Statutory responsibility to provide comprehensive library service to stay: Minister

The statutory responsibility on library authorities to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” service must remain, the culture minister said this week.

Unveiling a blueprint for England’s public library service, The modernisation review of public libraries: a policy statement, Margaret Hodge said books – and the right to borrow them and browse free of charge – should also stay at the hear of the service.

The policy statement, which is intended to arrest a decline in the use of existing services as well as prepare libraries for the future, includes a recommendation that all local authorities have a “national core offer” for the public. This would comprise membership from birth, free access to the internet, a right to order any book to borrow (including those out of print), free access to e-books, opening hours to suit users, and an opportunity to be a member of all libraries in England.

Local authorities would be expected to create a “local offer” by the end of the year, including commitments on book stock, events programmes, activities and other services such as CD and DVD lending.

The blueprint says the government will look at “a radical approach to new partnerships across existing local authority boundaries, possibly linking with other public functions like post offices and private sector services such as coffee shops”.

The government’s blueprint also proposes to:

• Consider establishing a new strategic body for libraries to provide leadership and development for the sector
• Establish “as more public funds become available in the future”, a LIFT programme whereby capital investment is linked to service improvements
• Offer best practice guidance to local authorities on consulting their communities about the library services, and
• Make all libraries “digitally inclusive” with easier and free access to the internet for users.

The minister said: “Our language and literature are this country’s greatest gift to world civilisation; and libraries celebrate and promote this. So I want the library service to grown and prosper, continuing to offer a first-rate free service to everyone.”