This final report of the ‘Evaluation of the Framework for the Future Action Plan 2003-06: Findings of the Evaluation Research on Improvement and Development in Library Services and the Contribution of the Framework Action Plan Activities‘ presents the findings of the evaluation research on improvement and development in library services and the contribution of the Framework action plan activities.

Evaluation activities included qualitative fieldwork, data feedback workshops, and a national survey of library services.

Library services are managing to change, improve and innovate, despite limited freedom and resources. National and regional support – whether as overall policy development, challenge and review, or practical support for the development of staff and of service offers – has made a consistent contribution to the ability of individual library services to improve.

Participation by individual library services in Framework action plan activities has led to improvements in services, partnership working, culture and efficiency.

97% of respondents to a national survey reported that involvement in Framework action plan activities had led to service improvements in their library service

The greatest impact of Framework is through the existence of the Framework vision itself, it is this public vision which has given direction, made sense of circumstances, and created a new legitimacy for individual library service change and development.