# Big Lottery Fund gives £80 million to libraries

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/10/08/big-lottery-fund-gives-80-million-libraries/
- Published: 2006-10-08T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Big Lottery Fund is making £80 million available for strengthening the place
of libraries in community life. The new Lottery scheme opens for application from
today.
The Community Libraries programme will provide capital funding to improve
library buildings so that they can offer a broader range of activities to their 
visitors. The scheme has been developed together with the Museums, Libraries and
Archives Council (MLA).

The programme is designed to help create new spaces in libraries, bringing under
one roof activities as diverse as reading groups, advice services, local history
workshops, mother and toddler groups, community meetings, exhibitions and performances,
healthy living workshops, language courses and family learning.

It is open to Local Authority Library Services in England and will support bids 
for funds that “clearly demonstrate that local communities are actively engaged 
in the development, delivery and management of the projects”. The Big Lottery Fund
will make grants of between £250,000 and £2,000,000 for projects lasting up to three
years.

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Community Libraries is part of the Big Lottery Fund’s broader commitment to support
Community Learning with up to £120 million allocated in England to be distributed
via two programmes. In addition to Community Libraries, the Fund launched a £40 
million Family Learning programme on 19 September 2006 to fund practical and enjoyable
activities for adults and children, bringing generations of families together through
learning.

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