Future Libraries Programme
8 September 2010
The Government has announced the creation of the Future Libraries Programme, which aims to help the library service take a more central role in local communities.
Of the 51 submissions made, representing over 100 local authorities, ten will be taken forward and offered ‘practical support and advice’ and ‘intensive, proactive work’ in a pilot phase.
The Museums Libraries and Archive Council (MLA) and the LGA Group (Local Government Association Group) will begin work immediately with packages of support and advice for each of the projects.
The ten areas chosen are:
- Northumberland with Durham
- Bolton, with Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan
- Bradford
- Lincolnshire, with Rutland, Cambridgeshire, North East Lincs, Peterborough
- Suffolk
- Oxfordshire with Kent
- Herefordshire with Shropshire
- Cornwall with Devon, Plymouth, Torbay
- Lewisham with Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Lambeth and Southwark
- Kensington and Chelsea with Hammersmith and Fulham.
Bids to take part were assessed on their individual strengths, but also to ensure a balance of the type of project, geographical spread, and rural and urban mix to help ensure the programme shares learning nationally. As work gets underway with the initial ten projects, planning for the second phase of the Programme will press ahead to ensure the successes and experiences of each project can be collected and shared with library authorities across England.
The programme aims to spread learning between library authorities and to achieve cost savings, new partnerships and governance models, and take advantage of digital opportunities.
