Local Studies Libraries: Library Association Guidelines for Local Studies (LA Guidelines)

Local studies librarianship has changed dramatically since the publication of the first edition of these Guidelines in 1990, and the pace of change shows little sign of slackening. Local studies libraries play an increasingly acknowledged role in delivering the government's social and educational agenda in local community regeneration, as well as recognizing, celebrating and recording local cultural and economic diversity. There is also a wider recognition of the role of local studies libraries across the country in collecting and conserving the national published archive.In order to meet this increased demand for services, local studies libraries have had to transform their collection strategies, the range of materials they provide and their ways of giving the public greater access. Widespread use of electronic systems has facilitated the linkage of materials in holdings of all types from the current records held by local authority services to historic archives held by local history societies and other organizations.The Guidelines constitute a policy statement on provision of a complete and comprehensive service to local studies users in public libraries. They form a starting point for any authority setting up a service, and an invaluable resource from which to benchmark existing services.