(ii) The People's Network
72. The People's Network project was developed for
the DCMS by the LIC. The project is set out in New Library:
the People's Network, which was published in July 1997. The
LIC proposed that the public library network should form the basis
of a national digital network to connect communities and allow
the development of ICT skills and access to educational and cultural
material such as the NGfL, UfI, NHS Direct and other special content
services.[201]
73. In its response to New Library: The People's
Network, the Government stated that it was committed to the
establishment of a public library IT network to promote Lifelong
Learning, public access to knowledge and social inclusion and
encourage modernisation and delivery of public services.[202]
The introduction of ICT into libraries has been hampered in some
cases by the unsuitability of some library buildings for the extensive
cabling required.[203]
There has been some scepticism about the benefits of libraries
as ICT providers. The Library Campaign expressed concern about
the associated costs of new technology, such as staffing, security,
upgrades and maintenance. The Library Campaign was also concerned
about the amount of space that ICT facilities would occupy, particularly
in small libraries. Nevertheless, it concluded that: "We
are not against computers ... The fact that computers will be
in libraries is an absolute given."[204]
Some of its concerns were reiterated by other library user groups,
particularly those relating to the associated costs and library
space involved.[205]
Library user groups also expressed concern that traditional learning
resources of books and periodicals will suffer as a result of
the digital developments.[206]
Lord Evans, however, was "absolutely confident that the plans
we have drawn up [for information and communication technology]
can be implemented successfully in public libraries".[207]
74. Installation of new technology is progressing
rapidly. At the beginning of November 1999, 41 per cent of public
libraries had Internet connections, compared with 5 per cent in
1997.[208]
The DCMS has stated its intention to ensure that "at least
75 per cent of public libraries have Internet connections by 2002".[209]
Mr Mackay said that there has been a high demand for information
technology services that have been launched in libraries.[210]
75. The success of the People's Network will depend
on not only the extent of access to the technology but also the
quality of access. The quality of Internet access is to a great
extent determined by bandwidth. Bandwidth effectively describes
the quantity of material that a network can carry. Broadband connections
can carry enormous quantities of information at high speed and
can deliver any media, including video, text, audio and images.
It is increasingly recognised that effective, publicly accessible
Internet services require broadband connections. It has therefore
become imperative to develop partnerships with telecommunications
providers in order to put in place a network infrastructure with
a sufficient bandwidth to meet delivery needs.[211]
76. Mrs Barrie, Head of the Libraries and Museums
Development Branch of the DCMS, said: "One of the things
that is happening now is the development of the idea of regional
broadband consortia which will be looking at ways in which the
goal can be achieved ... there is unlikely to be one solution
that is right for the whole country".[212]
Mrs Barrie explained that the expansion of the telecommunications
market should drive down prices and that libraries would require
"fast connections".[213]
The development of agreements on access to infrastructure may
be more fruitful when conducted nationally or regionally and in
conjunction with other local authority services or higher education
institutions to take advantage of economies of scale.[214]
77. Concern has been expressed at the lack of inter-connectivity
between different hardware and between the various software packages
that have already been installed.[215]
Mr Howarth believed that "the hiccups that are being experienced
at the moment should, I think, prove to be a temporary spasm".[216]
Mrs Barrie added that problems related to the compatibility of
software systems were possibly because "the programmes have
been rolled out on slightly different timescales and funding streams
have become available at rather different times".[217]
Mrs Barrie expressed the hope that the combination of "funding
streams [and] the relevant bodies and experts", would enable
the computers in institutions such as schools and libraries to
interact across the network.[218]
We consider it a high priority for the Government to ensure
that the development of networks for libraries is effectively
integrated with those for other public services.
78. The success of the People's Network also depends
upon the quality of the material to which people will be able
to obtain access. The Internet provides a portal to huge quantities
of information. However, there are only limited means of filtering
the quality or content of the information. The NOF has a £50
million funding stream for a project developed in consultation
with the LIC, DCMS and others to digitise learning materials.[219]
This project will complement the curriculum-based National Grid
for Learning. The British Library will take the lead in providing
leverage for digitalisation and distribution of important collections.
Dr Lang told us that the British Library could possibly be connected
to all British libraries, including school and academic libraries
in "a lot less than five" years.[220]
79. The digitalisation of local authority libraries
and archives will constitute an important potential source of
content for the People's Network. The People's Heritage is a joint
project between the British Library and the public libraries across
the United Kingdom. It will create content that will form part
of a digitised National Public Library Resource. The initiative
will involve libraries, archives and museums and will create and
link access to material held in libraries throughout the United
Kingdom. The project is committed to providing a sustainable and
permanent process of digitising content.[221]
An LIC report on library digitalisation projects noted that: "Currently,
stand-alone systems are in the majority, but a number [of projects]
plan Internet access in the future. There is a need for a source
of objective and informed guidance on the choice of appropriate
systems and software."[222]
(iii) The role of the British
Library
80. The British Library was established as a national
library for the United Kingdom as the national centre for reference,
study and bibliographical and other information services. The
British Library's primary responsibility is to "care for
the national published archive. The basis of that is the finest
collection of books in the world."[223]
The new British Library building at the St Pancras site opened
formally on 25 June 1998. The project was criticised by the National
Heritage Committee for inefficiency, waste and lack of control
over costs.[224]
The chequered history of the project has brought much adverse
and unwelcome publicity to the Library and has overshadowed its
many achievements.
