England. Public Library Legislation in the UK December Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 Chapter 75

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1 Country England Legislation Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 Chapter 75 General duty of library authorities. (1) It shall be the duty of every library authority to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof,... Provided that although a library authority shall have power to make facilities for the borrowing of books and other materials available to any persons it shall not by virtue of this subsection be under a duty to make such facilities available to persons other than those whose residence or place of work is within the library area of the authority or who are undergoing full-time education within that area. (2) In fulfilling its duty under the preceding subsection, a library authority shall in particular have regard to the desirability (a) of securing, by the keeping of adequate stocks, by arrangements with other library authorities, and by any other appropriate means, that facilities are available for the borrowing of, or reference to, books and other printed matter, and pictures, gramophone records, films and other materials, sufficient in number, range and quality to meet the general requirements and any special requirements both of adults and children; and (b) of encouraging both adults and children to make full use of the library service, and of providing advice as to its use and of making available such bibliographical and other information as may be required by persons using it; and 1

2 (c) of securing, in relation to any matter concerning the functions both of the library authority as such and any other authority whose functions are exercisable within the library area, that there is full co-operation between the persons engaged in carrying out those functions. NI The Secretary of State holds responsibility for superintending the public library service. Libraries Act (Northern Ireland) The Northern Ireland Library Authority (or Libraries NI) is the public library service for Northern Ireland. Its functions were established by the Libraries Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and is overseen by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure accountable to the NI Assembly CHAPTER 8 2. (1) It shall be the duty of the Authority to provide a comprehensive and efficient public library service for persons living, working or studying in Northern Ireland. (2) In carrying out its duty under subsection (1), the Authority shall (a) secure that facilities are available for the borrowing of, or reference to, library materials sufficient in number, range and quality to meet the general requirements of adults and children (whether by keeping adequate stocks, by arrangements with other bodies concerned with library services 2

3 NI ctd or by any other appropriate means); (b) have regard to the desirability of (i) encouraging both adults and children to make full use of the library service; (ii) providing advice as to the use of the library service and making available such bibliographical and other information as may be required by persons using the service; (iii) promoting literacy and lifelong learning; (iv) maintaining a collection of library materials relevant to the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland; (v) making library premises available for cultural and community activities; and (vi) meeting any special requirements of adults and children by any appropriate means. (3) The Authority may make such arrangements with other bodies whether 3

4 inside or outside Northern Ireland which it considers necessary in order to enable it to carry out its duty under subsection (1) more effectively. (4) The Authority may provide such library services to persons visiting Northern Ireland as it considers appropriate. Scotland Public Libraries Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1887 (Repeals Public Library Acts of ) Section 10 right to purchase feu or rent land or suitable building, erect building suitable for public libraries, public museums or galleries; also may alter or extend buildings, repair and improve such buildings, furnish & fit-up such buildings Section 21 Powers to manage, regulate and control libraries, museums art galleries established under Act. Specific powers to: To purchase books, newspapers, reviews...gramaphone records, tape recordings and films and such other articles and things as may be necessary for the establishment, increase, and use of the libraries, museums, and art galleries under their control To sell or exchange books, works of art, or other property To provide suitable rooms in the libraries within which the books, periodicals and newspapers may be read To lend out to inhabitants of the area of the authority the books of any library under their control...and at their discretion to grant the same privilege to... people engaged in business, employees etc 4

5 To compile and print catalogues Scotland ctd. Section 22 powers to make byelaws under Act Section 24 to publicise byelaws Section 28 to exact penalties and forfeitures Section 32 All libraries, museums or art galleries established under this Act, or to which this Act applies, shall be open to the public free of charge and no charge shall be made for the use of books or magazines issued for home reading Public Libraries (Scotland) Act 1955 Section 2 powers to enter into arrangements with other statutory library authorities or with non-statutory library authorities, for improvement of public library service including lending of any library material Powers to contribute to expenses of non-statutory library authorities where library services are provided to all statutory library authorites Section 4 power to lend out any material which managers of the library may think proper to lend out Education (Scotland Act) 1962 Section 12 power of education authority to provide books for pupils and to enter in arrangements with managers of public libraries Local Government (Scotland Act) 1973 (Informed by Public Libraries Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1887 and Public Libraries (Scotland) Act

6 Section 163 A local authority... shall have a duty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons resident in their area Wales Public library services in Wales are regulated by the Public Libraries and Museums Act This requires local authorities to provide comprehensive and efficient library services. The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism supervises the library services provided by local authorities through the Welsh Public Library Standards. The aims of the Welsh Public Library Standards are to raise the quality and standard of public library services for the people of Wales. WPLS 1: Providing suitable and appropriate access to public library services in Wales, Use of mobile libraries and other service outlets, WPLS 2 Providing access to services for user groups with particular access requirements, WPLS 3 Opening hours, WPLS 4 access to facilities and services based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), WPLS 5 Acquisitions, WPLS 6 Expenditure on stock acquisitions, WPLS 7 Supply of requests for materials, WPLS 8 Staffing levels and qualifications, WPLS 9 Expenditure on buildings and other service points and approaches to their management 6