John Gormley, T.D, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with Michael Kitt, T.D, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. (Picture Jason Clarke.)
Branching Out: Future Directions builds on the original report Branching Out: a New Public Library Service, which was published in November 1998.
The new document looks at progress made to date and identifies the challenges facing the public library service during the period 2008-2013.
Branching Out: Future Directions, contains a number of recommendations to build on the development of the public library service, under the six headings of: Infrastructure; Quality of Service; School Library Service; Libraries as Centres of Culture; Library Co-operation, and Marketing and Research.
Among the key recommendations are that the capital grants programme be extended include the provision of grant aid for furniture, fittings, ICT and stock in new library buildings being provided by library authorities, without Exchequer funding.
The report set a new per capita book fund target of €3.77, to be linked to the Consumer Price Index.
An Chomhairle welcomed the publication of the report, noting the success of the first Branching Out programme as noted in annual reports since 1999