PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Motion Text

That this House notes that it is 150 years since the first reading of the Public Libraries Act enabling town councils to establish public libraries; applauds the great contribution made to people's lives by public libraries in terms of literacy and lifelong learning and engendering a love of books and acknowledges the vital part played in local communities by libraries over the last 150 years; further agrees that libraries of all kinds have an essential and continuing role to play in the new century as the information society unfolds; and lastly, congratulates the Library Association, the chartered body for librarians and information managers on the contribution of its members to our nation's cultural, educational, scientific and literary life.