From today, more than 4,000 libraries across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be open to any member of the public no matter where they live, thanks to a new scheme introduced by top librarians.
Visitors will be able to borrow books from any English, Welsh or Northern Irish public library just by showing their existing library card or proof of address, meaning that "now every library is a local library", according to the Society of Chief Librarians, which announced the news today. The Society is also looking into introducing a one-library card system for public libraries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – similar to British Columbia's "BC One" card which gives holders access to any library in the province. They are also looking at the possibility of visitors being able to return books to different libraries than the ones they borrowed from.
"It's something we've wanted to do for a while," said Tony Durcan, the man in charge of the scheme and former president of the Society of Chief Librarians, on the BBC's Today programme this morning. "If you've joined one library service, why do you have to go through the bureaucratic process of filling in forms to join another?
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