Description

Arts Council England recently became the national development agency for the library sector, with responsibility for championing libraries and supporting the development of the sector. In September 2011 we published Culture, knowledge and understanding
, a framework for decision making in the arenas of museums and libraries during the current spending period (2011-2015). This framework drew on a programme of discussion with the library sector and other stakeholders, and a review of the evidence base for
libraries policy. We are now looking to support our short term framework with the development of a longer term vision for libraries. The Arts Council’s ability to act as a credible and informed development agency is dependent on ensuring that our decisions
are rooted in an understanding of what a 21st century library could and should look like, and how it delivers value to its stakeholders. Public library services are currently grappling with a period of transition, working to adapt to economic, technological
and social change. Debate about the role and function of public libraries has tended to focus on short term issues of funding and management. We would like to stimulate more strategic debate on the future potential of public library services and the value
they offer, encourage fresh thinking and promote positive change. The Arts Council seeks to develop an inspiring and challenging vision for the purpose, value and potential of modern public library services, built upon the foundation of a programme of research
and debate on what libraries ought and need to be in the light of key future trends, and a deep understanding of the public value of libraries. The aim is not to define a ‘comprehensive and efficient library service’ – we believe this is best defined locally
– nor is it to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of existing library services. Rather, we aim to build a shared sense of the purpose, value and potential of libraries, to support the Arts Council and the library sector in developing and advocating for a
21st century library service. The wider context: We are now tendering Phase III of a three-phase research project, the outputs from which will be used to inform the development of libraries policy at the Arts Council. Phase III will be a detailed exploration
of how the public value libraries at a deeper level than previous research has allowed. We are interested in the public as citizens and taxpayers and particularly the public view of the fundamental purposes of publicly funded libraries and the principles they
believe should underpin the delivery of publicly funded libraries. We seek to explore the views of both users and non-users of library services. Phase III will need to be conducted using a deliberative approach, where participants have access to a range of
background materials and are given time to explore and debate issues before coming to any conclusions. We expect Phase III of the project to result in a stand-alone report, and envisage the Arts Council producing a final overarching report outlining the key
findings of all three phases of the project and how they collectively inform our evidence-based vision for the future of public libraries in England.