Department for Culture Media and Sport
Individual public library services are delivered by 151 local authorities in England.
We are responsible for national library policy and work closely with Arts Council England on a range of issues.
ACE will be working with the Local Government Group on a further phase of the Future Libraries Programme, a support programme announced by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey in July 2010 intended to secure a place for public libraries at the heart of the Big Society. The Minister wrote to all local authorities in February and again in September about the programme.
We sponsor the British Library, the UK’s national deposit library. We and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills are co-signatories of the British Library Funding Agreement.
We also sponsor the Public Lending Right (PLR). This organisation pays authors for copies of their books lent by public libraries. The PLR Funding Agreement sets out their priorities and how they will deliver. On 14 October 2010, we announced that we propose to transfer the administration of the PLR fund to another existing body. The right of authors to receive payment when their books are borrowed from public libraries will continue.
On 21 October 2010, we announced the total funding for the PLR will be reduced over the Spending Review period (up to 2014-15). The reduction will be limited to 15 per cent in real terms and the fund will continue to be ring fenced. We also announced that, given the need to find savings and following a tight spending review, the extension of PLR to audiobooks and e-books will not proceed at this time.
Following consultation with interested parties and consideration of responses submitted, an Order has been laid before Parliament which will reduce the rate per loan from 6.25 pence to 6.05 pence when it comes into force on 3 February.
On 26 July 2010, the Secretary of State announced plans to wind up the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). Its responsibilities and expertise transferred to Arts Council England on 1 October 2011.