Welcome to the Society of Chief Librarians Website
The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) is a local government association made up of the chief librarian of each library authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
SCL takes a leading role in the development of public libraries. Public libraries operate in a fast-changing world and are responding to this challenge imaginatively in communities across the UK. SCL works to ensure that this community-based contribution to national and local strategies is recognised and developed.
SCL works with with central government bodies such as DCMS, The Welsh Assembly, CYMAL and MLA, local government bodies such as The LGA and IDEA and other major partners such as the BBC, the Reading Agency, CILIP and the book trade.
SCL maintains a watching brief on legislative developments and lobbies for the interests of public libraries with central and local government. SCL takes an active role in programmes to modernise public libraries and leads the development of leadership in the sector through a wide programme of courses and networks.
SCL is a key partner in the development and delivery of Framework for the Future, the government’s 10 year strategic improvement programme for public libraries. It has also been proactivley involved in the recent Love Libraries Campaign and in Branching Out, a ground breaking e-learning programme aimed at changing the culture of frontline library staff. This has now been established as a sustainable national programme.
SCL had major representation on the steering group for the recent report on library procurement. SCL supports chief librarians by providing regional networks that allow them to discuss current issues and concerns in a confidential environment. These regional networks also work closely with partners within their regions to deliver real benefits to services and customers such as cheaper procurement of services and easy access to books across all libraries in a region.
SCL organises an annual conference focusing on areas of current interest.