DCMS looks at the performance of library authorities through the assessment of their position statements, which outline their engagement with Framework for the Future, the national public libraries strategy, and standing against the public library standards.  The standards represent a basket of input and output targets across key library activity areas.  The standards as a whole help to define what is meant by a "comprehensive and efficient" service within the terms of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

 

Further information about library position statements can be found on the following website: www.libplans.ws

 

In April 2004 DCMS conducted a consultation exercise on proposed new public library service standards which are essentially a revised and streamlined version of the current standards with some modifications. Consideration was also given to how the measurement of the impact of libraries might also be incorporated into the new standards.