Forwarded from the resourcenews list. My apologies if you've already seen
it. Stuart
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PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

10 February 2003

Arts Minister Tessa Blackstone Unveils Government Library Strategy For The
Next Ten Years

Ground-breaking libraries such as Peckham, Norwich and Bournemouth, which
are at the heart of community development, should be models for the public
library service, Arts Minister Tessa Blackstone said today.

Public Libraries in the 21st century should be open when people want to use
them, including evenings and weekends, and offer family-friendly facilities
like cafes and creches.  And ideally, library users should be able to get
easy access to any book - whether or not it is still in print - with others
getting expert help on everything from basic literacy to setting up their
own community websites and taking part in the ICT revolution.

This is part of the Government's new long-term strategic vision for the
library service, which still boasts more users each week than go to cinemas
or attend professional football matches, and is the cornerstone of strong
and effective communities.

Launching the Government's vision for libraries over the next ten years -
Framework for the Future - Tessa Blackstone said:

"Going to the library for books and general information has been part of our
lives for more than a hundred years.  Great literature is, without question,
our country's greatest gift to the world's cultural heritage, and libraries
are the means by which we share and celebrate it.  Reading is essential to
modern life, and a major source of pleasure for millions.

"The Government is committed to public libraries and all that they stand
for.  Our strategy for their future makes promoting reading their key
priority.  Libraries also have - and will continue to have - a central role
in helping people from all walks of life to be part of the communications
revolution sweeping the world."

Education Secretary Charles Clarke added:

"Framework for the Future is an important document.  The public library
service plays a unique role in supporting education in the broadest sense.
It offers babies their first book, supports children through their school
years, and continues to serve us as adults for all our reading and
information needs.  My Department will lend its full support to translating
this vision into reality."

The Lottery-funded People's Network has already created ICT centres in every
public library in the country, with 52 million online hours available for
the public to use every year.

The new strategy sets out three central priorities for libraries:

*       to promote reading and learning for everyone, regardless of income
and background,
*
*       to encourage access to digital skills and services, and
*
*       to take a positive role in tackling social exclusion in communities.

One of the strengths of the public library service is that it is run by
local authorities - who select the services on offer according to local
need.  Framework for the Future will build on this diversity, developing
national programmes which will enable all libraries to learn from the best,
but which at the same time reflect the needs of the local community.  The
imagination and innovation of our best library services should be an example
to the rest, the Government believes.

Tessa Blackstone continued:

"Many libraries in England today show just what can be achieved when
imagination, energy and commitment come together.  The document we are
publishing today provides dozens of examples of good practice for other
library authorities to follow, including turning them into exciting and
welcoming places to visit for all age groups.

"We want the example of the best to inspire the rest."

The launch of Framework for the Future is the beginning of the action phase.
The Culture Department, together with Resource: The Council for Museums,
Archives and Libraries, and a newly-constituted Advisory Council on
Libraries, will work with leaders from local government, libraries and
education services to make this vision a reality.

Mark Wood, Chair of Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and
Libraries, commented:  "Libraries make an enormous difference to communities
all over the country.  In libraries we have a national network of literature
centres, available to every one of us.  They are vital to the intellectual
health of the nation and as such should be properly funded, developed and
cherished.  Resource will work closely with DCMS and the newly-constituted
Advisory Council on Libraries to realise this vision."

Framework for the Future is available on the DCMS website at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/heritage/pl_framework.html

Notes to Editors

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has the statutory responsibility
to superintend the delivery of the Public Library Service in England by
local authorities and promote its development.

Framework for the Future outlines the Government's vision for public
libraries over the next ten years.  It identifies the unique contribution
that libraries can make to support reading and informal learning, access to
digital services and skills, and community cohesion and civic values.  The
policy document outlines a range of measures, which will help libraries
build on existing success and extend good practice more widely.  It
illustrates how they might contribute to national programmes, for example on
pre-school education or adult basic skills and draws on current practice.

The new strategy will help local and library authorities agree on the key
priorities with central government and their local communities.  It asks
library authorities to consider how they might translate these policies into
a set of programmes, which best meet the needs of their local community.

The new policy is based on wide-ranging consultation with more than 30
library authorities, the main professional bodies in the sector - CILIP
(Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and the SCL
(Society of Chief Librarians) - and other key stakeholders across Whitehall
and in the public and voluntary sectors with a shared agenda in public
libraries.

Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6276\6272
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
Internet: http://www.culture.gov.uk

The full press release containing more quotes is available on the Resource
website at:
http://www.resource.gov.uk/news/press_article.asp?articleid=496

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Forwarded by
Stuart Brewer
Library & Information Consultancy
37 Moor Court, Westfield
Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4YD
Tel & fax: 0191 226 8540
Mobile: 07909 821153