SCL Blog
SCL Members report on the development of libraries in the UK and abroad.
Taking Part in World Book Night 2013
Posted on 23 April 2013
I have taken part in World Book Night in 2011 and 2012. It is a fabulous experience. I live beside the Trent and Mersey Canal and my "neighbours", who change almost every day, are people who live on boats. Most are "continuous cruisers" (a canal term for those without
Libraries are Part of the Solution
Posted on 11 March 2013
Last Thursday and Friday I attended the LGA/CLOA annual culture, tourism and sport conference. The focus this year was on boosting the economy through culture, tourism and sport. I presented two workshops on the single cultural conversation, focusing on how public libraries are part
Creative...and Busy
Posted on 25 February 2013
The last few weeks since we launched our Universal Offers have been creative and busy. Creative because we have had a deluge of ideas from library customers and stakeholders about rolling the offers out in their libraries. Busy, because I have been traveling around
SCL meets with library campaigners to discuss how to build a sustainable library service
Posted on 11 December 2012
The Forum was set up as a means to broker an understanding about the different roles and responsibilities of those engaged with the current debate. Today’s attendees included representatives from Arts Council England, SCL, Voices for the Library, Public Library News, the Library Campaign the
Bringing the UK online through libraries
Posted on 21 September 2012
At the start of the national Race On-line project, or newly named Go ON UK, our aim was to support 500,000 people get online by the end of the year. This turned out to be a complete underestimate of not just the thirst of the
Libraries & literacy
Posted on 11 September 2012
Last Saturday, 8th September, was the United Nations Literacy Day. It is a day which marks the value that literacy brings to people, and it also reminds me of the role which libraries play in this. Across the world, literacy acts as a gateway to
Giving Young People a Voice in Libraries
Posted on 15 March 2012
As well as being part of SCL, I am also a trustee of The Reading Agency and yesterday I attended our quarterly Board Meeting – and apart from it being fantastic weather in London, I said to someone when I got there- it is
Library user puts it all in perspective...
Posted on 22 February 2012
This morning I got into work prepared for several meetings on Outcome Planning, which Staffordshire County Council is now immersed in following the completion of our Strategic Plan and agreement of the budget. We have 9 key outcomes at a County level, and I am
Find a Library Statement
Posted on 7 February 2012
The Society of Chief Librarians encourages library customers to put their libraries on the map. SCL welcomes the Find a Library initiative which will make libraries even more accessible to customers wherever they happen to be in the UK. Nicky Parker, SCL President, said:
Society of Chief Librarians Supports National Libraries Day
Posted on 31 January 2012
The Society of Chief Librarians is the local government organisation working to develop public libraries and promote their value and contribution. SCL is not a campaigning group, but it is a peer support organisation. SCL supports chief librarians and the public library service by providing