A future for public libraries?: Some ideas in England (translated by O.A. Zheravina)

Public libraries in England have a long history from the first Act in 1850. Local government has a duty to provide free libraries with a good stock that can be borrowed to take home. In the current financial situation there is pressure to save funds and many libraries have been closed or transferred to other organisations to operate. Many government services are available on-line, sometimes they are only available in this way. A recent independent report on the future for public libraries is positive about their importance to cultural and economic life. Although the situation in Russia may be different in detail from that in England there may be ideas that will be of interest. The report recommends a big increase in the provision of digital technology in libraries housed in modern, attractive and comfortable spaces. Libraries should help to improve skills in literacy, particularly digital literacy. Libraries should adopt consistent standards of service provision and «branding». They should cooperate together so as to achieve better prices for books, equipment and digital services. There has been a lack of strategic leadership by central and local government for libraries. A «library taskforce» has been established to work quickly to «shake-up» the way that libraries are organised. It will be a major challenge for librarians to change their professional ideas. There has been a lack of leadership in the profession and in local government and this must change. A newly created «paperless» public library in Texas demonstrates many new ideas for providing services to a large and poor area. The library was created quickly and cheaply because all the stock is electronic. There are a large number of computers for use in the building and many simple e-readers that can be borrowed for use at home to access digital books and resources. 25,000 e-books are available as well as magazines, databases and educational software. Because the library staff do not have to spend time organising physical books and other materials they can concentrate on helping users. The Texas library is an example of the new thinking that the report in England recommends. It will be a challenge for librarians everywhere to learn the new skills that are necessary to provide new kinds of public libraries and to have the imagination necessary to experiment with new ideas. Are librarians in England and in Russia willing and ready to accept these challenges?

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