Libraries

Lord Elton Excerpts

Tuesday 7th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

The noble Lord is absolutely right. Promotion is necessary, and that is what our libraries development initiative is doing. On the subject of commercial partnerships, it says:

“This will consider how libraries can respond to increasing economic challenges in an innovative way, exploring diverse funding streams and the benefits of a resilient mixed economy”.

[Lord Elton]

My Lords, could my noble friend expand her reply to the noble Lord, Lord Peston, to touch on the subject of mobile libraries, which certainly are extremely useful in rural areas and could be developed in urban areas?

[Baroness Rawlings]

My noble friend Lord Elton has a very good idea and I am sure that the Secretary of State will look at that.