LASER to plan its end on a high note

Citation

(2001), "LASER to plan its end on a high note", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 29 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2001.12229cab.007

LASER to plan its end on a high note

LASER to plan its end on a high note

Keywords: Interlibrary lending, Public libraries, United Kingdom

At a meeting on 30 January 2001, a paper was presented to the LASER Board giving as one option the winding up of LASER activities from the end of September 2001.

Since the formation of "New Regions" by the Government in 2000, LASER has become something of an anomaly. It is not co-terminous with Government Regions, and in fact now spans, either completely or partially, three Regions, London, South East and Eastern. It is worth noting that LASER, the largest by far of the "Old" Regional Library Services, is far more affected by current changes. Other Regions either are co-terminous, or have required very little change to become so.

Prior to the present Government defining the "New Regions", LASER consulted extensively with its members regarding LASER's future. A number of options were considered including splitting into three mini regions, merging with other regions, etc. However all options were disregarded on the basis of not being financially viable or requiring the consent of other regions which was unlikely to be forthcoming.

Since this consultation and subsequently the creation of new bodies set up under the new government agenda, such as the London Library Development Agency (LLDA) and the East of England Libraries and Information Services Development Agency (ELISA), LASER's raison d'être has been eroded.

In the view of the Chairman, the Director and members of the Board, it was felt that the best interests of members and the library community at large were best served by national resource sharing opportunities, and that the core services of LASER could be offered by other routes, and other organisations. Consequently, the Board accepted the difficult and far-sighted decision that LASER should be wound up with a view to closure of all activities by the end of September 2001.

LASER has been a unique organisation, highly successful and ground breaking. It has significant resources and these will be used within the charitable aims and objectives as specified in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company.

Source: Press release