Mike Thorne was made chair of the Advisory Council on Libraries about 2 years ago. Andrew Motion became chair of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Commission (the MLA) earlier this year.

They are both certainly jolly clever and very nice people.

However in each case there is and has been a notable lack of any sign of life or interest in public libraries since they took up their (presumably adequately remunerated) roles . Most of the correspondence I ever see tells us they are far too busy occupied with other things.

So why, if that is true, did anyone give them those jobs and why did they accept them? There are plenty of other people who can show some interest and are just as intelligent etc.

Mike Thorne is even on the Ministerial review team. I hope they don't intrude on his time too much for that work as well. And Andrew has commitments with the Queen- but we know her demands of him are not too onerous.

Both seem to think that keeping their heads down and staying silent is what they are supposed to do.

Wake up guys. Your performance is distinctly unimpressive. You may not get the Knighthood and pension for which you seem to hope

This is an important story reported in the local press in Norfolk.

The people in Gosport reported a similar scenario in the early days of pursuit of youth at all costs into their library.

Book shops and, for example, the Ideas Stores in Tower Hamlets, have learned the appropriate use of discreet security can prevent this kind of thing. It is important to maintain the dignity of a library whatever else we do. Otherwise it becomes useless for everyone

Here is Barack Obama in a long quotation on Alan Gibbons' blog talking about the importance of books in libraries