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Strong support for Hampshire conference

01.01.70 | Philip Jones

The leaders and chief officers of 18 councils will attend a library conference to be hosted in February by Hampshire county council working with library campaigner Tim Coates. The event is set to focus on how political leaders can work with local managers to ensure the development of their libraries, and will bring council heads together with campaigners and library professionals to discuss the issue.

Bournemouth council chief Stephen MacLouglin, Demos associate John Holden,Surrey cultural services head Yvonne Rees and Kent libraries head Cath Anley are among those set to speak, alongside Coates, Hampshire's council leader Ken Thornber and its director of recreation Yinnon Ezra.

Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey and representatives from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will also attend. Thornber said he was "delighted" that so many councils wished to take part in the conference, adding: "The importance of local authority leaders and councillors ensuring that public libraries are supported and change has never been greater. How we try to make this a reality and engage ALL councillors in this is a key challenge. Libraries play a huge part in our communities which is why we put it high on our list of priorities."

• Benedicte Page
• hampshire
• libraries
• Tim Coates