Libraries ‘must adapt’ – but how?

Research from the Carnegie UK Trust shows that Scots love their libraries. More than three-quarters of us believe them to be very important or even ‘essential’ to our community. But a Carnegie report called ‘A New Chapter – Public Library Services in the 21st Century’, warns that if libraries are to survive they must ‘pioneer new ways of providing services.’

Nobody seems to know how this pioneering is supposed to happen. Martyn Evans, chief executive of the Carnegie UK Trust, said, ‘It’s clear that people in Scotland still love their libraries’ – but then retreated into socio-babble. ‘Library services need to develop innovative ways of attracting visitors and providing a new range of relevant services, along with a re-think about how the buildings are used as community hubs …demonstrate the impact they have on a wide range of social indicators …’ The eyelids grow heavy and fall shut.

Across Scotland, libraries already provide Internet access, author talks and countless activities. They have more than one million regular users, who borrow books, audio books, CDs and DVDs. Annie Mauger, chief executive of the Chartered Institute, addressed the ‘series of challenges and opportunities’ with an impeccable probity that overlay a touch of desperation. ‘We welcome the contribution the Carnegie UK Trust can make to developing this vision as well as promoting forward thinking, and supporting creative and innovative practice.’

There was no mention of what actually might be done. Could we suggest that ceasing to cut the book purchase fund might help?