NEWS
Integrity damaged by closure
THE library service of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is set to close as part of wide-reaching plans to cut spending at the environmental regulator.
Management at NRW are looking to save around £12m and have targeted the library services, cafes and shops at its visitor cen- tres. The decision to close the library and other activities will result in 120 job losses. CILIP warned that closing the library service would “impact on the integrity and credibility of Natural Resources Wales.”
Response to curriculum review
CILIP and other school library organisa- tions have submitted a joint response to Department for Education’s Curriculum & Assessment Review CILIP, CILIP’s School Libraries Group (SLG), the Great School Libraries Campaign, the School Library Association (SLA), and the Association of Senior Children’s and Edu- cation Librarians (ASCEL) highlighted the power and potential of school libraries and librarians. The response calls for proper resourcing of school library services, and points out that school libraries provide access to vital resources and literacy skills to help children achieve the best possible outcomes. l
www.cilip.org.uk/page/campaigningandopenletters
Cyber warning from UK security chief
THE Head of GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre has warned that organisa- tions need to take steps to ensure they are prepared for data attacks, as risks increase. Richard Horne said: “The NCSC, as the National Technical Authority, has been publishing advice, guidance and frame- works since our inception, in a bid to drive up the cyber security of the UK. We need all organisations, public and private, to see cyber security as both an essential founda- tion for their operations and a driver for growth.”
10 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
Budget’s £10m threat to BL North project
THE Chancellor has said she may can- cel grants for a number of big cultural projects that were promised under the previous government, including £10m to support the British Library’s northern expansion in Leeds. A £100m of funding for culture projects was announced in the Spring Budget by the outgoing government, but in Rachel Reeves’ first Labour Budget she said: “To ensure investment is focussed on the growth mission, the government is minded to cancel unfunded Levelling Up Culture and Capital Projects, and the West Midlands culture and inward in- vestment funding, that were announced at Spring Budget 2024, but will consult with potential funding recipients before making a final decision.” The British Library plan to turn the Temple Works site in Leeds into a new public space – British Library North – is one of the affected projects putting £10m of the estimated £70m project at risk. It is not clear whether the funds will be withdrawn, in part or full, or if the proj- ect could go ahead without the funding.
A spokesperson for the British Library
said: “We welcome the opportunity to actively engage with the government con- sultation process around plans for a British Library site at Temple Works, which forms part of the ongoing regeneration pro- gramme in Leeds South Bank. “We are continuing to support our partners in the region to make the strongest possible case for the British Library North project and are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to move Temple Works into public ownership. The Library remains as committed as ever to working closely with communities in Leeds and West Yorkshire, powered by our existing base in Boston Spa.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin told
the BBC that the project was not “dead in the water” and that she would do “every- thing in my power” to deliver it. Leeds City Council said it also remained committed to “unlocking the huge poten- tial” of Temple Works and the plans for a new British Library North.
CILIP opposition to L7 funding plans
CHANGES to the way Level 7 Appren- ticeships are funder are being opposed by CILIP.
The proposals are part of the govern- ment’s reformed Growth and Skills Levy, and could see Level 7 apprenticeships ex- cluded from a key funding stream, known as the levy. This levy is paid for by manda- tory contributions from organisations with a payroll of more than £3m per year, and can be used by qualifying businesses to help fund apprentice training. Since 2017, CILIP has been heavily in- volved in the design and implementation of two apprenticeship programmes for the profession. The Level 3 Apprenticeship in has been used by over 100 employers since the first apprentice qualified using it in 2021. Work has been ongoing in developing a higher level apprenticeship in order to give information, knowledge and library work-
ers an opportunity to develop their skills on the job. Both the Level 3 and Level 7 apprenticeships have been developed to help create diverse routes into, and through the profession. Jo Cornish, CILIP’s Chief Development Officer, said: “We consider our story a great case study of success in how a sector can use the apprenticeship offer as a pos- itive mechanism for sector and workforce development. We are deeply concerned about reports suggesting a potential cut to Level 7 apprenticeship funding. Such a change would not only slow the progress of this system but also undermine efforts to diversify our profession and meet work- force needs.”
For more on why Level 7 apprentice-
ships are important, and how you can lend your voice to the lobbying campaign to pro- tect funding visit
https://tinyurl.com/CILIPLev7.
December 2024
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