Public Libraries in Ireland Policy and Action Deirdre Ellis-King Dublin City Librarian, October 2001

Background to Irish Public Libraries Key Points Responsible Authority - Number of Library Authorities - Capital Exp Recurrent Expenditure % of Total Local Government Exp Automation - Public Internet Access - Staffing Levels - Collections - Registered Users - Expenditure per head Population (1996) - Service points - - Local Government IR£8.6 (IR£2.5 m in IR£51 m (16% over 2000) - 2.5% - 26 of 32 complete 100% 1,343 (1998),267 Professional (20% 11+ million 900,000 (approx) 1998 £14.05 (£12.15 in 2000) 3,626,087 1,000 + (1998) Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Dublin City Public Libraries Key Points City of Dublin - Capital City Population (1999) - 481,854 Registered Users- 48% Number of Public Access Points- 38 Expenditure IR£11.8m Book Expenditure IR£1,715,000 Exp. Per head of pop. - IR£24.40 (2001) Automated Systems - Complete %of Local Govt. exp - 3% (2001) Public Internet Access - 100% Staff Levels- 355 (97 professional) Collections- 1.7m items Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Government - National and European Legislation - Basis for libraries Local Government Act, 2001 Bill Information Society Report, Action/Plan Adult Learning White Paper - Learning for Life 2000 Better Local Government Report Local - City Corporate Plan Departmental Business Plans Library specific - National - Branching Out Joining Forces Art and the Magic of the Word Local - Dublin Library Development Plan Dublin Library Business Plan (Annual) Policy Framework Key Documents Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Internal Information Technology Local and Central Government Agendas Participative Democratic Process Partnerships Professional Awareness Better Educated Staff Development Programmes Vision Global Library Developments External Societal Change Multi-culturalism Mobility/Travel Life Long Learning needs Learner Centred Education Changing User Needs Information Society - ICT - Free-flow Information - Global Commerce Legislation Policy Framework Forces for Change: Background to Policy Development Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Inclusive Approach Individuals Community Organisations National Organisations Professional Organisations Policy Framework Policy Framework Focus: Branching Out - A New Public Library Service Whose Review? Public Submissions National Policy Project Team - Library Professionals - Local Authority Management - Elected Politicians - Public (Civil) Servants Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Individuals Access - Opening Hours Stock Infrastructure Information Technology Citizen Information Organisations Inclusivity - Barriers Poor Literacy Levels Life-long Learning/Education Electronic Government Marketing Information Technology Access - Opening Hours/Infrastructure Arts/Culture/Heritage - Collections/Place Information Needs Policy Framework Policy Framework Branching Out: Issues raised Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Key Benefits:- Potential Identified Access to Information using ICT Access to Life Long Learning - Collections and Services Social Inclusion - new opportunities for information -based on public skills training/access Access to Library Collections of high cultural value Delivery of Government Services using ICT infrastructure in the national network Policy Framework Policy Framework Branching Out: Analysis of Public Library Role Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Key Issues: Needs Better Services - Better Infrastructure - Better ICT - Better Library Stock - opening hours staffing levels staffing/ training Buildings/Mobiles innovative delivery mechanism Hardware/Software Training Range/quality/relevance Policy Framework Policy Framework Branching Out: Key Issues: Needs Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Branching Out - Report Accepted by Government Recommendations have informed policy Strategic Directions - Implementation process Services - access/delivery systems to be improved Stock - To be improved Marketing - Targeted programmes/focused activity Co-operation - Schools/Education/e-government/services Culture/Heritage - preserve/disseminate/encourage use Library Research - informed decisions Training - Staff and public Policy Framework Public Libraries in Ireland; Policy and Action

Reward Programme of Government Aid - 75% from Central Government for Capital Development Need to meet access requirements for disabled Stock grants dependant on increased local authority expenditure - Target of £2.50 per head Grants for Optical Scanners for Visually Impaired Grants for Public Internet Access/Innovative ICT Policy Framework Policy Framework Delivering a New Service Local Authority - National Government Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action Partnership process

Branching Out - Actions Exchequer Capital Funding £2.52 million £2.59 million £6.25 million £8.30 million £8.69 million Results - Stock Grants - Special Incentives ICT Development - Internet, Catalogue on WEB ICT Research Initiatives - Projects funded/Marketing Consultation Working Groups:- Staff Training and Development - Public Access - opening hours/buildings - I.C.T. Policy Framework Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Research Information/Communications Technologies - Co-operation - PULMAN, CHILDE - Networked access system - Electronic Govt OASIS Internet Residency Programme - Digital Imaging Project - City Museum Library Catalogue on WEB - Shared access to records: TCD - Linked Literacy programmes - CDVEC - Distance Learning - UCD - Dublin WEB Portal Policy Framework Policy Framework Dublin City Public Libraries Strategic Actions: Selected Examples Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Stock Staff Training Marketing - Multi-Language Collections - Reader Development Programmes/Literary Award/Festival Training Programme Target Expenditure of £2.50 exceeded = £3.34 in ECDL, Internet, Reference Skills, - Newsletter - Proposed Radio Slot, Publications Policy Framework Policy Framework Dublin City Public Libraries Strategic Actions: Selected Examples Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

Public Libraries in Ireland Policy and Action CHALLENGES Deirdre Ellis-King Dublin City Librarian, October 2001