British Library Readers Group

Our Purpose

The Readers Group came about due to a lack of reader representation in the British Library. We seek to represent all readers by providing a forum for discussion and a unified base through which we can bring our collective concerns to the attention of management and seek positive solutions.

Our wider purpose is laid out in the Terms of Reference which we signed with the BL management after a series of meetings in Spring 2007.

Our Aims
We want to create a more egalitarian and democratic approach to Library policy formulation and decision making. We will campaign for readers’ needs in the library, bringing concerns to management attention and lobbying to make the Library a better place for readers. In our first year we have already seen many positive results.

We have held meetings with senior managers to discuss key concerns such as overcrowding, noise, service charges, the online catalogue, etc. Some of our early successes include an increase in the use of silent telephones by staff, changes to cleaning schedules to minimise noise disturbance and an agreement to allow readers to sit on the strategic committees for the utilisation of library space and on the committee that will consider the new catering contract.