The Good Library Blog

I have read this. It defies belief. The jargon and the political correctness are laughable if they were not tragic.
But I have a cunning plan. Let us leave the MLA and the public libraries to their profiling and rebranding of community resources and prevention of exclusion into lifelong learning. Let us leave them and take away all the books - they won`t notice. And set up an entirely new chain of buildings for the borrowing and reading and consulting of books. BOOKS. We will make them pleasant cmfortable, bright, airy, light and spacious and I have no objection to a separate coffee bar on the premises. My only problem is that I don`t know what we can call these book places as they will no longer be libraries.
Suggestions on a postcard.

Susan..
Suggested title.

The Bookworm's Sanctuary?

Mmmmmm, perhaps a little corny.
Difficult is it not to think of a suitable title?

Susan

Thank you. One of the lessons I have learned and have the sleepless nights to show for it is how difficult it is in the UK to accumulate a suitable set of properties for giving a service like libraries or bookshops. To find a suitable and affordable building in most towns in the UK is a huge and formidable job

That is why the collection of 4,000 public library buildings, created over 150 years is such an incredibly valuable national asset. It is truly irreplaceable. Opening 40 Waterstone's shops took 10 years of perpetual toil. I'm sure James Heneage, who spent 20 years building Ottakar's would tell you the same

That is why I feel the hurt personally when a library is closed. Of course there is the deprivation of the community, but there is also the knowledge that it will never be possible to remedy such an evil deed.

Tim,
I'm sure all readers of your blog, will sense your hurt and frustration when the death nell is sounded for a library.

Tis a sorry state of affairs.

Remember BOOTS Private libraries ?
The wonderful wonderful thing about libraries, as against chains like Waterstones and Ottakars, is that they are FREE. Free at the point of delivery, as they say. And while the governments have made us pay for dentists and eye care and prescriptions - they have not quite eroded the principle of free medical care and free books to borrow.
Mind you, if it were a question of lose your local library or pay (which of course you already do, I should say pay twice..) for its services, I bet a lot of people who could afford to would pay. I know that if our library was threatened with closure the community would take it over, no sweat.

Susan

Yes, but you do pay for them. In Buckinghamshire where, as you say, the local people have gleefully jumped in to take over the operation of their threatened local libraries, the county council haven't offered to give them back the money that they have paid for the county to operate a service.

That means that a village of 5,000 people has to find a further £30,000-£40,000 per annum to operate a library for which they already pay the council £70,000 to run. It's a lot of money to disregard.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I'm trying to underline the extent and cost of bureaucratic deceit that is operating

Deceit = deceit. Receipt - receipt.

Yes. It is. I know. I am waiting for the day when several libraries close in one authority area and someone has the guts to sue said authority for taking money under false pretences. And demands either that the libraries re-open or that everyone gets a refund on their council tax equivalent to...

Thank you for spelling --- I have made the correction! Tim

Here in Bucks we may borrow books from the shelves for free, but if we want to read a book stocked in another local library, it costs £1.00 unless you are a child or a senior citizen. Why should users of small libraries be penalised?
I read the cry for help from politicians. I am not one so how can they be encouraged by their constituents?
A thought. When I was at school, a long time ago now, we were given books into our charge and were responsible for their safe return for the pupils who came after us. Today's children have little access to text books,the gift of downloads seems to havde replaced books in the classroom. Is this a fair comment? If it is, how do our children learn to value books? And I am not alluding only to those who scribble on texts and turn down corners.

Sheila

Thank you for your comment, which is much appreciated. If you put "Buckinghamshire" in the Search box on the right of the blog there are several entries that may be of interest.

I have a feeling that many of the local ward councillors in Buckinghamshire aren't aware of the questions that surround the library service in the county, particularly those about the missing £4m. I suggest you make contact with your local councillor and show them some of the items on the blog. If you would like me to come and talk to them, I would be very happy to do that. One of the problems in Buckinghamshire has been the unwillingness of both councillors and council officers to explore some of the problems. I hope this is a help, please keep putting comments on the blog, or feel free to email me at tim.coates@yahoo.com