Welcome to Public Lending Right's (PLR's) Publication Scheme. The Scheme has been produced under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the FOI Act). PLR has now adopted the model publication scheme which was introduced on 1 January 2009 by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The Scheme lists information under the seven broad classes specified in the model scheme.

The Registrar has responsibility for the Publication Scheme on behalf of Public Lending Right and Susan Ridge, PA to the Registrar, has responsibility for maintaining the Scheme on a day to day basis.

Our aim is to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and provide the public with details of what information is available from PLR, how the information will be published and whether a charge will be made for it. PLR already makes available a wide range of data relating to UK library borrowing trends and welcomes the opportunity to enhance the transparency of its operation by widening the range of information it provides to the public.

We also comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and respect the privacy of individuals. Some information in the classes of records listed in the Scheme will not be released when it is covered by an exemption provided for in the FOI Act. If you wish to complain about the use of an exemption please see the complaints procedure below.

We will review the Publication Scheme every year.

The Scheme is available on PLR's website or as a printed document obtainable from the PLR office.

The Registrar of Public Lending Right holds the copyright on information made available through the Scheme unless otherwise indicated. The Registrar gives permission for information to be reproduced provided the source is acknowledged and the Registrar notified.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, sets out exemptions from that right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. A 'public authority' is defined in the Act, and includes but is not restricted to central and local government, non-departmental public bodies, the police, the health service and schools, colleges and universities. Any person who makes a request to a public authority for information must be informed whether the public authority holds that information and, subject to exemptions, will be supplied with that information.

Individuals already have the right of access to information about themselves under the Data Protection Act 1998. As far as public authorities are concerned, the Freedom of Information Act will extend this right to allow public access to all types of information held.

Every public authority will be required to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme setting out the classes of information it will make available, the manner in which it intends to publish the information, and whether a charge will be made for the information. The purpose of a scheme is to ensure a significant amount of information is available, without the need for a specific request. Schemes are intended to encourage organisations to publish more information pro-actively and to develop a greater culture of openness.

A full copy of the FOI Act and further information can be found on the ICO's website.

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