How will libraries survive the pressures on public spending?
Speaking at a newly-refurbished library in Southwark, she stressed that free access to books and the written word must remain the cornerstone of the service, but also pointed out that library customers today clearly looked for something more than previous generations: “Libraries are a much-loved part of public life in England, with more branches than either McDonalds or Boots. But sweeping advances in technology, increasing standards of living and higher expectations of service mean that they must move with the times to stay part of the times. “The incredible rise of easy internet access and use means that libraries simply have to compete and perform more effectively if they are to justify the public investment they need. Sleepwalking into the era of the iPhone, the eBook and the Xbox without a strategy, runs the risk of turning the library service into a curiosity of history like telex machines or typewriters.” top The consultation paper includes 30 essays offering different views of
