All,
There is a report that has just come out that seems to be of interest: "Empower, Inform, Enrich - The modernisation review of public libraries: A consultation" at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6488.aspx
From their page:
"The public library service has a vital role in a democratic society. Libraries help to promote equality of opportunity and intellectual freedom and public libraries embody a commitment to open access to information and education for all.
Libraries contribute to a wide range of National and Local Government targets - improving literacy and early years education, community cohesion, learning and skills development, health and well being, digital inclusion, citizenship, business support and entrepreneurship
However, there are five significant challenges for the library service:
* How can the library service demonstrate to citizens, commentators and politicians that they are still relevant and vital?
* How can we reverse the current trend of decline in library usage and grow the numbers using their local library?
* How can all libraries respond to a 24/7 culture and respond to changing expectations of people who want immediate access to information.
* How can all libraries grasp the opportunities presented by digitisation?
* How can the library service cope with limited public resource and economic pressures?
The consultation questions set out in this document provide an opportunity for a comprehensive survey of views from as wide a range of people as possible including Local Authority Leaders, chief executives, people working in the Library Service, public and private partners, business interests as well as library users. We shall publish a policy statement in the spring which will set out the Government's vision for the future of public libraries"
I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but here is an article at the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8388352.stm
James Weinheimer j.weinheimer_at_aur.edu<mailto:j.weinheimer_at_aur.edu>
Director of Library and Information Services
The American University of Rome
via Pietro Roselli, 4
00153 Rome, Italy
voice- 011 39 06 58330919 ext. 258
fax-011 39 06 58330992
Received on Wed Dec 02 2009 - 04:03:04 EST