UK Report on the future of libraries published by councils and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

The UK Report on the Future of Libraries has been pubished

Learning from the Future Libraries Programme: Phase one

published by Local Government Association
5 August 2011

“The Local Government Association and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council today publish a joint report on the future of libraries.

The publication, ‘Future Libraries: Change, options and how to get there’, comes one year after the launch of an ambitious project to support 36 library authorities in developing innovative ways to modernise services.

Four options for helping to ensure the survival of libraries in the 21st century have been identified by the Future Libraries Programme pilots.

These are:
1. Running libraries in partnership with the private sector, charities and other councils.
2. Extending the reach and range of library services by integrating them with other community facilities like churches, shops and village halls and providing public services such as health centres and the police surgeries in existing libraries.
3. Sharing services like back offices and mobile libraries with neighbouring local authorities to make stretched resources go further.
4. Giving library users the ability to play a more active role in running library services themselves.
The findings of the Future Libraries Programme will now be shared among councils across the country.

It is hoped that innovative ideas developed by authorities taking part in the pilot can increase numbers using libraries while delivering millions of pounds of savings.”

Stephen