Libraries council and advisory service facing the axe

The Museum, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) could be abolished under government plans to cut the funding of public bodies.

The MLA, which works to promote best practice in the UK’s museums, libraries and archives, is one of 55 public bodies funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL) is also facing the axe.

ALCS Deputy Chief Executive Barbara Hayes said:

“While ALCS appreciates the pressure on resources and the need to save money across government departments, we hope that the key functions carried out by these bodies can be maintained. Access to books, educational materials, entertainment and to the internet are vital community services provided by our public libraries and archives. It is essential that we work together to ensure their future.”

In a joint statement MLA Chief Executive Roy Clare and Chair Sir Andrew Motion said that they were confident that the “various important capabilities” of the MLA would be found new homes, and stressed their determination to “ensure that there continues to be sources of robust advocacy for museums, libraries and archives, and for the people and places that depend on them.

“Over the year or so ahead our focus is on continuing to boost the impact and potential of museums, libraries and archives in locations across the country. An economy only slowly emerging from recession, and pressures on public spending provide the spur to make even greater efforts to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits for people and communities,” they said.

The DCMS has promised some of the key functions carried out by the bodies it proposes abolishing will be transferred to existing organisations. The government department will work over the summer to finalise the "details and timings" of the changes. Any necessary legislative changes would be made through the Cabinet Office’s Public Bodies Bill, which is due to be introduced in the autumn.

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