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Libraries For All: Social Inclusion in Public LibrariesForeword by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportOne of the Government’s highest priorities is to combat social exclusion. Many organisations within the cultural sector have important contributions to make to this campaign, but few are likely to be as well placed as public libraries to generate change. This document aims to stimulate and direct this role by providing practical guidance on what libraries can do to help. A regenerated and proactive library sector can help both individuals and communities to develop skills and confidence, and help improve social networking. It also supports community, adult and family learning. Against this background, it is important that the services libraries offer should be readily accessible to all who need or would benefit from them. Many library authorities have already taken steps to ensure that their services embrace as wide an audience as possible, and this guidance contains some examples of good practice which illustrate what can be achieved. But the response has often been piecemeal. What is needed now is more comprehensive strategic guidance which can translate into sustainable solutions. The Government wants libraries to be at the very heart of the communities they serve, allowing everyone, irrespective of their age or social background, to have access to the widest possible range of information, knowledge and services. We want libraries to play a major role in supporting formal education and life-long learning for everyone. We want the facilities and services they provide to be accessible at the times when people most want to use them; and we want the local community to be involved in developing the range of services that they provide. The aim of this policy guidance is to help ensure that this ideal can be realised for all sections of the community. Because the social exclusion agenda will differ from place to place, the guidance identifies basic principles which can be adapted to local circumstances. We do not seek to impose solutions from above, but rather help local communities to determine what action is necessary for themselves. Having produced this guidance for public libraries, my Department has now begun a similar exercise for public museums, galleries and archives. We aim to publicise the results early in the new year. Further reports on other parts of the cultural sector may follow. This rolling programme of action shows our continued commitment to ensuring that the services provided by the cultural sector are available to the many and not the few, and have a direct relevance to the day to day lives of ordinary people. Chris Smith
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Foreword by Chris Smith Executive Summary of Key Policy Objectives 1 Why a Social Inclusion Policy for Public Libraries? 2 The Social Inclusion Context 3 Identifying the Barriers that Keep People Away 5 Means of Achieving those Objectives 6 The Challenges that Libraries Face Appendix B - Terms of Reference and List of Policy Group Members |
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web@la-hq.org.uk Last updated: 30 November 1999
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