Hidden away in yesterday's letter from Maria Miller confirming that there is no need for an Enquirey into Brent library services is the statement that the number of PCs in Brent libraries is not "a relevant matter under the 1964 Act". This is quite startling.
During the High Court action, both the claimants and the Council regarded the provision of IT services in libraries as an intrinsic part of the library service. The judge made no ruling on that as it was not brought up as a matter of dispute. The SoS now appears to be saying that not only ebooks are not part of the service, but also any electronically transmitted materials. This is effectively legally defining libraries out of existence, and a far greater threat to public library services than any number of building closures.
It underlines the need for a new legal definition to bring the 1964 Act into the modern age.
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