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September 11, 2006
The Guardian this morning
Writer rues library changes
John Ezard
Monday September 11, 2006
The Guardian
The bestselling novelist Susan Hill yesterday accused senior managers of public libraries of abandoning their commitment to books and manoeuvring to turn library buildings into social centres.
"They have been actively trying for years to get rid of books and introduce almost anything else," she said.
Hill was reacting to an indication that the protection of library book-buying budgets will not be strengthened and may even be diluted in a new government review. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Authority, a government agency, has announced a review of minimum service standards set five years ago.
Among Hill's targets was a senior civil servant in charge of the review, Andrew Stevens. The Bookseller magazine said at the weekend that comments attributed to him indicated that the role of books would be further diminished.
Mr Stevens, an ex-chief librarian, said: "Public libraries have a vital role to play in helping local authorities achieve their communities' social, economic and environmental aspirations - they are much more than just places to borrow books."
Yesterday the libraries campaigner Tim Coates said the situation was a crisis. "As the council budget round begins this month, councils will read Andrew Stevens' remarks and take them as a signal that the book funds can yet again be cut and nobody minds," he said.
Posted by Tim Coates at September 11, 2006 12:38 PM