Steve Beasant

Britain’s archaic library laws risk stifling reform and limiting vital services for the poorest members of society, council leaders are warning on National Libraries Day.

The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, is calling for the half-century-old legislation which references gramophone records to be brought into the 21st Century of the internet.

In its response to the Government’s inquiry into library closures, it warns that as long as local authorities are bound by the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, which states the principal function of a library is the borrowing of books, they will forever be hamstrung in their efforts to modernise services. To effectively manage having their budgets slashed by 28 per cent, councils and their communities need to be freed from outdated legislation to find solutions which both save money and ensure residents keep receiving quality library services.

A major theme behind many library restructuring projects is a stronger emphasis on internet accessibility and linking them to job-hunting, training, literacy classes, health and social care – facilities and services vital to millions of individuals and families who cannot afford to buy the latest computers or smart phones.

Councillor Chris White, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said:

“Libraries are among the most valued services provided by councils, and across the country councils are exploring innovative ways to keep providing quality library services while making the savings they need. They’re looking at opening libraries in shops, working with volunteer organisations, basing them in community centres which also provide jobs, training and health advice, sharing costs with fellow authorities, and making the most of new technologies like e-books.

“There’s great enthusiasm and potential to modernise our libraries in ways which better engage our younger generation, don’t alienate existing users and make the most of our diminished resources. However, every step of the way we’re having to navigate archaic laws which are acting as a barrier to reform.  Book-borrowing is still a key element of a library, but increasingly important is making the internet and digital technology accessible to all so vast swathes of the population are not left behind.

“Councils don’t close libraries lightly and strive to find alternative solutions, but reducing services in smaller, older, little-used libraries which are often in old buildings with no disabled access means we have more cash to invest in others better suited to today’s needs. Reorganising libraries should rightly be done in consultation with our communities but campaigners can’t keep burying their heads in the sand and demand nothing change while harking back to childhoods which wouldn’t be recognised by youngsters growing up today.

“A library in the 21st Century can be a whole range of things, from a small e-book borrowing point based in a shop to part of a cultural hub which supports everything from education and lifelong learning to health, volunteering, art projects, job hunting and social care. Councils must be free to modernise library services without fear of contravening archaic legislation which was drawn up before the arrival of the internet and digital media.”

In 2010 the LGA, the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council, Department for Culture, Media and Sport and 36 councils launched The Future Libraries Programme to explore innovative ways of providing services with less money which were fit for the 21st Century.

This was re-branded last autumn as The Libraries Development Initiative and became a joint scheme with the LGA and Arts Council England. There’s now £200,000 available for 10 pioneering projects with an emphasis on ensuring libraries remain at the heart of their communities, providing access to information, lifelong learning and culture. It builds on the proposals put forward under the Future Libraries Programme and promotes greater working with arts and cultural organisations, training and health projects, and commercial partnerships.

Last month the Society of Chief Librarians announced a National Digital Promise to reflect the changing face of libraries in the digital age. It sets targets of free access to the internet in every library, 24/7 access to a virtual library online, library staff trained to help people to go online, and the ability to join a library online.

Case studies of innovation:

Bradford Council is working with its communities to pilot a new “Library Links” scheme. The initiative will see new libraries opening in existing shops, existing libraries linking up with a neighbouring store or joint new developments between a library and local business. Working with retail partners often means longer opening hours, more space and greater potential for new library facilities. The council is consulting with residents and using population data to determine how needs may vary from place to place so they can tailor different “Library Links” to suit.

Lewisham Council has transferred three library buildings to a local social enterprise to create multi-use community hubs and increasing their opening hours. Library services continue to be available from the buildings where the social enterprise Eco Computer Systems (ECS) has introduced additional computer courses, a community radio, and other services linked to its computer recycling business. The Council owns the buildings, which are leased long-term to the social enterprise on a peppercorn rent. The Council is responsible for the stock, and ECS staffs the buildings with a part-time ‘community hub manager’ and volunteers. The multi-purpose community hubs provide book loans, free internet access, free training courses and a wide range of other local services. ECS raises income to help run the buildings through operating a social enterprise model – raising funds through recycling IT equipment, running training courses and hiring out training rooms, running a café and selling donated books online through Amazon. Future ideas include installing a café in each library, running a pop-up cinema and taster poetry sessions. Lewisham’s Community Library Service is part of the council’s development strategy and has so far saved £950,000.

Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea councils will be launching an integrated libraries and archives service in April managed as a single service across the three boroughs. This will see savings of more than £1 million a year and ensure all of their 21 public libraries stay open. Once fully implemented, it will mean residents will gain access to around 1 million books, hundreds of entertainment and cultural events and scores of weekly skills and education classes.

Hillingdon Council is just over half way through a £4 million programme to rebuild or refurbish all 17 of its libraries within six years. Innovative ideas, such as locating libraries alongside leisure centres and installing Starbucks coffee facilities where all profits go back into funding new books for residents, have helped encourage more visitors through the doors. The latest books, new Apple Mac computers, free online access and Wi-Fi as well as regular events and literary festivals, has led to a 50 per cent rise in visitor numbers across all the revamped libraries.

Staffordshire County Council is making e-books available to all library members. More than 1,000 titles can be borrowed, free of charge, for three weeks for use on book reading devices like iPhones or iPads. The download ‘expires’ after the loan period ends. It has also rolled out Wi-Fi access at all its main libraries.

Herefordshire and Shropshire councils, which both have very rural populations, are considering new partnership models for their libraries to reflect their differing needs. The programme will look at a range of delivery and management options, including charitable trust status and community-run libraries. Several community libraries are being set up in Herefordshire, largely staffed by volunteers, and the number of people receiving books through the home delivery service has almost doubled. Shropshire Council is working with partners to integrate libraries into service hubs which will locate several council services and external organisations in one place.

Read the LGA’s response to the Culture, Media and Sport committee inquiry into library closures

Libraries Development Initiative announced