The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries, Literacy and Information Management's 'Inquiry into the Governance and Leadership of the Public Library Service in England' report was published in September 2009.
The APPG report was launched at the CILIP Public Library Authorities Conference on 7 October 2009, one year after the initial announcement of the Inquiry.
A second launch event, to be hosted by the current Chair of the APPG, Lynda Waltho MP, in the Houses of Parliament, is planned for later in October.
Key recommendations
- Government funding and functional responsibility for public libraries should be brought together within a single government department
- Local authorities should continue to be responsible and carry accountability for the provision of public library services in their area
- The application of the Public Libraries Act 1964 should be clarified by a clear definition of the minimum level of service to be expected by customers
- A Library Development Agency for England should be established
Download the report
Background
The 'Inquiry into the Governance and Leadership of the Public Library Service in England' was agreed by the APPG in the summer of 2008 and announced by the then Chair of the APPG, Lyn Brown MP, at the CILIP Public Libraries Conference in October 2008.
The focus of the Inquiry was designed to be complementary to the DCMS 'Modernisation Review of Public Libraries' announced by the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham, at the same Conference.
The APPG work has been developed around six specific lines of enquiry as itemised in the published report. Written submissions to the Inquiry were invited in April 2009 and a total of 60 such submissions were received.
Witnesses were then invited to attend five evidence sessions which were held, in the form of round-table discussions, in the House of Commons during May 2009.
Norman Turner of Turnaround Associates Ltd was commissioned by the APPG to be Consultant to the Inquiry and the final report of the Inquiry – drafted by Norman on the basis of submissions received and evidence heard – was agreed by the APPG Inquiry Membership in September 2009.
About APPG on Libraries
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Libraries, Literacy and Information Management is constituted under Parliamentary Regulations as an interest group open to all Members of both Houses of Parliament. Secretariat support to the APPG is provided by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and the National Literacy Trust, supported by Insight Public Affairs.
Resources to download
Bob McKee
Chief Executive of CILIP and Adviser to the APPG Inquiry
Read the CILIP submission to the inquiry