As people are the most important resource within any community, their empowerment is also an important factor in wealth creation. The arts therefore share with libraries the power to unleash the potential of individuals and the communities of which they are part. They are, however, only part of a wide diversity of providers within any community and if the benefits of cultural activity are to be maximised then partnerships and alliances with other agencies need to be forged. In the case of public libraries, cultural development and enrichment is a fundamental part of their role. All public library services should be proactive in stimulating and exploiting the creative energies that exist within the communities they serve both by direct provision and by facilitating the work of others.
All libraries can change lives.
They open new experiences to individuals which can transform their whole being. This is reward in itself. But the library service that actively promotes community-based cultural activities is doing much more. It is now more widely accepted that the quality of life, wealth creation and social cohesion ultimately depend on citizens who are confident, fulfil their potential and use their imagination in short a citizenry that is empowered. The arts have a central importance in facilitating this process of empowerment and libraries, especially public libraries, are, or certainly should be, essential cultural development agencies within their local community.