Welsh Public Library Standards Independent Adviser

Descriptions

The Museums, Archives and Libraries Division (MALD) is a policy division of the Welsh Government. MALD is responsible for the sponsorship of the National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum. MALD also supports local museums, archives and libraries in providing quality services to diverse audiences. More information about the division can be found on our web pages on the Welsh Government website.One of MALD’s key roles is the administration of the Welsh Public Library Standards framework (WPLS) to maintain the quality and standard of public library services for the people of Wales.The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 makes it a statutory duty of the relevant Minister within the Welsh Government “to superintend and promote the improvement of the public library service provided by local authorities…and to secure the proper discharge by local authorities of the functions in relation to libraries conferred upon them as library authorities under this Act”.Under the same Act, library authorities are required to “provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons desiring to make use thereof”.In order to assist Ministers in assessing whether or not library services in Wales are complying with their duties under the 1964 Act, and to encourage and facilitate a development strategy for Welsh public libraries, the Welsh Government introduced Welsh Public Library Standards frameworks.The sixth framework: Connected and ambitious libraries: the sixth quality framework of Welsh Public Library Standards 2017-20 was published in April 2017. Since 2004, the Welsh Government has appointed an independent adviser to assist with the monitoring of the Standards and the preparation of assessment and overview reports.The aim of this contract is to appoint an Independent Adviser to;Assess local authority library service performance for 2017-18, based on reports submitted by local authorities.Prepare assessment reports and letters for local authorities to an established and existing timetable.The work for this contract will commence from June 2018.