The new strategy follows the publication last September of the Library’s 2020 Vision, which highlighted the key trends and opportunities for the next decade. The 2020 Vision was based upon twelve months of extensive research and consultation; it presented five themes that would help deliver the Library’s ten-year vision of becoming “a leading hub in the global information network, advancing knowledge through its collections, expertise and partnerships, for the benefit of the economy and society and the enrichment of cultural life.”

The Library’s strategy for 2011-2015 contains five strategic priorities, based on the 2020 Vision’s themes:

1. Guarantee access for future generations
2. Enable access for everyone who wants to do research
3. Support research communities in key areas for social and economic benefit
4. Enrich the cultural life of the nation
5. Lead and collaborate in growing the world’s knowledge base

Although operating with reduced operational and capital budgets the Library will deliver a range of key objectives during the period covered, such as opening a state-of-the-art Newspaper Storage Building, digitising up to 20 million pages from the national newspaper collection in partnership with brightsolid, developing selected collaborative stewardship arrangements to collect and connect to content, developing the Library’s digital infrastructure, and achieving regulations that will enable the implementation of legislation for non-print legal deposit.

“At a time of severe financial challenge we need to do more with less and we must be clear about our priorities, our responsibilities and our constraints,” said Dame Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library. “Our Strategy 2011-2015 sets out how we intend to deliver our vision over the next four years in a focused way. We believe that this clarity of purpose will ensure that we can continue to innovate and deliver essential public services for the benefit of the economy and society.”