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September 1, 2007
A wider view
It is now five years since the Audit Commission report 'Building better libraries' warned that on the basis of the very simple evidence of a downward sloping graph that public libraries as places to borrow books will cease to do so in 20 years.
They didn't say this decline was because 'society is changing' or that in any way the need for public libraries was declining. They said, quite clearly, that this was because libraries had already got left behind in their ability to offer readers and the public what they want. They concluded that it is the very basics of the library operation that needed to be put back in order- and they made recommendations, very simple ones, accordingly.
While people worry, reasonably, about their own jobs, and what is being said by whom about this profession or that group of management or one council or another, the wider view shows that the picture painted by the Audit Commission at that time has not really changed. Five years is long enough for there to have been visible, substantial, measurable and obvious progress- but there is not
There must be. And the need is more urgent than it was in 2002. It is important that everybody who works in the service sees the need to suppress for a moment part of their own personal interest and seek the general good-- with generosity, enthusiasm, wisdom and commitment. Now. The question to ask is not "why is everybody cricitising us?" but 'What do we need to do?'
Posted by Tim Coates at September 1, 2007 9:21 AM
Comments
The scope of the purpose of Libraries is broad, however one particular role and a role that has changed over the past century, the library as the community's window on the world. Nowerdays there are a lot more windows onto this panorama than just that of books and newspapers. Those books also have much less of an economic cost (and so the value of the library lessens further).
How should libraries respond? The libraries have got to regain the lost value. Luckily more than just communications have changed, and the opportunities abound. Simple things like Library Elf (http://www.libraryelf.com/); More complex, as a library assistant I can search both the national bibliography (Union catalog) and Whitakers (in print), and with the usefulness of the Dewey subject categories as well --- why not enable our users to do this, the user could also have access to an online Dewey subject index (e.g., the Dorset County Library Subject Index).
While on the subject of cataloging, with computer technology it is now possible to catalog with more than one system at the same time, e.g., irrespective of how the books are physically arranged, both Dewey and the BISAC (book suppliers catalog books using BISAC by default) catalogs could be available to the user for browsing, employing the strengths of each.
Posted by: Gareth Osler at September 1, 2007 7:14 PM
What do the users need to do? I'm a user of public libraries, what is my role?
What do councillors need to do?
Everybody has something to contribute, and *everybody* has some interest to give up.
The trouble with 'one council or another' is that ideas spread and are often cackhandedly implemented, to the detriment of the service- regardless of good intentions or the clear message of the Audit Commission.
Posted by: Pete at September 3, 2007 12:10 PM