Download - Public Libraries in Ireland Policy and Action

Public Libraries in IrelandPublic Libraries in IrelandPolicy and ActionPolicy and Action

Deirdre Ellis-King

Dublin City Librarian, October 2001

Background to Irish Public LibrariesBackground to Irish Public LibrariesKey PointsKey Points

Responsible Authority -

Number of Library Authorities -

Capital Exp 2001 -

Recurrent Expenditure 2001-

% of Total Local Government Exp. 2001 -

Automation -

Public Internet Access -

Staffing Levels -

Collections -

Registered Users -

Expenditure per head 2001-

Population (1996) -

Service points -

- Local Government

- 32

- IR£8.6 (IR£2.5 m in1997

- IR£51 m (16% over 2000)

- 2.5%

- 26 of 32 complete

100%

1,343 (1998),267 Professional (20%

11+ million

900,000 (approx) 1998

£14.05 (£12.15 in 2000)

3,626,087

1,000 + (1998)

Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Dublin City Public LibrariesDublin City Public Libraries

Key Points Key Points • City of Dublin - Capital City • Population (1999) - 481,854 • Registered Users - 48%• Number of Public Access Points - 38• Expenditure 2001 - IR£11.8m• Book Expenditure 2001 - IR£1,715,000• Exp. Per head of pop. - IR£24.40 (2001) • Automated Systems - Complete• %of Local Govt. exp - 3% (2001)• Public Internet Access - 100%• Staff Levels - 355 (97 professional)• Collections - 1.7m items


Government - National and European

• Legislation -

Basis for libraries - 1994 Local Government Act, 2001 Bill

• Information Society Report, Action/Plan

• Adult Learning White Paper - Learning for Life 2000

• Better Local Government Report

Local - City Corporate Plan

• Departmental Business Plans

Library specific - National - Branching Out - 1998

- Joining Forces - 2000

- Art and the Magic of the Word - 1999

Local - Dublin Library Development Plan 1996 - 2001

• Dublin Library Business Plan (Annual)

Policy FrameworkPolicy Framework

Key Documents Key Documents


Internal

Information Technology

Local and Central Government Agendas

Participative Democratic Process

Partnerships

Professional Awareness

Better Educated Staff

Development Programmes

Vision

Global Library Developments

External

Societal Change

Multi-culturalism

Mobility/Travel

Life Long Learning needs

Learner Centred Education

Changing User Needs

Information Society

- ICT

- Free-flow Information

- Global Commerce

Legislation

Policy FrameworkPolicy Framework Forces for Change: Background to Policy DevelopmentForces for Change: Background to Policy Development


Inclusive Approach• Individuals• Community Organisations• National Organisations• Professional Organisations


Focus: Branching Out - A New Public Library Service

Whose Review? - 800 Public Submissions

National Policy Project Team

- Library Professionals

- Local Authority Management

- Elected Politicians

- Public (Civil) Servants


Individuals• Access - Opening Hours• Stock• Infrastructure• Information Technology• Citizen Information

Organisations

Inclusivity - Barriers• Poor Literacy Levels• Life-long Learning/Education• Electronic Government• Marketing• Information Technology• Access - Opening

Hours/Infrastructure• Arts/Culture/Heritage -

Collections/Place• Information Needs

Policy FrameworkPolicy FrameworkBranching Out: Issues raised


Key Benefits:- Potential Identified• Access to Information using ICT• Access to Life Long Learning - Collections and Services• Social Inclusion - new opportunities for information

-based on public skills training/access• Access to Library Collections of high cultural value• Delivery of Government Services using ICT infrastructure in the

national network

Policy FrameworkPolicy FrameworkBranching Out: Analysis of Public Library Role


Key Issues: Needs• Better Services -

• Better Infrastructure -

• Better ICT -

• Better Library Stock -

opening hours

staffing levels

staffing/ training

Buildings/Mobiles

innovative delivery mechanism

Hardware/Software

Training

Range/quality/relevance

Policy FrameworkPolicy FrameworkBranching Out: Key Issues: Needs


Branching Out - Report Accepted by Government

Recommendations have informed policy

Strategic Directions - Implementation process - 2001• Services - access/delivery systems to be improved• Stock - To be improved

• Marketing - Targeted programmes/focused activity• Co-operation - Schools/Education/e-government/services

• Culture/Heritage - preserve/disseminate/encourage use

• Library Research - informed decisions

• Training - Staff and public


Public Libraries in Ireland; Policy and Action

• Reward Programme of Government Aid - 75% from Central Government for Capital Development

• Need to meet access requirements for disabled• Stock grants dependant on increased local authority expenditure -

Target of £2.50 per head• Grants for Optical Scanners for Visually Impaired• Grants for Public Internet Access/Innovative ICT

Policy FrameworkPolicy FrameworkDelivering a New Service

Local Authority - National Government


Partnership process

Branching Out - Actions

Exchequer Capital Funding - 1997 - £2.52 million

- 1998 - £2.59 million

- 1999 - £6.25 million

- 2000 - £8.30 million

- 2001 - £8.69 millionResults -

Stock Grants - Special Incentives

ICT Development - Internet, Catalogue on WEB

ICT Research Initiatives - Projects funded/Marketing

Consultation Working Groups: - Staff Training and Development

- Public Access - opening hours/buildings

- I.C.T.



• Research• Information/Communications

Technologies -

• Co-operation

- PULMAN, CHILDE

- Networked access system - Electronic Govt OASIS

Internet Residency Programme

- Digital Imaging Project - City Museum

Library Catalogue on WEB

- Shared access to records: TCD

- Linked Literacy programmes - CDVEC

- Distance Learning - UCD

- Dublin WEB Portal

Policy FrameworkPolicy FrameworkDublin City Public Libraries

Strategic Actions: Selected Examples - 2001


• Stock

Staff Training

• Marketing

- Multi-Language Collections

- Reader Development Programmes/Literary Award/Festival

Training Programme

Target Expenditure of £2.50 exceeded = £3.34 in 2001

- ECDL, Internet, Reference Skills,

- Newsletter

- Proposed Radio Slot, Publications

Policy FrameworkPolicy FrameworkDublin City Public Libraries

Strategic Actions: Selected Examples - 2001


Public Libraries in IrelandPublic Libraries in IrelandPolicy and ActionPolicy and Action

CHALLENGES - 2001CHALLENGES - 2001

Deirdre Ellis-King

Dublin City Librarian, October 2001

Download - Public Libraries in Ireland Policy and Action

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