Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, today (19/12/2013) launched the new strategy 2013-2017 for public libraries, Opportunities for All: the public library as a catalyst for economic, social and cultural development.
A comprehensive national audit of public library buildings and services is underway to identify current service provision and best practice from which to plan national and local investment and improvement in library buildings and services. The national audit will be undertaken on an annual basis.
A key building block to underpin the aims of the Opportunities for All is the introduction of a single library management system for all local authorities. This will combine and open up access to all of the collections and databases in public libraries for everyone in the country. It will make a single national membership card for libraries possible for the first time and will allow for the establishment of universal membership for all children at birth. This groundbreaking initiative is reinforced by another significant goal within the strategy, the provision of free membership for core library information, learning and cultural services across the country by 2017.
Public libraries play a key role in literacy support and this very important function is being developed much further under Opportunities for All and as part of the Right to Read Campaign under the Programme for Government. This summer, literacy and numeracy camps for primary students were held in many libraries around the country. Parents were also invited to visit the library to meet the library staff and be introduced to the range of literacy and numeracy support materials and staff guidance available in libraries. These initiatives will be integrated with others such as the successful summer reading programmes for children of all ages and literacy support initiatives for lifelong learning to develop a comprehensive literacy programme for all.
New services in the areas of business and information provision are being established to strengthen the role of the public library in supporting economic initiatives and developments, particularly supporting the information and research needs of locally based entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs.
An innovative approach to flexible opening hours will be piloted next year in a number of libraries throughout the country as part of the strategy. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is providing funding support for this exciting initiative which will offer seven day opening from eight in the morning until ten at night. Members of the public will be able to access the library and its services on a self service basis during those hours. Library staff will continue to provide the full range of expert services during the existing opening hours.
The role of the library service within the local authority offers a significant opportunity for new and strengthened functions in the changing role of local government. Opportunities for All sets out an ambitious programme in this regard to place libraries as the public face of local government in the community.
Opportunities for All has been developed in challenging times, economically and socially. However, Ireland’s public libraries, a national resource, a national network, physically and online, can promote economic growth, stability and community cohesion.
It is encouraging that this progressive programme for the next five years will see the public libraries strengthen and expand their place in the local community, in local government and at national level.