The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has
published guidance intended to help councils in England and
others in considering library service provision as a statutory
service.
Libraries as a statutory
service
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This document provides guidance on councils’ duty to provide a
comprehensive and efficient library service.
On 19 July 2021, with the move to step 4 of the Government’s
roadmap for easing coronavirus-related restrictions, most
remaining legal restrictions on the operation of public libraries
in England were lifted. The Department for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport recognises that full restoration of all services
will take place in a phased way, varying according to local needs
and circumstances. We recognise decisions on service delivery
should continue to be informed by risk assessments involving
staff, unions and local public health advice and should be
regularly reviewed. The Government has issued guidance on reducing
the risk of the spread of coronavirus in workplaces; and
Libraries Connected, the sector support organisation for public
library services, has published operational guidance,
prepared in consultation with Public Health England.
For the time being we will interpret compliance with the
statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library
service in light of the above. We will review the position no
later than 31 December 2021, and in light of any future
government announcements that might affect access to library
locations and library services.
The information contained in this document is provided to help
guide local councils and others. This text should not in any way
be taken as formal legal advice or be used as the basis for
formal council decisions. All councils should seek their own
legal advice on any proposed changes they wish to make to their
library service.
We would like councils considering changing their library service
to inform the DCMS Libraries team about their proposals before
public engagement or consultation. Details about such proposals
should be emailed to: libraries@dcms.gov.uk
It sets out:
- what the law says about the public library responsibilities
of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS),
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG),
and councils
- how to make representations about whether the council is
meeting its statutory duties
- the process DCMS will follow to consider formal complaints
This guidance accompanies the Strategic planning:
longer-term, evidence-based sustainable planning toolkit
produced by the Libraries Taskforce.
