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THREE FINALISTS IN THE RUNNING FOR THE LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES AWARD

Reader development, lifelong learning, social inclusion and basic skills are the issues tackled by the three finalists for this year's Library Association Libraries Change Lives Award. This prestigious national Award, sponsored by the Library + information Show (LiS), celebrates the value of libraries to people and their communities.

The finalists (in alphabetical order) are as follows:

Boox on the Move - Leeds Library and Information Service and the Barnados Castle Project
'Boox on the Move' combines creative arts, literature development activities and practical skills, for vulnerable and socially excluded young people living in care homes and youth justice institutions in Leeds. It promotes the value of reading and lifelong learning and gives young people the opportunity to improve basic skills and to develop communication and IT skills.

Burnley Library Special Needs Support Service - Lancashire County Council
Staff offer one-to-one support for people with learning difficulties, special needs and mental health problems. The library provides books and other materials, which encourage independence, learning, fun and stimulation. It has a special enrolment site for basic skills courses at Burnley College, and also holds a bank of information for parents, carers and professionals.

London Borough of Merton's Refugee Resources Collection and Service
Library staff visit a drop-in centre for asylum seekers, where they issue books and other materials in a range of identified ethnic languages; give out information on libraries and other local services and provide a 'cultural route map' through the confused and sometimes hostile environment in which refugees often find themselves.

Philip Wark, Vice Chair of The Library Association's Community Services Group and Chair of the judges, commented, "Services to the most vulnerable in society seem to be an unconscious theme running through this year's shortlisted entries. I was deeply moved by the commitment of staff in all these projects and found my visits truly inspirational."

An overall winning project will receive a trophy and a cheque for £4,000. This will be announced and presented by the Poet John Hegley, at a special ceremony during LiS at the NEC in Birmingham on Wednesday 6 June. The two other finalists will both receive a cheque for £1,000.

Notes

• The judging panel for The Library Association's Libraries Change Lives Award is: Philip Wark, Vice Chair of The Library Association's Community Services Group; Pat Flynn, Head of Library and Information Services, Leicester; Kevin Harris, Head of Information at The Community Development Foundation and Gospatric Home, Founder of the Library + information Show.
• The Library + information Show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, 5 -7 June 2001.

For further information contact:

Tracey Harte, Harte PR
Tel: 01283 521124 Fax: 01283 521191
E-mail: harte.pr@virgin.net

Louisa Myatt, Acting Marketing Manager, The Library Association
Tel: 020 7255 0650 Fax: 020 7255 0501
E-mail: louisa.myatt@la-hq.org.uk

10 April 2001