Irene Knox  

Biography: Irene Knox was appointed as Chief Executive (Designate) of the proposed N Ireland Library Authority in August 2007. A Librarian by profession, Irene previously worked for the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB).  During her time with the SEELB she worked across a range of functions including Human Resources, CASS, Special Education and Youth and in 2005 was appointed as its Chief Executive.

Irene is a graduate in German and French from the University of Ulster and after working as a Library Assistant in the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) for a year, she studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth where she obtained a postgraduate Diploma in Library Studies. She then returned to work in the Library Service in the Southern Education and Library Board for a number of years, before joining the SEELB in 1990.

Irene is a firm believer in the importance of lifelong learning and is evidence of its benefits - she has qualifications in counselling and human resource management as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the Open University.

Abstract: Delivering Tomorrow's Libraries

In March 2006 the Secretary of State announced that a new regional Library Authority would be established from April 2008 with responsibility for the delivery of public library services in N Ireland. This decision was one of several made as a result of the ongoing Review of Public Administration (RPA), a comprehensive examination of the arrangements for the administration and delivery of public services within the Province.

Subject to approval of the necessary legislation, the RPA decision on libraries will create a new single Library Authority, unique in the UK in its administration of the public library service.   It reflects the RPA objective of streamlining the management and delivery of public services, but also the desire to improve the quality of service provision and build on developments that have taken place over the last few years within the public library service in N Ireland.

In tandem with the decision to establish a single library authority, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure published Delivering Tomorrow's Libraries, which sets out its vision, together with firm guidelines and policy direction, for the public library service.

In this session, delegates will hear about the major change programme that is underway to bring the existing 5 separate library authorities into one regional body in order to deliver the vision for tomorrow's libraries.