Arts Council

		Directory



		The Arts Councils

		The Arts Council of England
		The Arts Council of England strongly supports the continued existence of a free public library service. Libraries are not just book suppliers. They have the potential to promote the books on their shelves to any member of the population and the power to influence reading taste by the range of literature - and indeed all kinds of books - which they choose to put on their shelves. Many libraries form partnerships with other organisations in promoting books and reading - with arts organisations, booksellers, publishers, for example. Libraries also constantly seek new and challenging ways of involving their readers in both writing themselves and in exploring books. Libraries, which often enjoy a special place in the affections and social influence of their communities, also have the unique capacity to reach a wide range of people because of their outreach and mobile services. The Arts Council has an annual Library Fund which currently stands at Ł42,000. This is used to develop new practice in public libraries which is lively and forward-looking. In 1998-99 it is being used primarily to fund a Literature in Public Libraries conference and to support innovative projects involving literature in public libraries. An advisory group is considering uses of the fund in 1998/99 and beyond. Details of this will be available from the department from January 1998 and will be included in subsequent Shelf Talk updates. The contact person for library funding is Gary McKeone, Director of Literature at the Arts Council of England, 14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ. Telephone 0171 333 0100, fax 0171 973 6590.


		The Arts Council of Scotland
		The Scottish Arts Council has worked closely with the library services in Scotland for a number of years, giving support directly through such schemes as Writers in Public whereby libraries throughout Scotland are assisted with the costs of writers' visits and events, and through grants for literary events such as Mushaira poetry readings held in libraries. SAC also works in partnership with the Scottish Library Association and, also, the Scottish Youth Librarians forum. One such successful collaboration was the reading campaign, Now Read On. SAC also gives assistance indirectly to libraries through grants to organisations such as Book Trust Scotland, the Scottish Publishers Association and the Gaelic Books Council. It supports the Scottish Poetry Library, based in Edinburgh but with branches elsewhere, with an annual grant. For more information, please contact Shonagh Irvine Literature Officer Scottish Arts Council 12 Manor Place Edinburgh EH3 7DD Telephone 0131 226 6051 Fax 0131 225 9833 Email shonagh.irvine.SAC@artsfb.org.uk


		The Arts Council of Northern Ireland
		For more information contact Ciaran Carson Literature Officer The Arts Council of Northern Ireland 185 Stanmillis Road Belfast BT9 5DU Telephone 01232 381 591


		The Welsh Arts Council
		For more information contact Tony Bianchi Literature Director The Welsh Arts Council Museum Place Cardiff CF1 3NX Telephone 01222 239 4711