National research into library services: Arts Council commissions Locality

During 2011-12, Locality offered tailored advice and support to a number of local authorities, and more than 50 community organisations, to share good practice from such initiatives via its Community Knowledge Hub.

Arts Council England and the Local Government Association (LGA) have since commissioned Locality to undertake research to explore the different ways in which communities are nowadays involved in the delivery of library services.  The research aims to provide a current picture of community managed or community supported library provision in England – mapping community involvement and examining existing evidence and guidance.

Through this research project, the Arts Council, as the development body for public libraries, will be able to provide guiding principles to support local authorities who are reviewing delivery of their library services or, else, thinking about new ways of involving and working with their communities.

Additional partners include: the Cabinet Office, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).