Meetings

At its meeting on 2 April 2014, the committee agreed a motion under standing order 17.42(vi) and (ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the meeting. 

1.1 The Committee discussed the key issues. 

John Griffiths AM, Minister for Culture and Sport

Linda Tomos, CyMAL Director

Huw Evans, CyMAL Library Development Team

2.1 The Committee received evidence from the Minister for Culture and Sport.

The Minister agreed to provide the following:

·         figures on the number of people who have signed up for e-magazine services;

·         information on arrangements that are in place for libraries in relation to the roll out of the universal credit scheme; and

·         a link to the Carnegie UK Report: A New Chapter - Public Library Services in the 21st Century

Mike Cavanagh, Head of Cultural Services, Pembrokeshire County Council

Jane Davies, Senior Cultural Services Manager, Carmarthenshire County Council 

Mark Jewell, Library Services Manager, Carmarthenshire County Council 

5.1 The Committee received evidence from Pembrokshire County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council.

Catriona Williams, Chief Executive

Lynne Hill, Policy Director

4.1 The Committee received evidence from Children in Wales.

Graeme Francis, Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Ceri Cryer, Policy Advisor

3.1 The committee received evidence from Age Cymru.

Rhian Davies, Chief Executive

Cathryn Marcus, Project Director of Communities

2.1 The committee received evidence from Disability Wales.

2.2 Communities agreed to provide a link to case studies on digital inclusion.

2.3 The Committee agreed to write to the local authorities in Wales to ask them if they have undertaken equality impact assessments before deciding on the closure of a library in its area

Carol Edwards, Chair of CILIP Wales

Mandy Powell, Policy Officer, CILIP Wales

Jane Sellwood, Society of Chief Librarians, Wales

3.1 The Committee received evidence from Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and Chief Librarians.

The CILIP agreed to provide:

·       information on the number of users/visitors to libraries in each local authority;

·       on the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 and the provisions within it;

·       on whether Library Management Systems could be accessed across the border.

Dr Chris Llewelyn, Director of Lifelong Learning, Leisure & Information

Peter Gomer, Policy Adviser, Leisure, Culture, Tourism & Heritage

Richard Hughes, WLGA Adviser & Interim Head of Healthy Living, Bridgend County Borough Council

2.1 The Committee received evidence from the Welsh Local Government Association.

2.2 The Welsh Local Government Association agreed to provide:

·       statistics on the use of digital library services and a breakdown of the age of users;

·       information on the Libraries Inspire programme, in relation to the use of University Libraries and how access to reference material could be widened.

The Committee requested a legal briefing on the status of the guidance (Welsh Public Library Standards) issued by Welsh Ministers under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 (i.e, whether this is statutory or voluntary guidance).

8.1 The committee considered the scoping paper on the inquiry into public Libraries in Wales.