting of libraries as an indicator for local
authority Comprehensive Performance Assessments would not be allowed to
result in a lower priority for public libraries in local authorities.
"Has he yet been able to use his persuasive powers to talk to local
authority chief executives and leaders?" she asked her colleague, adding
"If he has not yet, I hope he will do so soon."
Finally, two peers referred to the operational division between the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (which oversees public libraries
in England) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (which provides
funding to local authorities). CILIP had said that this needed to be
tackled to prevent a return to past years of under-investment. Baroness
Blackstone referred to the "slightly confusing relationship" between the
two Departments, while Lord Luke asked why the split of responsibilities
continued, suggesting that it was "illogical".
Expressing satisfaction at the number of issues cited in the CILIP
briefing that peers raised in debate, Guy Daines added that CILIP
remained committed to the Government's Framework for the Future agenda.
CILIP's Chief Executive Bob McKee is a member of the Strategic
Implementation Group for the Framework and was a key adviser to DCMS
when the Framework report was being developed, and CILIP is currently
the lead partner in projects under the Framework banner, to do with
library buildings and with study support activities for children and
young people in libraries.
Contact: Tim Buckley Owen, Head of External Relations.
Tel: 020 7255 0652. Email:
[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 22,000 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 -
