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<p>The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport works closely with organisations
across the sector to support and champion public libraries in England. Through the
first round of the Libraries Improvement Fund, we are investing £5 million in 25 library
services to upgrade their buildings and technology, equipping them to meet the changing
needs of local communities. Decisions regarding the second round of the Fund – which
will offer another £5 million of investment – will be made shortly.</p><p>Additionally,
in September 2022 the Government appointed Baroness Sanderson of Welton as chairman
of a new advisory panel to help develop a new strategy to make sure public libraries
are providing the best possible service for their communities. More detail can be
found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/baroness-sanderson-to-help-develop-new-public-libraries-strategy"
target="_blank">here</a>. To date she has had numerous meetings with organisations
with an interest in public libraries’ work, and has led two roundtable sessions. The
first on 13 January in Nottinghamshire focused on the contribution public libraries
make to cultural and creative enrichment and the second on 27 January in Ipswich discussed
their contribution to health and wellbeing. A further seven roundtables will be held
between February and May, in libraries across England, each focusing on a specific
theme, based on the seven Strategic Outcomes in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-libraries-in-england-2016-to-2021/libraries-deliver-ambition-for-public-libraries-in-england-2016-to-2021"
target="_blank">Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016 to
2021</a>, plus sessions on governance and innovation.</p>
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