***With apologies for cross posting***

10 April 2006  for immediate release

Reprieve for LISU's Public Library Materials Fund and Budget Survey

LISU is delighted to announce that the Public Library Materials Fund  
and Budget Survey will, after all, continue as a series. Thanks to  
the timely intervention of Nielsen BookData in offering funding  
support for its compilation, the survey is back on track and will  
appear as usual in 2006. Agreement was reached recently between LISU  
and BookData on a two year sponsorship arrangement for the publication.

The Survey provides details of both the estimated and actual  
expenditure on various categories of materials by public library  
authorities in the UK as well as summary figures and commentary on  
trends. Changes in staffing levels and service points are also  
covered. As such it represents a valuable resource that is objective  
and independent, for policy makers, the library profession, the book  
trade, academics and the media.

LISU's Director, Dr Eric Davies, remarked: "This represents a vote of  
confidence in what LISU is achieving. When we announced the cessation  
of the series earlier this year following MLA's withdrawal of  
funding, we were truly surprised at the reaction. So many people told  
us how important it was to them - we received a welter of messages of  
support from a range of businesses and associations. This gave us  
encouragement to seek a means of keeping it going. BookData came to  
the rescue and we are very grateful to them".

Paul Dibble BookData's UK Library Manager commented: "As a regular  
user of the report, I was surprised and concerned to hear that it was  
under threat. By sponsoring the report, Bookdata, is pleased to be  
able to demonstrate our support and commitment to the library  
community, and play our part in ensuring that this valued resource is  
not lost.

I know that the LISU figures are used by a wide range of stakeholders  
within the library community, providing an independent, trusted, and  
accurate summary of library spending and trends. As the leading data  
provider to libraries and library suppliers, we could see immediate  
synergies between our role and the data collection and reporting role  
of LISU and, as such, we look forward to developing a long-term  
relationship with LISU."

Notes for the Editor:
For further information contact:
Dr J E Davies, Director - LISU
t: +44(0)1509 635681 f: +44(0)1509 635699 e: [log in to unmask]

Paul Dibble (UK Library Manager) or Mo Siewcharran (Head of  
Marketing) at BookData
t: +44 (0)1483 712 274    e: [log in to unmask]
t: +44 (0)1483 712 300  e: [log in to unmask]
About LISU
LISU is a national research and information centre based at the  
Department of Information Science at Loughborough University. LISU  
comprises a team of experienced Information Managers, Statisticians,  
Researchers and Administrators focusing on the analysis, development,  
interpretation and dissemination of statistics, performance  
assessment measures and related management data. LISU seeks to  
contribute, in appropriate ways, to good management practice in the  
various public and private sector agencies that make up the strands  
of the information economy and cultural services.

About BookData
Nielsen BookData (www.nielsenbookdata.co.uk) is the leading provider  
of comprehensive, enriched and timely bibliographic data worldwide.  
The company is wholly owned by VNU, one of the world's largest  
publishing and information companies. BookData provides a unique  
source of bibliographic data services to librarians, booksellers and  
publishers in 110 countries around the world. Under the brand Nielsen  
BookNet, it also provides value-added transaction services to the  
industry. Sister company Nielsen BookScan operates the world's only  
continuous retail monitoring service for English-language books. The  
group employs more than 150 staff in the UK; BookData Asia Pacific  
based in New Zealand and Australia collects data for the Asia Pacific  
market and is the leading provider of bibliographic services for the  
region.

About VNU
VNU is a global information and media company with leading market  
positions and recognized brands in marketing information (ACNielsen),  
media measurement and information (Nielsen Media Research), business  
information (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Computing,  
Intermediair).  VNU is active in more than 100 countries, with  
headquarters in Haarlem, The Netherlands and New York, USA. The  
company employs 38,000 people. Total revenues amounted to EUR 4.3  
billion in 2002. VNU is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam (ASE: VNU)  
stock exchange. For more information, please visit the VNU website at  
www.vnu.com


Dr Sally Maynard
LISU Research Fellow