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December 1, 2006
CIPFA figures for 2005-6
The library performance figures for 2005-6 have not yet been published and, if the same timetable as last year is followed, they will emerge in January.
Nevertheless I am so frightened that they are going to be doctored, i thought i should publish the headlines for those that were leaked to me before publication
In the English Counties, which represent about half of the total uk library service, in that year, visits were down by 0.5% and book issues were down by 2.1% .
12 out of 34 counties met the national standard for opening hours (6 years after the standard was set)
If one took the criteria set by last year's select committee that book lending, and visits should be increasing then that was true in 6 counties: Derbyshire, Lecestershire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Wiltshire.
In addition to those book lending increased in Buckinghamshire, Cumbria, Kent, Warwickshire and West Sussex.
Book lending in Warwickshire increased by 10.5%
Posted by Perkins at December 1, 2006 4:14 PM
Comments
Thanks for publishing these leaked figures. I am sure DCMS and others will find a way of putting a positive spin on the stats.
On a more general note, I find the CIPFA stats to be very useful but can't understand why these publicly-important statistics cost several hundred pounds to buy. Why are they not compiled and published free-of-chrage by the Office for National Statistics, as is the case for most other government services?
Posted by: David Bloy at December 4, 2006 11:42 AM