BookBrunch - Libraries: no plans and no leadership

We should all be concerned but perhaps not surprised that library usage by adults has declined by almost a third over the past decade. The alarm bells have been ringing for some time but those responsible for superintending and managing the service have long been in denial. The previous Minister, Ed Vaizey kept saying that the library service in England was not in crisis! The independent Sieghart Inquiry stated two years ago that public libraries were at a crossroad and proposed a taskforce to re-invigorate the library network. A rather bureaucratic body was set up, reporting to both the DCMS and the Local Government Association. Eighteen months later, little of real substance has been achieved though we are promised an "Ambition for libraries" when this is given the green light by the new Minister.