Committee on National Libraries

Committee on National Libraries
Name	Committee on National Libraries
Formation	1969
Type	Advisory committee
Status	Defunct
Purpose	Coordination and development of national library services
Headquarters	London
Region served	United Kingdom
Language	English
Parent organization	British Library

Committee on National Libraries. It was a pivotal advisory body established in the late 1960s to address the fragmented state of major library collections in the United Kingdom. The committee was instrumental in shaping the legislative and administrative framework that led to the creation of a unified national library institution. Its recommendations fundamentally transformed the landscape of library and information services, leaving a lasting legacy on British cultural heritage.

History and establishment

The committee was established in 1969 by the Secretary of State for Education and Science of the Labour government under Harold Wilson. Its formation was a direct response to the Dainton Report of 1968, which highlighted critical inefficiencies and overlaps among the nation's premier libraries. The political and cultural climate, influenced by the University Grants Committee and debates within the British Museum, necessitated a centralized review. Key figures in its inception included Frederick Dainton and officials from the Department of Education and Science, who sought to modernize the United Kingdom's approach to bibliographic control and preservation.

Membership and structure

The committee was composed of a chairperson and approximately ten to twelve members drawn from senior leadership across major institutions. Its membership typically included the heads or senior representatives of the British Museum, the National Central Library, the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, and the Science Museum. Academic expertise was provided by figures from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, while the Public Record Office and the Scottish Education Department also had representation. This structure ensured a comprehensive perspective encompassing legal deposit, research, and public access.

Functions and responsibilities

Its primary function was to advise the British Government on the development and coordination of national library services. This involved assessing the roles of existing entities like the British Museum Library and the National Reference Library of Science and Invention. The committee was tasked with proposing operational integrations, streamlining collection policies, and improving national and international lending systems. A core responsibility was to make concrete recommendations for administrative and legislative action to Parliament, focusing on efficiency and the needs of researchers and the general public.

Key initiatives and programs

The committee's most significant initiative was the detailed plan for merging several major libraries into a single entity. This led directly to the British Library Act 1972, which established the British Library. It championed the consolidation of the collections of the British Museum, the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, and the British National Bibliography. Other programs included proposals for a unified copyright deposit system and the development of a national bibliographic service, influencing later projects such as the ESTC and collaborative efforts with the Library of Congress.

Relationship with national libraries

The committee's work was intrinsically linked to the operations and future of the United Kingdom's de facto national libraries. It conducted extensive reviews of the Bodleian Library, the Cambridge University Library, and the National Library of Scotland, recognizing their complementary roles. Its recommendations sought to define a clear division of labor between the new central institution and these other major research libraries. The relationship was formalized through the 1972 Act, which designated the newly formed British Library as the primary national library while acknowledging the continued importance of other collections within the nations of the United Kingdom.

Impact and legacy

The committee's impact was profound and immediate, culminating in the establishment of the British Library, which opened its doors in 1973. Its legacy includes the creation of one of the world's largest and most important research libraries, centralizing collections that span from the Magna Carta to modern scientific journals. The structural reforms it advocated influenced library policy across the Commonwealth of Nations and set a precedent for national bibliographic coordination. The committee's vision for integrated services continues to underpin the British Library's role in the digital age, affecting initiatives in preservation and access for institutions like the National Archives.

Category:Defunct organisations based in the United Kingdom Category:Library organizations Category:1969 establishments in the United Kingdom