MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Bob Moon
Date of Issue: December 1st 2009
Contact numbers:
07970 824765
Lib Dem office: 0151 691 8544

LIBRARY GUIDELINES LONG OVERDUE, MORE GOVERNMENT DELAY UNACCEPTABLE

Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Leisure, Councillor Bob Moon, commented on today's DCMS consultation, seeking the views of a wide range of people on the future of public libraries.

Launching the consultation, Culture Minister Margaret Hodge said, “ The public library service in England needs radical transformation and modernisation if it is to remain as relevant and popular in the 21st century as it was in the 19th and 20th centuries.”

Cllr Moon said, “I welcome the Minister's remarks that radical transformation and modernisation is needed to secure the future of our libraries. This stands in stark contrast to the Charteris report, which seeks to preserve the status quo. New guidance for the modernisation of library services is long overdue. As the Cabinet Member responsible for the library service, I look forward to hearing and participating in that debate.”

“ However, it is disappointing that, after having waited so long, all we have got is yet another consultation that, one year on from the last DCMS consultation puts us no further forward. What is needed is clear guidance, not more consultation. I am sorry to say that without clear direction from the DCMS, library authorities are actually in a worse position than they were a year ago.”

“The debate needs to move on but the Government is avoiding the tough decisions until after the general election. The 1964 Libraries Act is a museum piece – it needs to be moved away from the library service and consigned to the archives as soon as possible. Wirral is not alone in the challenges it faces. Library services around the country are desperate for some clear guidance so they can take action to face the challenges they need to address – without fear of Government interference.”

Cllr Moon concluded by saying, “As in other local authorities all over the country, there is still much work to be done to move towards a sustainable libraries service in Wirral. We know resources to local councils will diminish as government seeks to pay back the national debt – all areas will need to be scrutinised, libraries cannot be excluded from this process without putting undue pressure on other important front line services.”

“We know change is needed in the way our library services are delivered – in Margaret Hodge's words, we have got to “move with the times to stay part of the times”. This means being realistic about what taxpayers can afford and innovative about how the service is delivered. This means thinking about n ew structures, new services and new ways of working for those who want a strong future for the library service.”

To read the Empower, Inform, Enrich, DCMS consultation document click here.