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Isn’t it time we got the major groups who have been doing the lobbying, plus high profile supporters etc, and key chief Librarians of heads of cultural services, to form some sort of group to coordinate a ‘joint’ view in preparation to present to Seighart? Providing evidence of previous reports and studies etc? We need to be well organised and united and not separate voices? f Frances Hendrix From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of DESMOND CLARKE Sent: 09 February 2014 22:12 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: How can we ensure that this Review actually delivers? We should be aware that the Review Panel is not due to report until the end of 2014, not long before the next election. It is therefore unlikely that many, if any of its recommendations will be implemented by the current coalition Government and could be ignored by a new Government. That is what effectively happened to the two year Library Modernisation Review, set up by Margaret Hodge and project managed by the DCMS. It was the current Minister, Ed Vaizey MP, who said in an interview with Benedicte Page (Bookseller, 9 July 2010) that "The Library Modernisation review was a classic ministerial excuse for not acting, my view is to get down to it and get stuck in." I have a large file of submissions to previous inquiries by the CMS Select Committee and the APPLG, and the many consultancy reports and studies, often commissioned by the DCMS from firms such as PwC and PKF, but I continue to hear complaints about the "leadership void" in the sector and the lack of a shared vision and strategic framework for a modern public library service. The library service in England has long lacked the strategic framework that exists for example in Ireland and Wales. We could avoid the view that the latest review is another "excuse for doing nothing" if it became a cross party initiative - and if there was representation on the panel, from library users for whom the library service exists to serve. What must not happen is that the latest review joins the pile of discarded reviews, reports and studies gathering dust in some Whitehall basement. The public library service is far too important for yet more inaction. Desmond Clarke I have been asked to send the above DCMS Press Release to an extended mailing list, so that everyone is aware of it. DCMS | Press Release : 8th February William Sieghart to chair panel to produce independent report on England’s public library service https://www.gov.uk/government/news/william-sieghart-to-chair-panel-to-produce-independent-report-on-englands-public-library-service ------------------------------------------------- Here is what Ed Vaizey MP said about the previous 'Review' (below) - and now he thinks there should be yet another? Shirley B THE BOOKSELLER July 2010 The culture minister told The Bookseller: ".... The Library Modernisation Review was a classic ministerial excuse for not acting, my view is to get down to it and get stuck in." http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/no-minister.html March 2010 Vaizey said library users would be "sorely disappointed" by the work, commenting: "The library review has been delayed for more than two years. Now it has come out, it says very little. http://www.thebookseller.com/news/critics-pounce-library-review.html Dec 2009 Speaking after the launch, shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey commented: "This is obviously a complete and utter waste of time. Quite obviously everyone in the world of libraries wants government to get on with it and show the line of travel." http://www.thebookseller.com/news/margaret-hodge-defends-late-review-library-launch.html