MLA

The Future Libraries Programme

The Future Libraries Programme, formed by a partnership between national and local government, and driven by councils themselves, aims to help the library service during the current challenging financial situation, with an ambition to ensure libraries play a central role for communities in the Big Society.

Delivering high quality and effective libraries in the next few years will be challenging. Marginal improvement and efficiency alone are insufficient to maintain and modernise the public’s library services. To avoid ad hoc closures and service reductions, we need to take a strategic approach and consider radically different solutions.

LGA Group and MLA are working together to support councils, especially where councils want to work in partnership; by introducing and brokering councils to work together and helping them to establish new delivery mechanisms to build economies of scale and sustainable critical mass.

Ten communities around the country had the chance to test drive the ambitious change programme.

Adobe PDF Future Libraries. Change Options and How to Get There. (PDF 929KB)

The Future Libraries Programme Projects

Fifty one submissions, representing over 100 local authorities, came forward with proposals for innovative collaborations and

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Future Libraries Programme Updates

See this section for regular updates on the Future Libraries Programme and the projects participating in it.

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Governance Board meeting minutes

This section provides details of minutes from the previous Future Libraries Programme Governance Board meetings

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The Value, Impact and Potential of public library services

A joint statement, supported by a wide range of bodies and organisations, about the value placed on library services by the public

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Latest News

Responsibilities transfer

From 1st October 2011, this site will not be updated, so please treat it as the static archive it is. This is because <a target="_Blank" href="http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/">Arts Council England</a> has now taken over museums and libraries responsibilities. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">The National Archives</a> has assumed responsibility for strategic leadership of the Archives sector. Arts Council responsibilities will also now include the Renaissance programme, Museum Accreditation, and Library Development, together with cultural property services such as Export Licensing and the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The National Archives has assumed responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the archives sector and advising government on its development. The MLA is now winding down, with a skeleton staff remaining until May 2012 to complete the management of existing Renaissance contracts, complete outstanding financial and contractual arrangements and prepare for the appointment of a liquidator. This website will remain live until 31st March so that the public still has full access to the material on it – good practice case studies, toolkits, guidance and a range of other publications.  Continue reading

  • Related links

  • future libraries programme

    The Future Libraries Programme, formed by a partnership between national and local government, and driven by councils themselves, aims to help the library service during the current challenging financial situation, with an ambition to ensure libraries play a central role for communities in the Big Society.

  • sharper investment for changing times

    Sharper Investment for Changing Times calls for more creative planning to ensure that the public get the most out of the £2bn-plus that national and local government invest in museums, libraries and archives.

  • what the public want

    A guide to help council leaders and library practitioners act on the latest research into what the public wants from library services, has been published by the MLA.

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