§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to extend the Lending Time project to other library services using volunteers. [185498]
§ Estelle MorrisThe Framework for the Future Action Plan contains a strategic objective to develop an inclusive library service that reflects and helps build cohesive communities. Volunteering is an integral component of this. Lessons will be drawn from the Community Service Volunteers (CSV) Lending Time project along with other experience of community engagement and used to develop a work programme which will take a wider approach to community engagement. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) are currently considering a proposal from CSV to provide, expert advice and support through a national post funded by Framework for the Future. This person would work with a group of key partners as an advisory group to the work programme.
§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to implement the recommendations made in Shared Intelligence, the evaluation report of the Lending Time project. [185510]
303WEstelle Morris: The recommendations from the Shared Intelligence evaluation report will be used by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) to develop a work programme widening the library approach to community engagement. The experiences from the Lending Time project will be used to ensure that volunteering will be an integral part of this work programme. Funding will come from the Framework for the Future Action Plan and a plan is currently being considered to include a national post at MLA for a member of Community Service Volunteers (CSV), who led the Lending Time project, to provide expert advice and support to the work programme alongside an advisory group of experts.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has for a second phase of the Lending Time: Volunteers in Libraries initiative. [185769]
§ Estelle MorrisLending Time was an agreed three-year project and has now come to an end. The lessons drawn from the project and the recommendations from the evaluation report will be used by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) to support the development of a wider strategy of community engagement for libraries. This will encompass volunteering within a range of initiatives and will be funded through the Framework for the Future Action Plan. In order to utilise the experiences from the Lending Time project further, MLA are currently considering funding a national post for a member of Community Service Volunteers (CSV) to support and advise the development of this strategy.