UK Government Announces Public Consultation: “Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016-2021”
From the UK Department for Culture Media & Sport:
The Independent Library Report for England (published on 18 December 2014) called for a national strategy which could articulate what public libraries in England are and why they are a force for good for us all.
At the request of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Leadership for Libraries Taskforce has developed a draft Ambition document for public libraries in England. The purpose of the document is to provide a focus for collaborative action, and a clear articulation of the government’s and Taskforce’s vision and support for public libraries in England. It also provides a confirmation of how libraries support and add value to a range of local and national policy priorities and link to practical examples of existing good practice.

It is not intended to dictate what library services each local authority must deliver and how.
The document is primarily intended for decision makers in local and central government, members of the library workforce and partners of or suppliers to libraries. Members of the public who are active users and supporters of libraries may also find it of interest and we value their views on the draft.
The Taskforce would welcome views on the following themes described in the document:
- context
- vision
- what libraries can achieve
- how we can make this happen
- governance and delivery
- new ways of working
- marketing and communications
- action plan
Direct to Full Text Consultation Document (DRAFT
Filed under: Libraries, Management and Leadership, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries

About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.