Tony Durcan

(to serve until 31 December 2012)

Postnominals

OBE BA MCLIP

Email

Tony.Durcan2@cilip.org.uk

Biography

Director of Culture, Libraries and Lifelong Learning for Newcastle City Council.  

Before moving to Newcastle in 2002 Tony worked for  Gateshead Library and Arts Service,  as Assistant Director,  and latterly as Head of Libraries, Arts and Information. Before that he had a variety of roles with Derbyshire Library Service, from Trainee to District Librarian.

Public library priorities in Newcastle have been to work with colleagues to modernise services, and to create a positive profile for the Library Service. The service is now held in high regard by both the Council and external stakeholders.

One of Tony’s major projects has been  the development of the new Newcastle City Library through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) route. The Council opened its new city library, with a very positive, and sustained public response, in June 2009.

Tony was President of the Society of Chief Librarians from 2007 until 2009. He currently chairs SCL’s Books and reading group. He was a member of the former Advisory Council on Libraries, and a Board member for the 2008/9 Public Libraries Modernisation Review.

Outside of his Newcastle role, Tony is also the inaugural chair of the Durham Cultural Partnership.