Friends: Here is an excerpt from a news story in the latest issue of the* Bookseller*, < http://www.thebookseller.com/news/essential-councillors-understand-value-lib...

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Nick Poole, CEO of CILIP, argues that research has proven having access to a library service delivered by qualified professionals can support teachers by boosting learning outcomes, literacy and pupil attainment. “Library services across the UK are delivering frontline support which helps reduce the pressure on health and social care services that make up some 20% of council spending,” Poole said. CILIP noted that some authorities have been able to strengthen their reserves during the period of the report, but still urged councils to consider retaining a quality library service as a means of avoiding significant cost increases elsewhere in their expenditure before building up reserves. The information was derived from Department for Communities and Local Government Revenue Summary Outturn returns submitted by local authorities in England. Good to hear that quality library service provided by 'qualified' (meaning with the right skills and attitudes) can not only boost learning outcomes in schools, literacy and pupil attainment but also make a difference in health and social care. It was Wassily Leontief, who won the Nobel in Economics in 1973, who showed tht investment in one area would have impact on other areas. Now the UK experience has shown the value of investing in public and school libraries. I have no idea of how the relation between library investment and its impact on health and social care and literacy and learning outcome in schools was established nor do I know the techniques used in this input-output analysis. But I am sure similar studies should be done in India so we could also show how valuable our public libraries are. Any takers? Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.