Table of Contents

  1. The Challenge For Public Libraries (0)
  2. Essays (0)
  3. Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture (7)
  4. Dame Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive, The British Library (0)
  5. Shirley Burnham, Save Old Town Library Campaign, Swindon (0)
  6. Richard Charkin, Executive Director, Bloomsbury Publishing (0)
  7. Tracy Chevalier, Author (0)
  8. Roy Clare, Chief Executive, MLA (2)
  9. Jonathan Drori, CBE (0)
  10. Tony Durcan, OBE, Head of Culture, Libraries and Lifelong Learning, Newcastle City Council (0)
  11. Guy Garfit, The Largeprint Bookshop (0)
  12. Tim Godfray, Chief Executive, The Booksellers Association of the UK & Ireland Ltd (0)
  13. John Hicks, Partner, Kentwood Associates (0)
  14. Kathy Kirk, Interim Head of Culture and Community Services, Worcestershire County Council (0)
  15. Miranda McKearney, OBE, Chief Executive, The Reading Agency (0)
  16. Bob McKee, Chief Executive, Charted Institute of Library and Information Professionals (0)
  17. Chris Meade, Director, if: Book (0)
  18. Martin Molloy, OBE, Strategic Director, Cultural and Community Services, Derbyshire County Council (0)
  19. John Newbigin, Chair, Culture 24 (0)
  20. Professor David Nicholas, Director, Department of Information Studies and the CIBER research group, UCL (0)
  21. Adrian Olsen, Retired member of CILIP and former Head of Libraries and Lifelong Learning, London Borough of Southwark (0)
  22. Nicky Parker, Head of Library and Information Services, Manchester City Council (0)
  23. Gail Rebuck, Chair and Chief Executive, The Random House Group (0)
  24. Amanda Ridout, Advisory Council on Libraries (0)
  25. Michael Rosen, Children’s Author and Former Children’s Laureate (0)
  26. Terry Ryall, Chief Executive, ‘v’ -the National Young Volunteers’ Service (0)
  27. Andrew Smith, Chief Executive, Hampshire County Council (0)
  28. Professor Michael Thorne, Chair of the Advisory Council on Libraries (1)
  29. Cllr Chris White, Hertfordshire County Council and Chair of the Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Board (0)
  30. Fiona Williams, President, Society of Chief Librarians (0)
  31. Darcy Willson-Rymer, Managing Director, Starbucks UK & Ireland (4)
  32. Case Studies (I) (0)
  33. Case Studies (II) (0)
  34. Case Studies (III) (0)
  35. Question 1: Role for Libraries (5)
  36. Questions 2-3: National and Local Leadership (1)
  37. Questions 4-6: Organisational Structures, Governance and Funding (5)
  38. Questions 7-9: Digital (11)
  39. Questions 10-12: What Services Should be Available to Users? (3)
  40. Questions 13-14: Commercial Activities and Partnerships (3)
  41. Questions 15-17: Location and Buildings (5)
  42. Questions 18-19: Training, Leadership and Services for Staff (6)
  43. Questions 20-23: How Should We Monitor Library Performace and What Should We Aspire To? (4)
  44. Appendix A: Model of Impact (0)

This document is a republication, in commentable form, of Empower, Inform, Enrich – The modernisation review of public libraries: A consultation.

This consultation is now closed. The closing date was Tuesday 26 January 2010.

As well as supporting comments for each paragraph in the consultation, this republication provides a unique URI for each paragraph in the original document, which you are may use as reference links in any online discussion you engage in about the consultation (see Help for details on linking to this document). A summary of the consultation questions is available here: Empower, Inform, Enrich: Questions, along with a separate Quick Start Guide to the Empower, Inform, Enrich Consultation

Note that this document is not associated in a formal way with the official consultation process, although we encourage the consultation publishers to engage with it. All comments made here will be supplied to the DCMS by the consultation deadline.

From the original consultation document:

On 1 December 2009 Margaret Hodge launched a two month consultation seeking the views of a wide range of people on the future of public libraries.

The public library service has a vital role in a democratic society. Libraries help to promote equality of opportunity and intellectual freedom and public libraries embody a commitment to open access to information and education for all.

Libraries contribute to a wide range of National and Local Government targets – improving literacy and early years education, community cohesion, learning and skills development, health and well being, digital inclusion, citizenship, business support and entrepreneurship

However, there are five significant challenges for the library service:

  • How can the library service demonstrate to citizens, commentators and politicians that they are still relevant and vital?
  • How can we reverse the current trend of decline in library usage and grow the numbers using their local library?
  • How can all libraries respond to a 24/7 culture and respond to changing expectations of people who want immediate access to information.
  • How can all libraries grasp the opportunities presented by digitisation?
  • How can the library service cope with limited public resource and economic pressures?

The consultation questions set out in this document provide an opportunity for a comprehensive survey of views from as wide a range of people as possible including Local Authority Leaders, chief executives, people working in the Library Service, public and private partners, business interests as well as library users. We shall publish a policy statement in the spring which will set out the Government’s vision for the future of public libraries

Empower, Inform, Enrich – Consultation document PDF (2.8mb)

Empower, Inform, Enrich – Consultation document RTF (1.20mb)

Closing date for responses is Tuesday 26 January 2010
Please send your comments or if you have queries about this consultation to:
libraryreview@culture.gsi.gov.uk
or by post:
DCMS Libraries & Archives Team
2-4 Cockspur St
London
SW1Y 5DH

Original Freedom of information Notice

Please note all responses will be published, unless you ask us not do so. However, please note that all information in responses, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If any correspondent requests confidentiality this cannot be guaranteed, and will only be possible if considered appropriate under the legislation.
A summary of responses will be published after the closing date (TBC).

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