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August 29, 2006
Clap trap
I am told there are some new figures about libraries about to be released within the next week. Without even looking you can be certain no one will have done anything significant about books, opening hours and the state of the buildings. They will all have got a lot worse. In 2005, six libraries closed. In 2006 nearly 100 libraries will close. In 2007 my prediction is, because the managers responsible are still playing party games like those below, between 300 and 500 public libraries in the UK will shut. Our public libraries are (the Reader's Digest told me today) in a serious crisis
And here is what the MLA are doing:
Libraries hold key to growth of the "knowledge economy": report
Tuesday 29 August 2006
England's public libraries are playing a crucial, but often overlooked, role in the growth of the knowledge economy, a new study has found.
The report, "Public Libraries in the Knowledge Economy", commissioned by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), shows libraries play a central role in communities' economic vitality.
MLA's Senior Libraries Adviser Andrew Stevens said the report, by The Local Futures Group, makes a strong case for promoting public libraries as economic development partners, particularly in relation to the knowledge economy.
"The challenge is now for local authorities to make the most of that expertise by ensuring they involve their libraries as partners in economic development activities", Mr Stevens said.
"The report shows that libraries are helping local communities to develop new skills, particularly in hard-to-reach groups and those who may otherwise be left behind in the drive to position the UK as a ‘knowledge economy" Mr Stevens said.
Every library authority surveyed by the report's authors provided learning and skills support in basic skills, family learning and education for young people. Most also provided ICT training.
In addition, many library authorities are providing invaluable services to businesses, particularly new businesses, in their communities.
The report found four out of five of the libraries surveyed provided business services ranging from dedicated book stocks to market research assistance and that these services were considered invaluable by business users and enterprise agencies.
The report also found that while libraries saw themselves as crucial contributers to local economic vitality, only 25 per cent were involved in Local Area Agreements, the local structures for developing shared priorities and delivering "joined up" services.
"The report makes the case for libraries to play a more overt role in economic development activities in their communities," Mr Stevens said.
"Public Libraries in the Knowledge Economy" is available at the MLA website http://www.mla.gov.uk/website/programmes/framework.
If you really want it
My points here are
1. This is one government department commissioning an expensive report from an agency that seeks work from government departments.
2. The MLA wants the report to say that libraries are so important that they need more government funding and so do the MLA-- so that's what the report does say. This is the process Government departments call "advocating"
3. Everybody knows that if libraries are good they can contribute be informative and extremely useful in bettering people. It's obvious and it is interesting and important. There isn't a politician in the country who doesn't understand that and they don't need an academic report to tell them. However, if they are bad, they are no use to anyone- and there are many politicians who don't realise what a bad state the libraries are in.
4. The MLA's job should be to make libraries better first- then they can boast about what a good job they have done. But not before.
Posted by Tim Coates at August 29, 2006 5:05 PM