Towards Change: Public Library Services into

the Future

Pauline PalmerHead of Libraries and

Heritage

Today I will explore with you:

• Some of the current changes in the

public library world

• Some of the challenges facing us

• Some of the opportunities

The Library Landscape

Changes• E-government agenda• Reader development• Consortia/partnerships• CILIP• Public Service Agreement• Corporate Performance• Community strategies and

well-being

Challenges

• Government priorities -

access, inclusion,

education, participation

National context: visions for libraries

• Government’s visions of the contribution libraries and other agencies can make to tackling social inclusion

• Supports lifelong learning by recognising the potential learning has in addressing issues of exclusion and inequality

• It promotes access and availability for everyone to the resources and wealth of knowledge and information held by these institutions nation-wide.

Libraries, Museums, Galleries and Archives for all: DCMS, January 2001

Challenges (continued)

• Building Better Library Services and BV Inspection

• Standards• Competitive bidding

• Regionalism

The FutureOr where are the

opportunities?

• Let us try to assess

the impact of changes

and challenges

Opportunities

• Regionalism • Single Regional Agency• Cultural Agenda• Procurement changes• E-government• Partnerships

So what is the future?

Bright and sunny?

Or a sinking feeling?

Is successful librarianship about passion?

Towards Change: Public Library Services into

the Future

Pauline PalmerHead of Libraries and

Heritage