The Minister for the Environment and Local Government has appointed a policy review team to advise on how the public library service might be improved. Librarians, local authority managers, councillors, departmental officials and members of Comhairle Leabharlanna will sit on the project group, which will report to the Minister, Mr Dempsey, within 12 months.
The review team will "look at all aspects of the existing library service and at future trends that affect it". It will also consider how libraries might promote equality of access to information, particularly in the context of the information society.
The terms of reference of the project also require the team to look at the role of public libraries in the provision of cultural and heritage services. The review team will also look at ways to remove any barriers that restrict people from using the library.
The group has invited submissions from the public on its requirements from libraries and its views on the present service. It is "anxious to receive the widest range of submissions", and members of the public are welcome to submit a proposal, even if they do not use public libraries.
Submissions should be sent to the Department by February 13th.
