CILIP warned the Coalition today that government actions were causing concern and uncertainty about the future of public library services
“The abolition of key library agencies calls into question the government’s commitment to public library provision,” said CILIP Chief Executive Bob McKee today, at the first meeting of the Library Support Programme Governance Board. The Board has been charged by Libraries Minister Ed Vaizey with overseeing public libraries’ response to the government’s programme of cuts in public spending.
“The Coalition says nice things about libraries being at the heart of the ‘Big Society,’” said Bob McKee, “But nothing has been done to protect libraries from the worst of the cuts in the way that education and health have been promised partial protection.”
Yesterday’s announcement of the government’s intention to abolish the Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL) leaves libraries dangerously exposed at this difficult time. “There’s been criticism of library leadership in the past,” Bob noted, “But this announcement simply dismantles the existing leadership framework and puts nothing in its place.”
ACL is the statutory body which advises government on public library policy: it was ACL which developed Framework for the future, the policy document which forms the basis of current public library provision. MLA is the strategic body which provides support for public library development: it was MLA which delivered the Peoples Network, the transformational programme which put Internet access into every library in the UK. It was MLA, along with CILIP, which recommended government intervention in the Wirral, leading to last year’s Public Inquiry and the decision by Wirral Council not to proceed with planned library closures.
“Without ACL and MLA,” Biddy Fisher, CILIP President, asked, “Who will provide the strategic leadership to develop policy like Framework for the future, deliver improvement programmes like the Peoples Network, and make interventions in the public interest like the Wirral Inquiry?”
Yesterday’s announcement indicates that key functions will be transferred to other existing bodies but no details or timescales are given and there is no indication that funds will be transferred to support these functions.
“This government has already caused huge public concern about the likely impact of its cuts programme on libraries,” Biddy Fisher explained, “And now government has compounded that concern by leaving libraries with no clear framework for future leadership. Parliament goes into recess today but Ed Vaizey can’t simply go off on his summer holidays having created such a climate of concern and uncertainty around this most popular of public services. The Minister must act quickly to allay public concern, demonstrate commitment to public library provision, and clarify how library leadership at government level will be structured in the future.”
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Press contacts:
Bob McKee, CILIP Chief Executive
Tel: 020 7255 0690
Email: bob.mckee@cilip.org.uk
Mark Taylor, Head of Corporate Marketing and Media Relations, CILIP
Tel: 020 7255 0654
Email: mark.taylor@cilip.org.uk