***** Apologies for Cross Posting ******
PRESS RELEASE : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LASER to plan its end on a high note
At a meeting on 30 January 2001, a paper was presented to the LASER
Board giving as one option the winding up of LASER activities from the
end of September 2001.
Since the formation of "New Regions" by the Government in 2000, LASER
has become something of an anomaly. It is not co-terminus with
Government Regions, and in fact now spans, either completely or
partially, three Regions, London, South East and Eastern. It is worth
noting that LASER, the largest by far of the ‘Old’ Regional Library
Services, is far more affected by current changes. Other Regions are
either co-terminus, or have required very little change to become so.
Prior to the present Government defining the “New Regions”, LASER
consulted extensively with its members regarding LASER’s future. A
number of options were considered including splitting into three mini
Regions, merging with other Regions, etc. However all options were
disregarded on the basis of not being financially viable or requiring
the consent of other Regions which was unlikely to be forthcoming.
Since this consultation and subsequently the creation of new bodies set
up under the new government agenda, such as the London Library
Development Agency (LLDA) and the East of England Libraries and
Information Services Development Agency (ELISA), LASER’s “raison d’ętre”
has been eroded.
In the view of the Chairman, the Director and members of the Board, it
was felt that the best interests of members and the library community at
large were best served by national resource sharing opportunities, and
that the core services of LASER could be offered by other routes, and
other organisations. Consequently, the Board accepted the difficult and
far-sighted decision that LASER should be wound up with a view to
closure of all activities by end September 2001.
LASER has been a unique organisation, highly successful and ground
breaking. LASER has significant resources and these will be used within
the charitable aims and objectives as specified in the Memorandum and
Articles of Association of the Company.
The Chair of the Board, Professor Bullock, said,
“LASER can be proud of the national reputation it currently enjoys for
efficiency of service delivery, advocacy for the Public Library sector,
and engagement in forefront research relevant to the future needs of the
sector.
It is rather sad, therefore, that after more than 70 years of service
to, and leadership in, the sector, LASER is now to close. Nevertheless,
the Board agreed that, taking into account the current and likely future
situation of the Public Library sector, closure would be in the best
long-term interests of LASER members.
The Board is confident that the future environment in which the Public
Library sector has to operate will provide most of the services
currently offered by LASER.”
The Director of LASER, Frances Hendrix, said,
“It is much better to steer ones own future than see a highly successful
organisation wither on the vine over the next few years.
Regionalisation and co-terminosity, along with developments in ICT and
cross-sectoral partnerships have significantly changed the LIS
landscape.
A number of options were considered by the Board, and this decision was
agreed to be the best for all concerned.
LASER has a huge amount to be proud of, and has been instrumental over
many years in leading the field in a great number of initatives.”
END
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Notes for Editors from LASER
1. LASER is the preferred name for London and South Eastern Library
Region, the Development and Networking Agency. Building on a history of
regional and inter-regional resource sharing activity since 1928, LASER
is now developing new approaches to cultural services development and
promoting access to learning resources, based on a wide range of
partnerships.
2. Further information may be obtained from Frances Hendrix, Director,
LASER, London & South Eastern Library Region, Gun Court, 70 Wapping
Lane, London E1W 2RS; Tel: +44 020 7702 2020; fax: +44 020 7702 2019;
E-mail: [log in to unmask]; URL : http://www.viscount.org.uk/laser/
--
Frances Hendrix
Director
LASER
Fourth Floor
Gun Court
70 Wapping Lane
London
E1W 2RS
Tel : 020 7702 2020
Fax : 020 7702 2019
email: [log in to unmask]
url : www.viscount.org.uk/laser/
'Serving the London, South East and Eastern Regions'
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