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July 28, 2006
Closing the library service in Wales
The Western Press has a gloomy article about the implications of closing three libraries in Powys. Well done to the people of the three villages who have raised their profile to the national press in their attempt to save the libraries.
Out of the blue the Councillors of Powys, seeking from these closures to save £30,000 per annum called a scrutiny meeting for August 3 which is a day when everyone will be on holiday. This was at about 6 days notice as far as I can tell
The real problem with Welsh libraries can only be solved by some leadership from the Welsh Assembly. The people of Wales pay £50m per annum for public libraries, which they will recognise as a lot for what they receive in return.There are about 300 libraries- so that's over £150,000 per annum per library. Most of that money, however, doesn't reach the libraries because it pays for 23 councils to have 23 management structures, 23 bibliographic departments and all that paraphernalia.
Wales needs one or two library services at most with very little management- and the libraries should be run for the specific benefit of their local communities by local library managers, not by councils.
There is no need for Powys to close these three libraries - in fact they should have access to much bigger funds for books.
But no one in the Welsh Assembly has been told these things- because the only people who would advise them are the professional librarians and managers who might just lose their jobs if they said it. Poor Welsh people. Sorry to see the end of your library service. It's up to you to tell your Assembly what you want.
Posted by Tim Coates at July 28, 2006 6:56 PM
Comments
Very True, but then again, most English counties have their own Library services as well, so the same idea of there being a bibliographic department, library management etc in each county is the same over the border.
Also, for your information, there are 22 (not 23) county councils in Wales
Posted by: Thomas Lake at August 4, 2006 10:43 AM
Thomas
Thank you - you are completely right. The same nonsense goes on in each English county (and city) none of which need a bibliographic service at all these days.
Tim
Thanks also for the correction about the number of councils in Wales
Posted by: Tim at August 4, 2006 2:36 PM