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October 24, 2006
Do you agree?
There was a record number of hits on the site yesterday. I am anxious to know if, particularly members of the public, agree with the paragraphs I have written below about what a good public library should be. If you wish to leave an anonymous comment, please do, but if you work in libraries or in the public library sector, please do say.
Posted by Tim Coates at October 24, 2006 10:53 AM
Comments
I have just read that Bertrams sold 9 million pounds worth of books to libraries in their first year as a library supplier. So someone must be buying books somewhere,
Posted by: SUSAN HILL at October 24, 2006 5:33 PM
Yes I agree Not too much personal use for computers as they can be used for e-mail etc not research.
Posted by: peg at October 24, 2006 5:37 PM
The total purchasing of books for libraries in the UK is about £90m per annum. There are 4,000 public libraries.
About twenty years ago the value of purchases was twice as much. The problem is not that no books are bought- just far too few.
There now about 6 main library suppliers, so on average they will sell c£15m books to libraries each year.
Posted by: Tim at October 24, 2006 8:33 PM
Yes, I agree and do not work for the libaray service, I just like reading.
I sent a link to your "good public library" post to Frank Wilson of the blog Books, Inq., who linked to it from there. This may have accounted for some of your extra traffic as Books, Inq. gets a lot of visitors.
Posted by: maxine at October 24, 2006 11:10 PM
It's impossible to argue with your paragraphs - the hard bit is getting the people in charge - local councils, MLA, DCMS, to agree to fulfil a reasonable wish list like this.
They've been going through the motions with the Public Library Standards for several years now, with no discernible improvement in services - in the words of the immortal Spike Milligan, 'What do we do now?...What do we do now?...What do we do now?...'
When the MLA, confronted with the prospect of mass library closures across the UK, comes up with codswallop like 'All the indications are that the funding profile for all public bodies is likely to be very tough in the years to come. That is why we attach such importance to things like the PKF recommendations and other value for money initiatives..'(The Bookseller 20th Oct)despair might seem the only option!
Meanwhile CILIP, representing the only other people, senior librarians, who could do something to stop the rot, are carefully re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic - which is why I and many others, no longer pay our subscriptions.
Posted by: Verity Penglais at October 25, 2006 10:21 AM
Won't the sinking ship that is CILIP only sink faster as more and more people cancel their memberships? Disillusioned members should think about speaking up and getting involved instead.
Posted by: Julie at October 26, 2006 1:36 PM