Frequently Asked Questions

Ask us some questions and we'll give you some answers!

Mail us at: informall@la-hq.org.uk with the subject line FAQ

1. Funding

Q Why are libraries not seeking capital expenditure for new buildings, for example?: Because libraries are provided for under statutory law, lottery funding is not allowed to be used for the provision of new public library buildings.
Q What is the overall position of the public library with regard to the spending of lottery money?: Under lottery rules, funding can't be awarded to any project or item which falls under statutory expenditure. Local authorities are required by law to provide statutory spending on libraries and maintain a good service. The intention of the Information For All Millennium bid is to put in place access to the information superhighway for all citizens through public libraries. This is not affected by the statutory position.
Q Libraries are already underfunded. Shouldn't the basic problems like opening hours and book funds be addressed before talking about spending money on computers?: Under statutory law, lottery funding can't be spent on items such as books or increased opening hours. However, it's not really a question of spending money on books/opening hours instead of technology, as all have a role to play in libraries at the present time and in the future. It is important that there is adequate funding for each, using the appropriate sources available. Technology has been used in public libraries for 30 years and is now an integral part of the library service - indeed, computer spend is now as important as opening hours. The spending of funds on the provision of electronic information will ensure the continued development of technology and efficient service within our public libraries.
Q Doesn't this just take the pressure off the Government to ensure public expenditure on libraries by using Lottery money for the project?: The Government has a statutory responsibility to provide a public library service in the country. As the Millennium Commission has strict rules restricting the spending of lottery money, the Government will still have to ensure that it maintains the standard of the service. Ideally, the Government would fund the project. However, as there is no Government funding available, we believe that it is important that the project is started now to make sure that every person in the UK has access to information on the Internet. If there is national support for the project, Government funding may develop at a later date.
Q Who will pay for the on-going running costs of the technology such as maintenance/insurance/repair etc?: Local authorities and partnerships with whom they are engaged on this project will cover this type of cost.

2. Millennium Bid

Q This is the second time this bid has been made to the Millennium Commission. How can you guarantee success this time given that the project failed last time around?: The bid to the Millennium Commission has gained a lot of support over the past few months. Information For All has been set up by the Library Association and the Library and Information Commission as a non-profit-making organisation to lead the bid. Logica are consulting on the technical logistics of the bid, and there is a public relations campaign to raise awareness of the issue targeting everyone from the man in the street to MPs in the House Of Parliament. Overall, the bid has more funding and more support than it did the last time, and will contain the technical and financial information that the first submission lacked.
Q Isn't this yet another Millennium bid that cannot guarantee partnership funding?: The bid represents a partnership of loca l authorities across the country. We are confident that each local authority will take responsibility for the project and, as such, will be currently negotiating partnership funding in their area. The funding will therefore come from public and private sources depending on local circumstances.
Q What partnership combinations do you envisage?: There could be a very wide range of library partnerships across the local authorities - not just library services but also in education, communication and computing providers, publishers of electronic information and information resource providers.
Q Won't public library networking happen anyway?: Even if gradually and piecemeal? Networking public libraries may ha ppen eventually but it will be patchy. The purpose of the Millennium bid is to set up the network on a democratic scale so that the user benefits immediately from being able to enter any library anywhere in the country, however small or remote, and access the same information. In this way there is a democracy of information and libraries will be ready to enter the 21st Century.
Q It's a good idea in theory but how is it to be effectively implemented?: Once the bid has been accepted, a comprehensive strategy will be developed to effectively implement the project. The project will be implemented as part of normal local authority activity. It is likely that a central organisation will be established to take overall responsibility planning and integrating the project.
Q How can this possibly be achieved by the year 2000?: Over 177 local library authorities will be working together as a national network with a central organisation overseeing the project. That organisation will be confirmed once the bid has been accepted. Connection to networks will be established on a rolling programme, for which the planning is already underway.
Q What is the attitude of the main political parties to this bid?: Parties cannot react officially if at all, until the bid is put forward and made public. However, there are already strong indications of cross-party support - we have received well over 100 letters from MPs expressing their support for the bid.
Q What bids are you competing against?: Although we do not have a comprehensive view of the other bids, it is likely that the Information For All bid will be one of the few with the potential to benefit every person in the UK, whoever they are and wherever they live.

