Library services in an increasingly devolved policy landscape

Insight Paper

Partners

Libraries Connected

Author

Libraries Connected

Description

This insight paper, produced by Libraries Connected, captures perspectives from senior library leaders across the UK on how devolution and increased local decision-making are reshaping public library services. It highlights the pivotal yet often under-recognised role libraries play as civic and cultural infrastructure, trusted by communities and uniquely positioned to support citizen engagement, digital inclusion and place-based policymaking. The paper explores the opportunities of devolution for scaling services, strengthening community participation and integrating libraries into regional cultural strategies, while warning of risks such as fragmentation, underfunding and marginalisation. It concludes by calling for renewed investment in library leadership and capacity to ensure libraries can fulfil their potential as anchors of local democratic and cultural life.

Published as part of The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK.

August 2024