From today, more than 4,000 libraries across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be open to any member of the public no matter where they live, thanks to a new scheme introduced by top librarians.
Visitors will be able to borrow books from any English, Welsh or Northern Irish public library just by showing their existing library card or proof of address, meaning that "now every library is a local library", according to the Society of Chief Librarians, which announced the news today. The Society is also looking into introducing a one-library card system for public libraries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – similar to British Columbia's "BC One" card, which gives holders access to any library in the province. They are also looking at the possibility of visitors being able to return books to different libraries than the ones they borrowed from.
"It's something we've wanted to do for a while," said Tony Durcan, the man in charge of the scheme and former president of the Society of Chief Librarians, on the BBC's Today programme this morning. "If you've joined one library service, why do you have to go through the bureaucratic process of filling in forms to join another? It's particularly important for people who don't have easy access to their documents, such as refugees and asylum seekers, children, people who have just moved house or gone to work somewhere else and don't have their documents in place."
"Now anybody can go into any library and get access to its services," agreed Cath Anley, secretary of the Society of Chief Librarians and head of libraries, archives and museums at Kent county council. "We felt this was very important ... If your life takes you into another authority, why shouldn't you get to use the library?"
The news came as culture minister Margaret Hodge prepares to unveil new plans to modernise the public library service, which will recommend introducing "a literary equivalent of the LoveFilm scheme", according to a spokesman from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This would enable readers to order books or DVDs online for delivery by post, and to return them in a pre-paid envelopment when finished.
Other proposals will include later opening hours and the possibility of libraries selling books. "The general notion is making public libraries more attractive, interesting places for people to visit," said the spokesman.