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

2. Background to Irish Public Libraries Key Points Responsible Authority - Number of Library Authorities - Capital Exp 2001 - Recurrent Expenditure 2001- % of Total Local Government Exp. 2001 - Automation - Public Internet Access - Staffing Levels - Collections - Registered Users - Expenditure per head 2001- Population (1996) - Service points - - Local Government - 32 - IR£8.6 (IR£2.5 m in1997 - 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

3. 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 2001- IR£11.8m Book Expenditure 2001 - 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

4. Government - National and European Legislation - Basis for libraries - 1994 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 - 1998 - Joining Forces - 2000 - Art and the Magic of the Word - 1999 Local - Dublin Library Development Plan 1996 - 2001 Dublin Library Business Plan (Annual) Policy Framework Key Documents Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

5. 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

6. Inclusive Approach Individuals Community Organisations National Organisations Professional Organisations Policy Framework Policy Framework Focus: Branching Out - A New Public Library Service Whose Review? - 800 Public Submissions National Policy Project Team - Library Professionals - Local Authority Management - Elected Politicians - Public (Civil) Servants Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Branching Out - Report Accepted by Government Recommendations have informed policy Strategic Directions - Implementation process - 2001 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

11. 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

12. Branching Out - Actions Exchequer Capital Funding - 1997 - £2.52 million - 1998 - £2.59 million - 1999 - £6.25 million - 2000 - £8.30 million - 2001 - £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

13. 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 - 2001 Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

14. Stock Staff Training Marketing - Multi-Language Collections - Reader Development Programmes/Literary Award/Festival Training Programme Target Expenditure of £2.50 exceeded = £3.34 in 2001 - ECDL, Internet, Reference Skills, - Newsletter - Proposed Radio Slot, Publications Policy Framework Policy Framework Dublin City Public Libraries Strategic Actions: Selected Examples - 2001 Public Libraries in Ireland: Policy and Action

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