Corporate report

Minutes of the first meeting of the Leadership for Libraries Taskforce

Published 27 March 2015

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/first-meeting-of-the-leadership-for-libraries-taskforce/minutes-of-the-first-meeting-of-the-leadership-for-libraries-taskforce

Meeting date: Tuesday 10 March 2015: 14.00 to 16.15

Location: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Attendees:

  • Dr Paul Blantern (Chair) – Chief Executive: Northamptonshire County Council
  • Brian Ashley – Director, Libraries: Arts Council England (ACE)
  • Laura Caton – Senior Adviser: Local Government Association (LGA)
  • Jonty Claypole – Head of Arts: BBC
  • Mike Cooke – Chief Executive: London Borough of Camden
  • John Dolan – Trustee: CILIP
  • Ciara Eastell – President: Society of Chief Librarians (SCL)
  • Jane Ellison – Commissioning Editor: BBC
  • Felix Greaves – Deputy Director of Science: Public Health England
  • Roly Keating – Chief Executive: British Library
  • Dominic Lake – Deputy Director of Arts, Libraries and Cultural Property: DCMS
  • Kathy Settle – Director of Digital Policy and Departmental Engagement: Government Digital Service
  • William Sieghart – Chair: Independent Library Report for England
  • Keira Shaw – Head of Libraries: DCMS
  • Mark Taylor – Director of External Relations: Chartered Institute of Librarians and Information Professionals (CILIP)
  • Ed Vaizey – Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy
  • Anna Wadsworth – Secretariat: DCMS
  • Sue Wilkinson – Chief Executive: The Reading Agency

Apologies:

  • Jo Miller – Chief Executive: Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Pat Ritchie – Chief Executive: Newcastle upon Tyne City Council
  • Dr John Newton – Chief Knowledge Officer: Public Health England

1. Introductions

Taskforce members set out their expectations and what their organisations can bring. This included:

  • support for digital enablement, network and content
  • alignment of agendas with other relevant bodies such as Public Health England
  • working in partnership to help and improve libraries whilst recognising local accountability and requirements
  • recognise important role of workforce including volunteers
  • build on existing good practice, research and value
  • mobilise energy and focus
  • recognise role of libraries as community hubs whilst maintaining intrinsic library values

2. Terms of reference

Draft terms of reference agreed Appendix A. Subject to diaries the Taskforce aims to meet on a monthly basis for first six months and then review.

These terms of reference were updated in January 2016

3. Priorities and milestones

The objectives for the Taskforce as set out in the report are:

  1. To support the creation of a national digital library network
  2. To respond to the outcomes of the current e-lending pilots and continue to work with publishers, libraries and others to secure the adoption of models supported by the pilots
  3. To encourage and develop the library workforce and especially new recruits and graduates
  4. To develop sector-led best practice guidelines to help local authorities when working with volunteers and community-led libraries

4. Agreed priorities

The Taskforce agreed that its priorities would be:

  • digital enablement – including the provision of universal WiFi access, e-lending, digital shared network and quality content (links to report’s objectives 1 and 2)
  • libraries adding value – making stronger, strategic links between libraries and other policies such as health and wellbeing and business and economic growth (links to report’s objectives 1 and 4)
  • best practice – helping local authorities and library services through sharing and linking to existing/new best practice and building sustainable long-term models for libraries/community hubs (links to report’s objective 4)
  • workforce – skills needed to help the library workforce deliver these priorities and to take on new roles as part of wider service provision (links to report’s objective 3)

ACTION: secretariat to identify and contact representative from a further education institution to be involved with the workforce priority

5. Funding

DCMS have secured 2015/16 funding to support the Taskforce in year 1. Any further resources required including contributions/ support from central and local government, the library sector, private, public or third sector foundation organisations would need to be identified and potentially bid for.

Following the meeting it was announced in Budget 2015 (18 March) that central government is providing £7.4 million funding to support libraries in England to enable WiFi access. This is a complimentary scheme to that announced by BT and Barclays (17 March) to fund a pilot for WiFi in 80 libraries and 20 community centres in areas of social deprivation.

6. British Library

The British Library presented their proposals for a new model for library partnership which the Taskforce supported in principle and will consider detailed business case at future meeting.

7. Ministerial priorities

The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy joined the meeting and set out his aims for the taskforce to:

  • look for opportunities for collaboration through co-operation and sharing of services/resources including opportunities for working with other partners and sectors
  • build on and share best practice agenda
  • look at a national digital library network
  • continue to engage with other government departments to highlight how libraries deliver their initiatives

8. Communication

Articulate offers/packages of support to local authorities, government departments, library sector and wider partners.

Regular updates via websites, blogs and other social media.

ACTION: secretariat to compile and share list of Taskforce contacts within the group

9. Presentation by BiblioCommons on unified digital presence for public libraries

Background

SCL has begun work to envision a unified digital platform for all public libraries in England. This new digital platform for public libraries will improve how library customers can access, understand, and use the information and resources that libraries provide. This will include book catalogues, digital resources, IT training, events calendars, and library locations and opening hours. This web platform will help bring new users into public libraries, both virtually and physically, and enrich the library experience for existing customers.

As a result of a public tender for the work, SCL appointed BiblioCommons, a Canadian company that works to transform how libraries serve communities online. The initial phase of the project, which is funded by a £30,000 grant from ACE will research consumer and library sector needs and create a vision and roadmap for the unified digital platform. Work on stage 1 is expected to complete by Spring 2015.

Date of next meeting: to be agreed

ACTIONS:

  • secretariat to invite Councillor Ian Stephens, Chair of LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, to next meeting
  • secretariat to canvas for dates/location for next meeting including options for video links
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