81. All public library authorities in the United
Kingdom are registered users of the Library's remote document
supply service. The Library has a continuing commitment to provide
comprehensive bibliographic support. Some 170 United Kingdom public
library authorities subscribe to the Library's bibliographic products
and services. The Library also supports the public library sector
by providing last resort reference facilities to members of the
public who can demonstrate a need to use them. In 1998-99, individuals
pursuing private research, for whom their public library would
be their library of first resort, consulted some 758,000 items
in the Library's reading rooms.[225]
In a typical week, around 8,000 visits are made to the Library's
reading rooms, 84,000 items are consulted in the reading rooms,
and 13,000 enquiries answered.[226]
82. The British Library already holds large quantities
of digital material and offers some services over networks. The
Library's online catalogue is available on the worldwide web and
is consulted by up to 45,000 people per day.[227]
The Library holds "about four terabytes of digitised information,
equivalent to about 450 million pages",[228]
including digitised images of some of the Library's greatest treasures.
The Library urgently needs a digital infrastructure to improve
access to its digital collection and make it available in a socially
inclusive manner to support its lead role in promoting libraries
as a national strategic resource for Lifelong Learning.[229]
The Library has begun to procure a basic digital library infrastructure,
with total information technology investment estimated at £13
million over 10 years. However, to ensure best possible access,
an additional £5 million will be required over that period.
The identification of the additional funds for the project is
a continuing and significant challenge to the Library.[230]
Mr Howarth confirmed that the "British Library's role in
collecting and preserving and enabling access to digital material
... is consistent with its historic duty, indeed under the legislation,
to maintain a comprehensive collection of publications, not just
of publications in book format".[231]
83. The British Library has several Initiatives for
Access—projects designed to improve access to the collections,
such as expansion of the online catalogue and the creation of
a store of electronic images including the Lindisfarne Gospels
and the Gutenberg Bible. The British Library sought funding from
a number of sources for digitalisation projects including "PFI.
That did not work ... Invest to Save budget. That has not worked
... [DCMS] is very sympathetic ... [but] they just do not have
the funds that we need to make the great step forward. Ideally,
we would like another £30 million."[232]
The British Library stated: "We have not been to the Heritage
Lottery Fund for large amounts of funds because that kind of project
does not quite fit into what that spending body is for".[233]
84. The British Library stated that: "The Heritage
Lottery Fund ... are beginning to come to terms with digitalisation
projects ... but large scale funding for digitalisation projects
such as we need they do not quite yet understand".[234]
The Library has made a bid for £10 million from the NOF.
The Library acknowledged that this was a modest figure but said:
"We would like to have bid more but we felt to bid for more
than £10 million out of a total of £50millon, which
will be greatly over-subscribed, would not have been appropriate".[235]
85. The British Library stated that the future "has
to be about co-operation and partnership".[236]
The BBC and other libraries, including European national libraries,
were possible partners in projects such as catalogue creation
and co-operative purchasing or the creation of a networked European
library.[237]
The Library concluded: "The only real barriers are finance
on the one hand and project management capacity on the other ...
a manageable project would take up £30 million".[238]
Mr Howarth said that "the British Library ... have some extremely
ambitious digital programmes and are beginning to achieve important
things".[239]
86. We strongly support the British Library in
its endeavours to continue its digitalisation of internationally
important books and manuscripts. We recommend that, wherever possible,
those images should be freely available on the Internet. We consider
that support for this process should be considered a high priority
for Lottery or Government funding as appropriate. It should be
the Government's avowed aim to establish the British Library as
a hub for the United Kingdom and the international library network.
This will enable the British Library to become a universal resource
rather than the preserve of a relatively small number of users
on the site—a library for the many not just for the few.
The expansion of the British Library's role should not be at the
expense of and should in no way compromise the performance of
the British Library's core statutory functions.
196 Q 231. Back
197 Q
57. Back
198 Libraries
for All: Social Inclusion in Public Libraries. Back
199 Q
231. Back
200 Q
264. Back
201 Evidence,
p 3. Back
202 New
Library: The People's Network
The Government's Response, Cm 3887. Back
203 Evidence,
p 13. Back
204 Q
100. Back
205 Q
256, Evidence, pp 39, 102,103. See also Public Library Statistics
1998-99, p 23. Back
206 Evidence,
pp 38, 135. Back
207 Q
256. Back
208 Evidence,
p 67. Public Library Statistics 1998-99, p 15. Back
209 Department
for Culture, Media and Sport Annual Report 2000,
Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2000, 9 18. Back
210 Q
264. Back
211 Evidence,
p 14. Memorandum from ntl. Back
212 Q
165. Back
213 Q
183. Back
214 Memorandum
from the London and South Eastern Library Region (LASER), Libraries
and the Regions: A Discussion Paper, Department for Culture,
Media and Sport, 1999. Back
215 QQ
139-140, 165. Back
216 Q
164. Back
217 Q
165. Back
218 Ibid. Back
219 Evidence,
p 66. See also New Opportunities Fund Annual Report 1998-1999. Back
220 Q
227. Back
221 Evidence,
p 133. Back
222 Virtually
New: Creating the Digital Collection,
Final Report to the Library and Information Commission, Information
North, 1988, p 6. Back
223 Q
218. Back
224 Fifth
Report from the National Heritage Committee, The British Library,
HC (1993-94) 550; see also Eighteenth Report from the Committee
of Public Accounts, A New Building for the British Library,
HC (1990-91) 132; and Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General,
New Building for the British Library, HC (1989-90) 650. Back
225 Evidence,
p 88. LISU Statistics 1999, pp 171-176. Back
226 Evidence,
p 87. Back
227 Q
218. Back
228 Ibid. Back
229 Evidence,
pp 67, 122, British Library Review: Prior Options Report,
Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2000, p 14, 15. Back
230 Evidence,
p 89. Back
231 Q
167. Back
232 Q
218. Back
233 Q
221. Back
234 Q
222. Back
235 Q
223. Back
236 Q
225. Back
237 Ibid. Back
238 QQ
225, 226. Back
239 Q
167. Back
