The Good Library Blog

Splitting hairs perhaps, but nowhere in the article does it say they are open over the weekend. They are talking about the two week school holidays.

Pete is correct - the article refers to the "Easter break".

I know people working for private sector employers who pay their staff overtime for working, voluntarily, on Bank Holidays. If libraries (and other council services for that matter, since council offices are closed as well) were to do the same, how would this help your proposed budget savings?

In any case, shouldn't people be enjoying the uncharacteristic sunshine over the Bank Holiday?

I think a notice offering events over the Easter break is intended for parents and implies the bank holiday.

I think libraries should be open on bank holidays if they are to offer a service of a place for private study. The three bank holidays at this time of year : Easter, May and Whit are all in the period leading up to exams and the public library should be an acessible place to go.

When I advocate reduced costs in the operation of libraries, as I do, I am normally talking about non-front line costs: those which do not affect the opening hours.

I dunno. I'm a parent and any notice I see about Easter breaks is mentally adjusted to take into account the Bank Holidays.
If libraries were to open on bank holidays, would/should staff get enhanced payments- as they would in pretty much any other area of work?

The real success for libraries will come when the people running them think about how they can improve what they can do for the public, rather than just griping about their pay. Then we would have the management and the service we need.

Let's have no more whingeing about "libraries can't be open because other council services don't open- and, moan, moan, we don't get paid enough"

For twenty years in this country shops, bars, restaurants and everything else have learned how to open and be happy on Sundays, bank holidays and in the evenings. It will evidenlty surprise chief librarians to be told that you can catch a bus or a train or buy a newspaper on a Sunday. Only librarians have got left behind, yicking about how important they are and what a miserable, underpaid, downtrodden life they have an how they are entitled to a respectful career paid for by the rest of us. Rubbish.

Am I hallucinating? I am sure I saw a comment to the effect "Go pick toe nails!'. What happened to that?

Just back off Easter holidays.
I think librarians do a lot more public service than people give us credit for. I don't doubt there are some librarians like Tim's description, but it's not quite the majority we are led to be lieve here.
And I'd happily work weekends etc- indeed have done- if I got the same additional pay/time off in lieu anyone else would reasonably expect. Not more pay overall, not a huge pay rise, just what a barista/waiter etc might ask for.
The bars etc are only open on Sundays etc and happy because people get paid a better rate to be so.
We'll get good management and services when people are recognised for what they do and encouraged to do more, rather than being constantly derided and run down and told to be grateful for that they get.