Draft guidance to help public library authorities select and manage their stock has been issued for consultation.
This follows the government’s request in November to the MLA to help public library authorities in the wake of concerns surrounding potentially extremist and inflammatory material.
John Dolan, MLA Head of Library Policy said: “Public libraries in England house millions of publications carefully selected from material published in the UK and overseas to reflect the needs and interest of local communities.
“The selection and management of stock has become a complex responsibility. We welcome feedback on this draft guidance, to assist the production of good and consistent practice.”
The guidance is designed to protect local determination and free expression within the law, and to help ensure that public libraries have a balanced stock that best reflects the needs and interests of local communities.
The consultation is primarily aimed at public library managers and heads of local authority cultural services, who will be guided in their responses by local people.
The 12-week consultation ends on Monday April 7. Responses should be sent to libraryconsultation@mla.gov.uk or to John Dolan at the MLA.
To see this consultation in full, please click here.
Back to News Listings
