In the UK

Citation

(1999), "In the UK", The Bottom Line, Vol. 12 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.1999.17012bab.011

In the UK

In the UK

Keywords: Funding, Public Libraries, Health, Information services, UK

The £540 that the Department of Education has allocated to the Sure Start program to set up one-stop centers for health advice for toddlers and for their families could prove to be a source of extra funding for libraries. Sure Start may offer money to libraries to buy books for children under three years of age. There are other possibilities for libraries located in areas with Sure Start centers, including longer opening hours, extra staffing, more resources, extra activities, family literacy and numeracy, mentoring, enhanced family information and joint use of library buildings with other Sure Start partners. A library could make a case for funding even if there is no library building.

The government will be cracking down on local authorities who are not fulfilling their obligation, as stated in the 1964 Act, to provide a "comprehensive and efficient" public library service. There is apparently a small minority of authorities who are considering service cuts that would be considered in violation of the act.

Among the grants available to libraries for adult education programs is a sum allocated to trade union projects in partnership with others, including universities, colleges, and local authorities. Two million pounds will be given out in 1999­2000 for projects that address one or more of the following: advice, guidance, and information; equality and access; organization and employee development; and young workers.

Coventry's Community Education Development Centre is developing materials to encourage fathers to read and to help their children with learning. The centre is one of 64 community learning projects that share grants of £3,000 to £147,000, for a total of £2.3 million. Other projects include developing literacy support for parents and childcare volunteers and staff, setting up a toy library and family learning courses linked to the National Year of Reading, learning centers in pubs, and information technology training. The government will also invest £50 million over the next three years to develop a comprehensive local information, advice and guidance service for adult learners.

Eileen Fitzsimons is Developmental Editor, Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York.