The national, regional and local context

The main piece of legislation governing the library service is the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. The statutory duties are set out in the Act as follows:

“It shall be the duty of every library authority to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof, and for that purpose to employ such officers, to provide and maintain such buildings and equipment, and such books and other material, and to do such other things, as may be requisite”. (Section 7.1).  

“In fulfilling its duty under the preceding subsection, a library authority shall in particular have regard to the desirability -

a) of securing, by the keeping of adequate stock, by arrangements with other library authorities, and by any other appropriate means, that facilities are available for the borrowing of, or reference to, books and other printed matter… sufficient in number, range and quality to meet the general requirements and any special requirements both of adults and children; and

b) of encouraging both adults and children to make full use of the library service, and of providing advice as to its use and of making available such bibliographic and other information as may be required by persons using it.”

Many other areas of legislation have a direct impact on stock provision and policies:

• Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964
• Obscene Publications Act 1959 (and amendments)
• Race Relations Act 1976 and Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000
• Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (including the Gender Regulations 1999)
• Video Recordings Act 1984
• Public Order Act 1986 (as amended by the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 and the
• Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001)
• Local Government and Housing Act 1989
• Local Government Act 1992
• Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988, Copyright (Visually Impaired Person’s) Act 2002 and Copyright Act Guidelines 2003, Intellectual Property Act 2014
• The Children Act 1989
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Data Protection Act 2018
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Terrorism Acts 2000 & 2006
• Protection from Harassment Act 1997
• Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
• Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
• Equalities Act 2010

Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils manage the Library Services - their buildings, stock and staff resources - in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Public Libraries Act 1964, and the corporate policies of the council.

As part of the Customer Solutions Directorate of Cumberland Council and Thriving Communities Directorate of Westmorland and Furness Council, the Library Services are committed to the delivery of the Councils’ key priorities, aspirations, aims and objectives.

The Councils Plan and other local plans and policies, have a direct bearing upon the strategic and operational activities of CWF’s library services, including the way that stock is purchased, managed and deployed.

Regional and national plans and policies also have an influence on the management of our stock. Libraries Connected (formerly The Society of Chief Librarians) is the sector support organisation for libraries and as part of its vision for an inclusive, modern, sustainable and high-quality public library service at the heart of every community in the UK, this body has developed a suite of Universal Offers. These offers define the key  areas of service essential to a 21st century library service, and library services nationally are expected to deliver them.

The Universal Offers are: Culture and Creativity, Health and Well-being, Information and Digital and Reading, and underpinning these are the Vision and Print Impaired People’s Promise for the visually impaired, and the Children’s Promise, which aim to ensure that these offers remain accessible for all. Delivering these offers influences the way our stock is purchased, managed and utilised CWF Library Service is also an active member of the North West region Time to Read reader development network, comprised of 22 library authorities in the North West. The network members work in partnership to develop projects which promote books and reading, and also to encourage new readers into libraries.