1 Introduction
1. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee last held
a full-scale inquiry into public libraries in 2000.[1]
The Government's target for the provision of internet access in
public libraries, via "the People's Network", was examined
in 2004.[2] In view of
the importance of the public library system, and the £1 billion
worth of public money involved, we considered it worthwhile to
return to the subject now that the Government's ten year national
strategy for the service has had an opportunity to settle in[3]
and the People's Network has reached every public library in the
country.
2. In October 2004 we issued a call for evidence
outlining our main terms of reference under the following broad
headings:
i. accessibility;
ii. funding;
iii. new models of provision and new policy demands;
iv. the legislative, strategic and administrative
framework;
v. recruitment and training of library staff;
vi. the role of institutional and specialist
libraries; and
vii. the performance and maintenance of the People's
Network.
3. As in the previous Committee's inquiry, we received
a large number of written submissions from the principal national
organisations, professional representative groups, local authorities,
user groups, charities and individuals. The Committee was grateful
for all contributions made to it during the course of this inquiry
and has published the written memoranda received in Volume II
of this Report.
4. In November 2004, in response to the Committee's
invitation to submit evidence, the DCMS laid a Report to Parliament
on Public Library Matters before the House which set out recent
developments and future plans; aiming to give "an overview
on how libraries will develop to meet the needs of 21st Century
users."[4] This text
has been included as an appendix to this Report for ease of reference.
5. Oral evidence was taken in November and December
2004. The Committee heard initially from a panel of experts: Mr
Tim Coates, library consultant and former Managing Director of
Waterstone's book shops; Ms Miranda McKearney, a Director of the
Reading Agency; Mr John Holden, Head of Culture at the think tank,
Demos; and Ms Heather Wills, Idea Store Programme Director, London
Borough of Tower Hamlets. We also took evidence from representatives
of: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
(CILIP) (the professional body for librarians, formerly known
as the Library Association); the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL);
the Audit Commission; the Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL)
(the statutory advisory body for Ministers); The Museums, Libraries
and Archives Council (MLA) (the relevant non-departmental public
body for libraries); the Local Government Association (LGA); Jacqueline
Wilson (the nation's most borrowed author); and three Ministers:
Rt Hon Lord McIntosh, Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS);
Mr Stephen Twigg MP, Department for Education and Skills (DfES);
and Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
(ODPM).
6. In January 2005 the Committee visited two new
public libraries, the "Idea Stores", at Bow and Chrisp
Street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. We were most grateful
for the hospitality extended to us and for all the efforts made
by Ms Wills and her team in facilitating a helpful and informative
visit.
1 Sixth Report, 1999-2000, Public Libraries, HC
241 Back
2
Second Report, 2003-04, DCMS Annual Report: work of the Department
in 2002-03, HC 74, paragraphs 13-17 Back
3
Framework for the Future: Libraries, Learning and Information
in the Next Decade, DCMS, 2003 Back
4
DCMS, 17 November 2004. Hereafter, the "DCMS report". Back
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