« A real procurement scandal | Main | Philip Pettifor writes to The Guardian »
September 21, 2006
Richard Charkin writes
There have been 4 interesting articles in the papers in the past few days. I shall try and assemble them. This is the first, by Richard Charkin, ceo of Macmillan Here is his article in the Bookseller
21 September 2006
Library vandals
Richard Charkin
Last week I addressed leading librarians at the National Acquisitions Group annual conference. Here are some of the things I learned while doing my research:
1) The minister for libraries has no power to administer libraries--this is handled by local authorities; 2) Expenditure on books has fallen from 14.4% to 8.5% of the budget over the past decade; 3) The collection has been reduced in the same period by 20 million books; 4) 100 libraries have been threatened with closure this year; 5) 1,000 library buildings in England are no longer fit for use (30% of the total); 6) The Museums, Libraries & Archives Council has spent £4m on various consultants since it was formed; 7) Libraries are chronically short of books, and those with poor stock fail to attract users; and 8) In spite of words to the contrary, the government and the MLA seem bent on turning libraries into community centres, outreach posts, and IT training camps.
I also learned that the annual UK public library book acquisition budget is £90m, the cost of "selectors" is £45m, the cost of acquisition processes is £200m, and the annual revenue and capital cost of the library service is £1.3bn. During the past decade, overhead costs have risen by 5% p.a.; book purchasing has fallen at the same rate. In short, public libraries are in crisis.
The solution is not simple, but here are a few suggestions: 1) Re-establish that the prime objective of libraries is to lend books, and that stocks need to be increased by an initial doubling of the budget; 2) Work with libraries to ensure that the money is spent efficiently, eliminating multiple classification systems in local authorities and ensuring rapid dissemination of new books; 3) Use the publishing industry's media contacts and authors to generate support for libraries and librarians; and 4) Back consultant Tim Coates' initiative to work with three or four local authorities to act as exemplars for the rest of the network.
Publishers and authors arguing for higher expenditure on books will be seen as special pleaders, but sometimes change benefits everyone. I will probably get into trouble with the minister for libraries, as he has said: "I get heartily sick and tired of self-appointed, unelected, unrepresentative groups who dogmatically say that libraries are for this and not for that."
I also get heartily sick of certain things. My list includes bureaucratic waste, missed opportunities to improve education in deprived areas, vandalising a national treasure through inaction, and putting political and personal interests ahead of the needs of the general public.
The government should cease pretending things are fine, and take action now.
Richard Charkin is chief executive of Macmillan and former PA president
Posted by Tim Coates at September 21, 2006 8:40 PM
Comments
We at the Society of Women Writers and Journalists are very concerned about the government's attitude towards libraries in Britain today. The pro-books, pro-libraries campaign must be heard. Provision of books for all is essential for the future of Britain. One fifth of all school age children are not attending studies on a regular basis. People need to rediscover the joy of reading, hearing audio tapes or being able to view dvds at their local libraries. My library is open only 3 days a week and there are always people waiting for the doors to open. Libraries are a place of wonder for small children. Holding a book, looking at pictures, listening to a story being told. The student can find all they need through talking to an experienced librarian. Closing libraries is not the answer to the government's financial difficulties. It only makes the populace more distrustful - what will happen next? Schools being run only 4 days a week? Libraries should be the top agenda-build more and fill the shelves. to fill the brains of present and future generations.
Posted by: Ann Hamilton at September 22, 2006 1:21 PM