Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 explained

Short Title:Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964
Type:Act
Parliament:Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long Title:An Act to place the public library service provided by local authorities in England and Wales under the superintendence of the Secretary of State, to make new provision for regulating and improving that service and as to the provision and maintenance of museums and art galleries by such authorities, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.
Year:1964
Citation:1964 c. 75
Territorial Extent:England and Wales
Royal Assent:31 July 1964
Commencement:1 April 1965
Original Text:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/75/enacted
Status:Amended
Use New Uk-Leg:yes

The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 (c. 75) is an act of the United Kingdom Parliament. It created a statutory duty for local authorities in England and Wales[1] "to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service for all persons".[2] It also allowed local authorities to "provide and maintain museums and art galleries".

Background

The Act was based on research including the 1962 Bourdillon Report (Standards of Public Library Service in England and Wales) which set out the resources which would be required to provide a comprehensive service.[3]

Notes and References

  1. act . 1964 . 75 . Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 . 2024-07-30.
  2. Web site: Libraries as a statutory service . 2022-04-01 . 2023-08-24 . Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
  3. Web site: Davies . Dr Steve . Time for a new Public Libraries and Museums Act . 2018-01-30 . Voices for the Library . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127092408/https://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/2014/07/time-for-a-new-public-libraries-and-museums-act/ . 2022-01-27.