Social Inclusion

The Social Inclusion PAG will be reporting to the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee on 6 December 2001.

The terms of reference are:

1. Background

The Government's overt commitment to policies and practices that secure social inclusion offers a major challenge and opportunity for Librarians to demonstrate that Libraries and Information Services really can make a major difference in improving the quality of everybody's lives.

Much excellent work has been done recently on Libraries and social inclusion which there is no value in duplicating or regurgitating but which gives a number of useful pointers for further work.

The Library Association has set up this Social Inclusion PAG to look ahead to communities and society over the next 5-10 years, to establish appropriate policies for the profession which will guide us in developing good practice and appropriate partnerships, and help us influence the policies of others that relate to the information and learning society, and Library and Information Services.

Best Value requires a fundamental challenge of our purpose, not a self-serving rationalisation, and the work of the PAG needs to reflect that kind of challenge.

2. Objectives

2.1 To undertake 'foresight' style scenario planning to establish the likely circumstances of society and communities over the next 10 years, to identify issues and options for Library and Information Services.

2.2 To review current databases of good practice guidelines and, if necessary, to propose a specification for an improved resource/product.

2.3 To consider the context of influences and levers for change in which library organisations will be making decisions about socially inclusive services (e.g Government policy, regulatory framework, financial incentives) and make recommendations about these.

2.4 To identify lines of communication with relevant Government departments, sectoral organisations and other stakeholders to keep the role of Libraries and Information at the centre of on-going policy developments, either side of the next election.

3. Timescales

The PAG would intend to have a draft position statement and recommendations ready for March 2001, and a final short report ready for Summer 2001.

4. Process

The Group will meet 4/5 times to complete its work.

An E-mail Group will be established for communicating between meetings.

Members of the Group are free to involve other colleagues and contacts informally as necessary to help improve the quality of the work.

The members are:

Terry Turner (Chair) Director of Cultural Services, Norfolk County Council
Margaret Chapman College Librarian, Bradford College
Jane Thompson Research & Development Officer, National Institute of Adult Education & Continuing Education
Kevin Harris Information Manager, Community Development Foundation
Guy Daines Principal Policy Adviser, The Library Association
John Vincent Consultant
Caroline Lang Adviser, Education Access and Audience Development, Resource
Rebecca Linley Policy Officer, Resource (formerly researcher at Leeds Metropolitan University)
Veronica Fraser NHS Library Adviser, Department of Health
Sue Boden Assistant Director, Norfolk County Council
Shiraz Durrani Strategy & Commissioning Officer, Merton LBC
John Pateman Head of Libraries & Heritage Services, Merton LBC
Martyn Wade Head of Libraries, Information & Archives, Glasgow City Council
Anita Sawyerr Secretary, The Library Association