Press Releases

Society of Chief Librarians Supports National Libraries Day

Society of Chief Librarians Supports National Libraries Day thumbnail image

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 ...

Read full story

Public Libraries Committed to Improve Access for Blind and Partially Sighted People

Public Libraries Committed to Improve Access for Blind and Partially Sighted People thumbnail image

Posted on 20 September 2011

PRESS RELEASE Public Libraries Committed to Improve Access for Blind and Partially Sighted People 20 September 2011, London—Public libraries are adopting six steps in a UK-wide effort to improve access for blind and partially sighted people. For the two million blind and partially sighted people in ...

Read full story

Libraries Help 250000 People Get Online

Libraries Help 250000 People Get Online thumbnail image

Posted on 11 May 2011

Public Libraries in the UK have helped more than a quarter of a million people, with no previous online experience, to go online. Libraries are a key partners in the UK’s Raceonline2012, spearheaded by Martha Lane Fox, and in September 2010 the Society of ...

Read full story

SCL Supports Race Online 2012

SCL Supports Race Online 2012 thumbnail image

Posted on 26 November 2010

Libraries pledge to get 500,000 people online by 2012 The Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) supports Race Online 2012 and welcomes the announcement by the Cabinet Office on the digital review undertaken for the government by Martha Lane Fox. SCL has pledged that public libraries ...

Read full story

SCL Publishes Manifesto for Public Libraries

SCL Publishes Manifesto for Public Libraries thumbnail image

Posted on 22 March 2010

  The SCL Manifesto states that libraries are adapting to and meeting the needs of local people, and every library in the UK is focused on core principles of reading, learning, literacy, and digital inclusion.  “Thirty-four million people a year visit public libraries in the UK. ...

Read full story

SCL Responds to Library Modernisation Review Consultation

SCL Responds to Library Modernisation Review Consultation thumbnail image

Posted on 1 December 2009

SCL Response to Empower, Inform, Enrich   The Society of Chief Librarians responds to the publication of Empower, Inform, Enrich, the consultation document of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s modernisation review of public libraries. It is an insightful collection of essays about the future of the ...

Read full story

SCL and the NHS Sign MOU on Health

SCL and the NHS Sign MOU on Health thumbnail image

Posted on 19 November 2009

On November 19, at an NHS ‘Live Well Day’ at Peckham Library, the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) and NHS Choices will sign an agreement that formalises a partnership between the Department of Health and public libraries to provide people with access to more ...

Read full story

SCL Announces Universal Membership

SCL Announces Universal Membership thumbnail image

Posted on 6 October 2009

From 28 September, more than 4000 public libraries across England, Wales and Northern Ireland* are open for borrowing by any member of the public regardless of where they live. Customers will be able to borrow books from any library, and in some cases use ...

Read full story