Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee

Policy Review - English Medium Writing In Wales

A response by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Wales

1. IntroductionCILIP Wales welcome this opportunity to contribute to the Culture, Welsh Language and Sports Committee's review. CILIP Wales is the professional membership body for library and information professionals in Wales with around 850 members. Our members work in various libraries, including public and educational libraries, and provide public access to publications by English-medium writers from/based in Wales.As well as containing general comments, this response will include more specific comments on English-medium writing in relation to library and information services.2. The contribution of English-medium books and writing in Wales to Welsh Culture.Libraries have always recognised the major contribution of English-medium books and writing in Wales and have consistently purchased copies of fiction, poetry, drama and general non-fiction books. Libraries strive to give their users the widest possible choice of English-medium books. The number of copies of books purchased may have varied over the years due to cutbacks in bookfunds, but the introduction of the Public Library Standards by the Welsh Assembly Government has already resulted in improved bookfunds for some public library services. It is hoped that increased bookfunds and improved marketing will lead to an increase in library purchases of English-medium books.Libraries ranging from the National Library of Wales to local public libraries have enabled public access to out-of-print book English-medium books. Ensuring continued access is as an important aspect of the work of libraries and once again reflects the importance given to English-medium writing.As well as measuring the contribution to Welsh culture, it is also important to note the economic contribution of publishing to the cultural industries sector, especially in certain areas of rural Wales.3. Support mechanisms available to writers in Wales, including playwrights and screenplay writers.If libraries are to promote the best of Welsh writing to their users, it is vitally important that there is support to encourage writers in Wales in both the English and Welsh languages. The Welsh Books Council has done much good work in developing the Welsh language provision in Wales and we hope that they will co-operate with the Academi in developing English-medium writing following the recent reallocation of roles in supporting English-medium publishing in Wales. Both should be commended on the work that they have done in recent years.CILIP Wales would like to draw attention to the following comments in the main conclusions section of a research report published by the Aberystwyth Centre for the Book entitled, Public Libraries and the Book Trade in Wales. "With English-language books of Welsh interest for children and young people, librarians felt there was a shortage of titles for the very young child and novels for the young adult. Also there was too much emphasis on producing books of a 'literary' nature (e.g. historical novels, fantasy) at the expense of more popular titles.With English-language information books of Welsh interest for adults, librarians felt that the range of subjects discussed was far too narrow in scope. Once again, insufficient attention was given to producing works of popular nature."CILIP therefore supports comments made by Prof M Wynn Thomas to the Culture committee on this topic on 12 March 2003 that: "funds should be made available for the production of Welsh Books to satisfy a much larger popular market - popular novels, books on sport or cinema, biographies, travel books, detective stories, thrillers, popular history etc."It is important to note that support for more 'popular’ writing should be developed alongside the current provision for more 'literary work and not at its expense. Improved support to attract and keep writers in Wales will also benefit other cultural industries such as television and radio, theatre and journalism. It is important that all interested parties communicate effectively with each other, identify available resources and work together. As part of the discussion on whether new writing or the 'classics' should have greater priority, it has already been noted that libraries strive to ensure access to the 'classics’ that are now out of print, either from their own stock or through interlibrary loans. Therefore libraries would like to see the emphasis being placed on new writing.However this does not address the need for 'classic’ texts by school and colleges. The response by the Welsh Books Council highlights the success of the reprint series by the Association for Welsh Writing in English, e.g. Emyr Humphrey's’ Toy Epic. Therefore there is a need for bodies such as ACCAC, the Welsh Book Council and publishers to work closely together to look at opportunities to reprint the 'classics’ and encourage their study in schools and colleges.CILIP Cymru also welcomes the Welsh Books Council’s plan to host a digital repository on behalf of publishers to enable short-run or on-demand printing of 'classic’ or specialist texts. It is important to also consider developments in the production and distribution of e-books. CILIP Cymru commends the co-operation between Culturenet Cymru and the Welsh Books Council’s project entitled Books from the Past that will make available, free of charge, via the Internet, texts of cultural significance that are out of print. It is important that our publishers are 'enabled’ to take advantage of these developments.CILIP Wales would also like to draw attention to the need to provide publications in alternative formats to ensure the widest possible access to publications. There is currently a shortage of English and Welsh language material available in alternative formats such as audio books, Braille etc.4. Support mechanism for the production and marketing of new writing, including private sector support.Mechanism for raising public awareness of English-medium Welsh literature and writers.These two issues have been brought together as many of the potential solutions are outlined in a document entitled, Joint Marketing Strategy that is currently out to consultation. CILIP Wales recommends that the Culture Committee includes the final document as part of its review. This is an important document in that it reflects the views of authors, publishers, bookshops, and libraries and has been co-ordinated by the Welsh Books Council. CILIP Wales is represented on the working group and it became clear that there are many initiatives relating to marketing and promoting Welsh writing and publishing that will benefit more than one of the sectors mentioned above. Here are just a few of the suggested initiatives outlined. They are equally relevant to Welsh and English language publications.

• Employing a publicists or agent to promote publications in the media. There is evidence available from the work of the Welsh Book Council, working with a publicist, in promoting World Book Day that shows that it is possible to secure widespread coverage for books in the Welsh media.
• Using new technology to improve communication and share knowledge between publishers, booksellers and customers (including libraries).
• Upgrading the skills of the workforce involved in all aspects of the chain involved in producing and marketing publications by improving training opportunities.
• Improving the collection of information from customers and potential customers by developing focus groups and surveys.
• Improving 'point of sale material’. Publishers involved in reader promotion initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge, running in all 22 Welsh Public Library Authorities, offer all sorts of materials such as posters, bookmarks and display boxes to encourage libraries to buy their books. This assists libraries in promoting and displaying this material to attract more readers.
• Creating a free news magazine, with a popular easy to read format, and also develop complementary online content promoting books and authors. Most new initiatives such as the Big Read have plenty of supporting content available on the web on opportunities to interact with online voting.

All the initiatives mentioned above are of interest to authors, publishers, booksellers and libraries.Marketing and promotion is an area that libraries have also recognised as an area for improvement. All public libraries in Wales are currently involved in an Arts Lottery funded initiative entitled Estyn Allan. This initiative aims to develop the skills of library staff in areas such as promoting reading, widening readers' horizons, organising events and promotional activities.5. ConclusionA vibrant English-medium writing scene in Wales would be welcomed by libraries and will enable them to offer and promote a wider choice of material relating to Wales.To improve support for and marketing of English-medium writing and publications in Wales, various possible sources of funding need to be identified. These sources of funding need to reflect the economic and educational value of English-medium publishing in Wales in addition to it contribution to Welsh culture. A recent newspaper article highlighted the opportunities of securing European funding to assist with the work. Funding was secured from the European Regional Development Fund to employ staff to develop the voluntary workers' skills and to help develop the publishing of community newspapers (Papurau Bro) in West Wales.Libraries have certainly benefited from working with bodies such as the Welsh Books Council and the Arts Council of Wales on initiatives to promote reading such as the Summer Reading Challenge and Estyn Allan. Therefore is essential that interested parties work in partnership to promote English-medium writing in Wales.