 |
 |
Public Libraries: Select Committee report welcomed by Laser Foundation. 'Making an Impact' needed now more than ever! The Laser Foundation has been encouraged by many of the conclusions of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's latest report on England's public libraries. However, the report again highlights the need for action by the sector in demonstrating and proving the value and impact made by public libraries. The Laser Foundation has recognised this issue for some time and, reflecting the increasing debate in libraries and the wider cultural services sector on how services can demonstrate a broader impact on a wide range of local and national priorities, the Laser Foundation commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in 2004 to undertake the Libraries Impact Project. * In the project, PwC have been asked to establish how to develop and use measures to enable a library service to identify its impact on four of the shared priorities between central and local government (children, education, health and older people). These four shared priorities were identified by the Laser Foundation in commissioning the work. * In this work, PwC have sought to link the measures which have been developed to library activities in the relevant shared priority areas as well as to the central and local government policies and targets which underpin each of the shared priority themes. * The Laser Foundation and PwC work will complement and add to the wider activities in this area, being carried out by DCMS/ACL/MLA, led by David Lightfoot of Lancashire County Libraries, and support the drive to develop approaches to measure social impact of public libraries. In particular, the work should add value by supporting local authorities in developing local measures in line with likely Audit Commission requirements and in setting out issues and approaches which could support authorities in collecting evidence for national measures. * This work will demonstrate how to use the measures locally - drawing on the experience of pilot authorities - in showing libraries' impact on wider policy areas affecting the shared priorities. This will be underpinned by the development of methodologies to show how to implement the measures locally in other library authorities. * The work will offer further practical evidence of how libraries' contributions to a number of policy areas can be assessed and demonstrated and show how the lessons can be transferred to other library authorities. The final project report, containing the measures and methodologies, is due to be published in the spring. Notes: 1. Laser Foundation Laser Foundation. Created from the transfer of the Laser Company and the transfer of funds, into the grant making trust The Laser Foundation, in 2001. It funds projects, research, development and related activities supporting the public library sector. For more information contact the Company secretary, Frances Hendrix, C/o Martin House Farm, Hilltop Lane, Whittle le Woods, Nr. Chorley, Lancs. PR6 7QR Email: [log in to unmask] (01257 274833) 2. PWC - contact Ian Moore, 0207 804 0386, [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 3. The Select Committee Report can be viewed in pdf at <http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmcu meds/81/81i.pdf> http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmcum eds/81/81i.pdf <http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmcu meds/81/81ii.pdf> http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmcum eds/81/81ii.pdf ____________________________ Henry Girling Regional and Library Programmes The British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB T: 020 7412 7333 F: 020 7412 7155 E: [log in to unmask] W: www.bl.uk/about/cooperation/cooperation.html ____________________________ ************************************************************************** Experience the British Library online at www.bl.uk Help the British Library conserve the world's knowledge. Adopt a Book. www.bl.uk/adoptabook ************************************************************************* The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this e-mail and notify the [log in to unmask] : The contents of this e-mail must not be disclosed or copied without the sender's consent. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the British Library. The British Library does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. *************************************************************************