The Good Library Blog

Ealing's Central library is about to be given a much-needed full refit - - did you actually go in there in the last few years ? dull, grimy, badly-lit, tatty chairs and tables etc . Full of many many un-read books - I'm sure when it re-opens it will be much appreciated even by those currently 'up in arms'- it was cutting edge in the 80's (when I first visited it - did you?)- I'm sure it will be again.

Richard

It's very good to hear from you-- thank you for commenting. The concern that I am hearing loudly is that the readers in the library believe the new layout means a great restriction on the book collections. They seem unable to get sensible information from the council.

I know the library well and certainly agree it needed a wash and brush up. But book collections are book collections-- as the people from Brighton will tell you-- and just because they appear not to be read doesn't mean they should be removed.

Perhaps you can help raise these concerns with your contacts in the council and allay the fears of residents? I'd be glad to help do that, too, if I could play a role.

This is an extremely important project. tim

Hi Tim, I have seen the new layout, and believe me, the library will be packed with books - quite rightly, of course. I have no contacts in Ealing or Ealing libraries, nor am I involved in the project in any way. I am sure the proposed layout - and the projected stock levels - is available to any concerned resident - why would it be secret?. By the way, I do not agree that the library just needed a wash - there were fundamental design flaws (kids library on upper level, for example) in the original design.

I disagree that a library like Ealing should have 'unused' (but that term needs defining)stock in such a prime location - expensive and inefficient. A good library relegates unused - but still potentially useful - material to store, and the public can still access that material through the catalogue. What 'collections' do your contacts believe have been or will be discarded? How do they define a 'collection' in the context of a public library? At some stage any library - large central or small branch - has to discard some stock - obviously. What do bookshops do with titles that do not sell? - keep them 'just in case'?

Regarding Brighton, what important stock or 'collection' was discarded? there are two very large storage areas on the upper level that house both donated collections and their vast historic book collection - brought together for the first time from various cellars and attics (literally) around the City.

Much of UK publishing is, as you know, of ephemeral material - the contents of our public libraries reflect both the ephemera and the important - the skill is in balancing the publicly-available titles with the space abvailable and the library's ability to exploit the inter-library loan network - from the BL down - on behalf of the public.
I have enjoyed reading your blog but it would be improved by evidence of the claims you or your contacts make.
kind regards
Richard

Richard

I think you should declare your interest.

There are photographs and substantial evidence of the discarding of extremely valuable items from the collection in Brighton - and nobody any longer denies that essential works were thrown in skips.

In the case of Ealing you, as a connected professional party, may well have seen the layout and you may have some knowledge of what disposals are proposed-- but the residents cannot get hold of that information. After all the stock is theirs, it belongs to them, and they are entitled to this information

Of course much publishing is ephemeral- but that is not what is under discussion here.

Ealing Central library is one of the main, substantial public libraries of West London.

The people of Ealing have every justification for being anxious. Up and down the country we have seen many large public library projects (several of which you have been involved with) in which the open collection of books after the refit is of far less quality than before- yet many millions of pounds of their money has been spent on what was called "improvement". Brighton is one, Bournemouth was another, Winchester is one that is in progress (and Gosport has the same problem). The Ideas Stores, initially, went down the same path. And there are many in which expenditure on design and fixtures was enormous, expenditure on books was nil and the layout of book cases offered less room for books than before.

I suggest you are not well positioned to be dismissive of those who are "up in arms" - as you put it. They pay.

Tim

If Richard Mitchell above is one and the same Sales and Marketing Director for Demco Interiors, which supply library fittings, I fail to comprehend just how he knows exactly which books - be they current loan, store or stack - are going to be shelved where...and which might well have been, or are due to be consigned to skips at worst, or just maybe consigned to auction. I wasn't aware until late today that "shop fitters" decided which stock would be shelved.

Richard Mitchell is confusing Brighton's rare-book collection with its general Store stock. There is far more in the latter than on the open shelves, despite the wide open spaces of the new building, and unless people know what they are looking for, it is impossible to browse. Chance discovery should be a library joy.

There is also growing concern that, for two years, the Store stock has not been "tagged" and can be removed from the building withut any record of that - lost.

I should have thought that this tagging would be done before anything else. Library success depends upon such mundane tasks.

There's also an interesting piece by Germaine Greer in today's Guardian:
http://digbig.com/4rhxy

[I've shortened the web address with digbig]

I have no interest to declare other than a passion for public libraries and the good they can do; I may be just a 'shop-fitter' now (oooh!), but was 23 years a public librarian, and glad to serve the public - young and old - by bringing them to books and vice-versa. Those years gave me a very good understanding of who paid for the books, the service the public should demand and expect, and the great value the public place upon the service - so I don't need a lecture from you on that, thanks.
Regarding deciding what books are or are not placed 'in reserve' of course I don't do that now, and wouldn't presume to, but have done and could do again.
I do agree with many of your criticisms of the way our libraries are managed and of MLA and all its ridiculous 'strategizing' centred on the ludicrous 'Framework for the future' which probably could have been written in about five bullet points.
However, I think where you and your chums go wrong is with this obsession with stock size and 'collections' of books, especially in small to medium sized libraries. There are relatively few public libraries in the UK with truly notable 'Collections' - Liverpool, the Mitchell, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham etc.- the remainder should serve a few key demands from the public:-
a) immediate access to books from the local shelves b) access to books from the library service's own reserve stock c) access to books through the wider UK library network d) information about books be it bibliographic or recommendation e) general information on the local community f)information on wider issues either from printed or electronic sources g) a decent environment in which to enjoy books, and in which books and reading are promoted.

I would argue that the cause of 'the book' - and all that implies - is best served by displaying a good selection of current (and essential non-current) titles, keeping them attractive and worthy of attention by regular review (and yes, this may mean discarding!), while at the same time promoting the wider resources available to every UK library user. The range of a library's stock depends of course on the size and budget of the library. I would further argue that a library can be 'over-stocked'- most users do not share the profile of the average user of the London Library!
You mention the Idea Stores - perhaps, like me, you visited Tower Hamlets libraries in the 90's. If so, I'm sure you shared a pretty depressing experiece - they were largely empty of people. The couple I have visited lately (just out of curiosity) were buzzing with people and, it seemed to me, were well stocked - a lot may have been spent on the buildings, but why should the Devil have all the good ones?
Richard
If you want other examples of where good architecture has been backed with good book budget to rejuvenate a library there are many - Glasgow's Gorbals Library is one good example.

Richard

You are most welcome- and thank you.

Do you recognise the concern that people have that, when being refitted, in many libraries, there has been a tendency to reduce the number of good and readable books? There have been many examples and another library design company clearly says that they believe "Less is more". They make a comparison between a library and a car park-- saying that are car park is easier to use when it has few cars. What should we say to them?

My own bookselling experience is that a larger range of almost every section of a bookshop, is more appealing and useful than a smaller range-- and more used. That was why over 25 years in competition with each other, bookshops became larger and larger, and were more successful the larger they became. That was about increasing the range of choice of stock. It was what people wanted.