ABSTRACT
This chapter reveals strong differences in professional opinion regarding the effectiveness of the public library service. The professional and research literature provides a variety of sometimes contradictory views. Libraries are for and open to all, and the concept of fairness is inherent in their public provision. The library is seen as a democratic institution which succeeds in reaching groups in the poorest social position. The idea of everyone paying into a common pot so everyone else can have access to a public resource is no longer popular. It's a bit like public broadcasting except that libraries are weaker. For all government talk about social investment and social inclusion, they view libraries as somewhat old fashioned and irrelevant to what they are interested in. Supporting the development of reading skills and learning, the project is specifically targeted at teenagers, reluctant readers especially men, people who do not have English as a first language and family learners.
