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May 16, 2006
Library Campaigner
Laura Swaffield has put me straight on a few matters relating to my observations about the "Library Campaigner"
See her comment to my piece on May 14.
I'm not sure we are quite at one on this. In the magazine she lists "Framework for the Future"; "The Public Library Service Standards"; "The Shared Priorities" and the "CPA measures" as the "The big 4 influences on public libraries".
I've never met a member of the public who understands any one of those. I would have wished to see "What the public wants" as the biggest influence.
Posted by Tim Coates at May 16, 2006 5:07 PM
Comments
That's my point, Tim! The things I list ARE what public libraries actually HAVE to work to. If they don't they are in big trouble.
If library users want to work with their libraries - or fight them - they need to do it in the real world, armed with some basic knowledge about how it all actually works in real life.
Posted by: Laura Swaffield at May 16, 2006 6:42 PM
Yes, I think there is a language problem here.
Users (members of public) (aka taxpayers) do not need these reports.
They know that the most important thing in a library are the books.
I don't understand Laura's comment -- library users don't want to "work with" libraries or "need basic knowledge about how it all actually works in real life".
They want to be able to go to a library, for it to be open, and to borrow books.
Isn't that simple?
Posted by: Maxine at May 18, 2006 2:38 PM