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LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES “VITAL INVESTMENT FOR BRITAIN”

Library Association challenges Blair on public service investment pledge

Tony Blair was challenged to deliver by the Library Association today, following a speech at the British Library on Tuesday, in which he offered more investment in public services in return for minimum standards and more flexibility in meeting the public’s needs.

“Library and information services are delivering already in the face of chronic under-investment and lack of sustainable funding,” said the LA’s Chief Executive Bob McKee.  “It’s ironic that the speech was delivered at the British Library, which the Prime Minister rightly praised as a ‘beacon of excellence’, even though it is having to take necessary and sometimes unpopular decisions on priorities because of budget constraints.”

Over the last few years, public libraries have wired up comprehensively for Internet access, begun Sunday opening and responded positively to new Government standards and Best Value.  Meanwhile, the long access hours offered by further and higher education libraries, after the lecture rooms have emptied for the day, are contributing to Britain’s graduation rates, which the Prime Minister acknowledges are “among the highest on the world”.

“Investment in the services libraries provide is vital for Britain’s future,” Dr McKee continued.  “Libraries work with important players like learndirect and the BBC to help people of all ages acquire the technology and other skills they need.  They also contribute to the ‘sharp improvement in test results for primary school pupils’ to which the PM refers by providing support in schools, by running a wide range of innovation schemes to encourage literacy and the love of reading, and by helping ensure children’s reading doesn’t fall behind during the summer holidays.”

Libraries are also highly cost-effective.  The public library service costs the average household only about a third of the cost of a TV licence or a middlebrow daily newspaper, and consumes only one penny in every pound of local government spending.  Yet despite this, its revenue funding has failed to keep pace with inflation, and the £170 million lottery funding for public library networking – while very welcome – is due to run out in just over a year’s time.

“The problem is a lack of sustainable funding for new initiatives, inadequate investment in core services, and no real recognition of the immense contribution of library staff who are often undervalued and underpaid,” Dr McKee continued. “There’s seedcorn money for things like improving links between libraries and educational institutions to support lifelong learners.  But when we talk about long-term ideas like making better use of Individual Learning Accounts to include self-directed learning in libraries, officials just shuffle their paperwork and nothing happens.”

The Library Association has recently set out its agenda for Government in a lobbying document, Ambitions for Britain?  Library and information issues for Labour’s second term.  Closely following the structure of the party’s General Election manifesto for England, the report acknowledges Government achievements, but also comments on areas where library and information issues still need to be addressed.

For further information contact:

Tim Owen, Head of External Relations, The Library Association.
Tel: 020 7255 0652.
E-mail: tim.owen@la-hq.org.uk

Notes to Editors

The Library Association is the leading professional body for librarians and information managers, with around 24,000 members who work in all sectors, including business and industry, further and higher education, schools, local and central government departments and agencies, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries.

Wednesday 17 October 2001