Libraries, archives and heritage
Libraries play important roles as meeting places; in developing learning; giving access to the internet; supporting literacy, and providing information to local residents on issues such as public health and finding jobs.
The LGA and English Heritage are working with partners to help local historic environment services adapt, modernise and continue to improve at a time of budget reductions and a new approach to planning.
Recent projects involving libraries, archives and heritage have included:
- challenging teenage attitudes to health risks through an interactive experience combining music, film, graphics and lighting effects
- increasing employment prospects for long-term unemployed and vulnerable adults through training in heritage land-based skills and traditional crafts
- using photography to help people appreciate their local environment and connect them to their neighbourhoods
- promoting shared reading to reduce isolation and increase social interaction for adults with a learning disability.
Contact
If you have any queries or would like further information about our work on libraries, archives and heritage please contact:
Laura Caton
Email: laura.caton@local.gov.uk
In this section:
Lighting up history
30 April 2012
Thousands celebrated the restoration of Chichester's 1,800-year-old City Walls earlier this month, with a lantern parade by local school children, torch-lit picnics, and the projecting of a film about their history onto the face of the walls.
Libraries lifeline
23 March 2012
Libraries are the very heartbeat of the community, writes Councillor John Cottee (Conservative, Nottinghamshire). More than 80,000 people visit a Nottinghamshire library each week but there is always room for more.
Best for libraries
8 March 2012
Councillor James Powney at Brent Council examines how his council is refocusing its library programme. This opinion piece appeared in 'first' magazine.
Self-assessment tool for libraries
The LGA have launched a self-assessment guide to help councils undertake successful review and change processes in library services.
Britain's archaic library laws need reform – LGA
4 February 2012
Britain's archaic library laws risk stifling reform and limiting vital services for the poorest members of society, say council leaders. The LGA warns that as long as councils are bound by the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 they will be hamstrung in their efforts to modernise services.
Arts Council and LGA announce the Libraries Development Initiative
9 November 2011
The Libraries Development Initiative was developed in partnership with the LGA, and will support around 10 projects for one year, from March 2012 until March 2013, with a maximum award of £20,000 per project.
Future Libraries Programme: Second phase support
22 September 2011
Cllr Chris White and Ed Vaizey MP, Cuture Minister, have written to councils outlining support available through the second phase of the Future Libraries Programme. This will include updating the learning from the first phase, a self-assessment tool, events and online sharing of good practice.
Museum of East Anglian Life
To help reduce local unemployment the Museum of East Anglian Life (MEAL) offers training in land-based skills and traditional crafts. Its Work Based Learning (WBL) programme has provided practical skills and employability training for long-term unemployed and vulnerable adults since 2007.
Libraries: contributing to better outcomes
Libraries are important assets in communities. They help encourage reading and learning, discussion, research, and community activity, and offer volunteering opportunities and undertake outreach work to community groups. However, they can also help councils achieve wider social and economic outcomes for their communities.
Living Places
Living Places is about helping to create thriving, vibrant communities through culture and sport.
See also:
LGA submission to to ACE's consultation on ‘The future of libraries and the future for libraries'
Read the LGA's submission to this important consultation.
HELAC Case studies
Through the Historic Environment: Local Authority Capacity (HELAC) project, the LGA is working with five councils to improve and learn from eachother. Case studies from these councils, plus an extra three, are published on the Historic Environment Local Management website.
Taking Part survey
The latest release of the 'Taking Part survey' has been published and is available on the DCMS website. The survey shows record levels of engagement with the arts and attendance at heritage sites, museums and galleries since the survey began in 2005.
ACE announces details of museum funding
Arts Council England (ACE) has announced the list of the Renaissance Major partner museums, which together will receive about £20 million funding a year for the next three years as part of ACE's Renaissance programme. The major partners are a diverse range of museum services including local authorities. Applications for the Museums Development Fund opened on 7 February 2012.
Heritage Champions Welcome Pack
English Heritage have launched a Welcome Pack to support Heritage Champions in their role. The Welcome Pack, prepared in response to feedback, includes advice and guidance on what you can do as a Heritage Champion. They are also keen to hear from Heritage Champions about the good practice they are doing by
emailing: champions@english-heritage.org.uk.
Learning from the Future Libraries Programme: Phase one
FREE
5 August 2011
This report presents the findings of the work undertaken with 36 councils to look at how libraries can adapt to meet the challenges of the future.
