The Government's Response The Library and Information Commission (LIC) was asked to advise the Secretaries of State for Culture, Media and Sport and for Education and Employment on how to improve and stimulate co-operation between the education and public library sectors in order to support lifelong learning. In its report, Empowering the Learning Community (LIC, March 2000) the Commission's Education and Libraries Task Group argued strongly that closer collaboration between libraries and educational institutions would mean greater and more effective support for learners and potential learners throughout the community. In this response, an agenda is set out for early action by Government and its partners within the library and education sectors. "We welcome Empowering the Learning Community as an important contribution towards the realisation of our vision... Libraries have a vital role to play in underpinning education in the broadest sense... We urge all interested parties to work with us in delivering this agenda – and, ultimately, the learning society itself." Foreword by Alan Howarth, Minister for the Arts and Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Lifelong Learning Contents Introduction The Government's Response: Key Principles Recommendations Annexes A - Library and Information Commission Task Group B - External Working Group C - Internal Working Group D - Action Plan

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