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August 25, 2007
Bribery in the Governance of the Library Service
The MLA scheme called 'Better Stock Better Libraries' is proving controversial among councils, to say the least. It proposes that a whole government department, with commercial partners, should be created to buy library books for all UK public libraries and thence reduce costs in local communities. But everybody knows that those costs can be reduced without this extra layer of government jobs. There are a load of reasons why it is a bad proposal which I have frequently listed on here (Search under Price waterhouse Cooper), of which the most important is that it will create confusion about who is in charge of an individual community library. Most of councils can see it is a waste of money - and some have been prepared to say that quite openly.
Neverthless in their campaign to create this new body the MLA have been claiming that they have a nucleus of councils in the North West around Manchester who are keen to proceed - and that, they say, is evidence that their arguments about the scheme are persuasive.
I was told on Friday that the methods of persuasion have not been words and detailed analysis, but money. These councils may have been given three hundred thousand pounds of tax payers' money to say they have signed up voluntarily to the scheme. One of the chief librarians, it was said, has been placed on high government committees in return for her cooperation. With such a role one would be very enthusiastic about the MLA scheme!
What would the money be for? Millions have already been spent on consultants; there is no equipment to buy; all there is is discussion and training. No, the payment could be seen as a bribe by one department of government to another so that the first can say that the second is a willing partner.
Who approved this expenditure, if it is happening? Has it been made public? Has the MLA board approved these payments? What did the councils promise in exchange? Who received the money? What was it spent on? I can't find answers to those questions
The more one learns about the MLA and DCMS and the various bodies who are supposed to run our public libraries, the more disgusted one becomes.
This is not an accusation at all- but if these things are being said, it would be better for the public to know what happens to their money, of course.
Posted by Tim Coates at August 25, 2007 6:03 PM
Comments
I see a lot of 'mays' and 'it was saids'in there.
I do not wish to dispute veracity so much as know who said it? What is the source of their information? And do we know that this unnamed chief librarian was bribed- for that is the substance of the comment- in return for support of the MLA scheme.
Surely if public money is being used in this way, the person should be telling all of us, not just you.
I am willing to belive that totally local purchasing can be cheaper, and certainly would not want to see duplication of effort.
Posted by: Pete at August 28, 2007 2:42 PM