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February 18, 2007
Dream
I have had calls and messages from several chief librarians expressing their anger at a letter sent out (apparently) by the MLA which says that the if they do not conform to the MLA's supply chain project the council chief executive will be approached.
The MLA are tackling the problems wrongly
- Firstly they do not seem to realise that the £22m dividend of which they talk (for 2008 or 2012) has already been achieved. Most councils either with the help of consortia or on their own have negotiated significant increases in supplier discount in the past two years, and this increase has already provided the extra "books for your buck" which was talked about by the previous minister. The opportunity came about because of a controversial "price war" between library suppliers, and was nothing to do with Price Waterhouse Cooper or the MLA.
- Secondly, there are further substantial savings to make, but in order to achieve them one has to work through the issues in fine detail with each individual council and their suppliers to try - over time- to remove overlap in process and uneccessary procedure. These are fruitful discussions but they need to take place within the context of how the individual council works.
- Thirdly it is only when these have been done can one then talk about more joined up working between councils, which is not easy to achieve. If one hasn't tackled individual council issues first, then by joining up councils one is just covering the cracks with wallpaper. The largest part of the saving is in part 2 of this process.
I had a dream last night that, in a seminar of chief librarians from all over the country, one said that there was a feeling among them that it is time now to work at all the things in detail of which I talk about on this blog and elsewhere. It was the best news I had had for a long time- but it was only a dream.
Posted by Tim Coates at February 18, 2007 9:42 AM
Comments
Dreamin'.....I think certain people must be dreaming if they are right to mis-interpret and further mis-quote the very clear messages that the MLA and others have outlined in relation to this programme of work. I've seen the update letter and I know what it says! There is much to be said for improving the procurement process to enable the right books to arrive on shelves in community libraries!
Most libraries I've visited lately are archaic! They have poor stock, old books and waiting times so horrendous that I might as well just go out and buy the damn book.
Check your facts people before you go off and 'bad mouth' what seem to many as good attempts by government to bring about more effective and efficient services in our libraries!
MJ
Posted by: MJ at February 20, 2007 9:32 PM
To which misinterpretation, misquote or wrong fact are you referring?
You are not the first to say that libraries have poor stock, old books and waiting times so horrendous.... and to be a recipient of the letter, one might think you have been in a position to do something. I can't tell since you have only given your initials
There is indeed much to be said for improving the procurement process. It would be better to do it now rather than in 2008 or 2012. It should have been done many years ago.
My derision of the MLA and the ministry to whom they report comes from their inability to provide solutions to these problems now and their refusal to address them properly for so many years. All these matters are readily resolved; it could be done this year and we could save £200m per annum which libraries need for new books and renovation of their buildings. Tell me I'm wrong.
Posted by: Tim at February 21, 2007 8:15 PM