3. Libraries

Q Is there really any point in being innovative when core library services are still inadequate?: There are a few areas of core library servi ces that need to be improved, however ^\777 (pounds) million is spent each year on providi ng an excellent overall library service. Over the last 30, years public libraries have greatly increased the numbers of books, audio-visual material and information technology available to the public. The funding of electronic information into every library in the country is simply a continuation of this development.
Q As people rarely use libraries why spend Millennium money on them - surely a waste?: The library service is one of the most heavily used public services with around 60% of the population of England and Wales using a public library at some stage during the year. The provision of online information will meet the needs of regular users and widen the appeal of the library service.
Q Are regular users really going to want to use these new services?: There is evidence that regular library users take advantage of a wide range of services at their local public library. 25% use them for reference or information and that figure is continuing to grow. As electronic information becomes more important, users will expect their local library to provide the means by which to access this information. However, the bid is not just for regular users. The provision of electronic information in the local library will attract new users, especially the young who are now being educated in a technological environment.
Q In America, libraries are being sued for ditching traditional systems like card catalogues. Might there be a backlash here?: The history of libraries is one of continuous improvement and change: the switching from card catalogues to computer catalogues has improved the library service - it is faster, and more efficient at retrieving and combining information. Anyway, the bid is not about catalogues - it is about public access to global information. There is a minor possibility of a backlash challenging the arrival of new technology - some people will always have a nostalgic view of libraries as they were.
Q Won't the new services ruin the atmosphere of libraries as we know them?: The atmosphere in public libraries has changed tremendously over the years to offer an environment in which all media are integrated - visual, audio, microfilm and information technology. The atmosphere is welcoming and democratic, providing a learning environment with staff on hand to support users in their search for literature/information. These improvements bring a favourable response from users.
Q How would you educate/encourage people from all sectors of society to use the IT services?: Once the bid has been accepted, the project will be supported by a publicity programme to continue public awareness. Libraries will provide training and support to staff so that they understand and can teach the new technology to users.
Q Won't this project mean even more work for library staff who are already overworked?: Staff have always had to adapt and learn new skills. Traditionally, staff have responded well to new technology and the use of electronic information will increase efficiency, knowledge and be fun to use.
Q How will the training of staff be funded?: With the support of the library services training budget, staff will trained at no extra cost. However, it may be necessary to seek additional partnerships or funding.
Q How are you going to monitor usage?: This is largely a management is sue which is not new to libraries as they have had to manage resources currently available in libraries (eg CD-ROMS) for a long time. A system can be set up to ensure that a user has access to one hour a day or one hour every four hours to prevent one individual dominating the computer terminal. The Censorship of information is current ly an industry wide issue. The Internet and the use of electr onic information are still in the very early stages but growing very rapidly. There are constant debates on security systems, copyright laws and the technology involved. There are Web sites being created every week and millions of new users every year. As the technology becomes more sophisticated, rules and regulations will become established and such issues will be eradicated. However the management of mat erial in libraries has always be filtered. The issue of online censorship and the filters available will be looked into very carefully, and if considered to be necessary will be pursued. However, public libraries do have a very open environment whereby people can be monitored easily. If a computer terminal is placed in a busy', open area of the library, library staff will have a continuous view of the terminal. Where better to place public access for children than in this kind of environment?
Q Won't libraries risk regular theft of hardware, resulting in high insurance premiums?: Libraries make insurance provision and provide security already under large scale policies.

4. Internet

Q What is actually on the Internet for everyone to use?: The Internet carries electronic information from around the corner and from across the world - it is a way of finding things out. So, in the same way there are books, magazines, radio and tv programmes informing people on any subject from local weather to aliens in outer space, the Internet is an electronic way of accessing the information.
Q Won't the growing problem of illiteracy only be increased?: To be able to use the World Wide Web an d to have access to electronic information, an individual has to be literate to be able to find their way around all the information. As technology develops, computer and media literacy will become essential. Consequently libraries will become focus points for improved skills, and knowledge through a multi-media environment.
Q Exactly what services will be free and what will be charged for?: Basic access is aimed at being free: local authorities will determine at what point charges will be viable in line with current legislation.
Q Do you have any plans to link up with schools/universities?: Not as part of the bid - but once connected it is inevitable that links with schools and further and higher education will be forged to promote educational support and lifelong learning. The point of the public library network is that it will act as a catalyst for this kind of development.
Q Is there a danger that there will be too few machines to meet demand?: Proposals for multiple terminal installations are included in the bid. As for demand - the same is true for books, and it becomes the responsibility of the library to manage the demand. If there are too few machines, then the absolute necessity for the technology is proven.

Any questions we haven't answered? Then mail us at: informall@la-hq.org.uk with the subject line FAQ

� Information for All
For questions or comments, please contact informall@la-hq.org.uk
URL:http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/informall/why/faq.html
Last revised 31-Jan-1997

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