Relevant Sources

Realising Potential: The Public Library Service and Cultural Inclusion

In considering the essence of the public library contribution to cultural inclusion, An Chomhairle noted the Project Team’s suggestion that cultural exclusion has three dimensions: the ‘consumption’ of culture; the production of cultural goods, and decision making. By contributing to cultural development, both personal and collective, public libraries help their clienteles to enrich their lives while enabling people to imagine, to react, to respond and, most importantly, to make choices, using the creative impulse. Public libraries have the potential to be more culturally inclusive in the future through supporting the learning agenda, the elimination of disadvantage, and through celebrating diversity. 

The complete version is available for download at www.librarycouncil.ie/policies/NESFSubmission_Foreword.shtml