The Good Library Blog

Tim,
I can see an advantage in this "one size fits all" approach to fiction and some non-fiction (provided those cataloguing and doing the bibliographic details know their game).

For more specialised library collections, for example local studies, I don't see this zero tolerence idea working.

Regards,
Peter

Why do you assume this is a 'one size fits all' approach? It is absolutely the opposite.

One thing I have tried to do is make much greater variation possible between individual libraries within authorities. I think that library authorities are terrible strait jackets and currently impair the individuality of the performance of libraries within their own local communities. In contrast to PwC I think that it is not the 80% of buying that is the same that matters- but the 20% that is different and defines each individual library in its own community

That's why I am so keen to liberate the skills of local branch librarians away from the bounds of council buying committees, processing backlogs etc

This arrangement also allows councils to make very substantial savings - much more than have been predicted by Price Waterhouse Cooper in their various reports- and to use those large sums to bolster the resources in individual branches- if the councils have the management ability to make the changes required

So Tim,
Is the idea that each library within an authority works directly with individual publishers, stating their own particular requirements?

Or have I got completely the wrong end of the stick with your argument?

Regards,
Peter

The individual library deals with a library supplier (contracted by the council)- who is essentially both a wholesaler and an agent for obtaining anything that the library wants to get. The supplier is also a (hopefully high quality) channel for information about books, periodiacals, information-- so that the individual library has a resource avaialable on a website which gives advice and informed access to all their requirements- and those of their readers.

By cutting out several of the handling stages, not only are savings are achieved but the individuial library comes much closer to the world of publishing and has access to promotions, offers, depth of range etc, that it does not currently have.

In administrative terms this means one invoice per library per month etc and much more simplified handling of that kind.

Of course, in a public library there is, in addition, a requirement for access to local- non formally published material -- but that does not preclude the rest of model from working. In many places there is not too much of that - and anyhow it is best dealt with informally and locally.

The librarian skill now lies in the hands of the manager and the staff of the local library who (with their own budget) have the means to provide exactly what they understand their local community to need. They know the outreach requirements, they know the local housebound and they know the characteristics which are particular to their area. They now have it in their hands to make a wonderful library

But Tim,
This presupposes that each library (or a small group of libraries) has their own librarian. Many authorities have centralised their librarian teams, or made some redundant.

Mighten this also make individual libraries very insular, competing with/against colleagues for a bigger slice of the budget cake? Would this all become very fragmented, duplicating many items?

Would the libraries also have to "buy in" the services of, say, the authorities children's librarian?

Would the library managers, who have more than enough on their plate, dealing with the everyday running of the service, have the necessary time/skills to do all the stockwork too?

Many questions, but it's made me think.

Regards,
Peter

Peter

I am saying that being a 'librarian' means working in a library giving service to the public. I am also saying that everybody who works in the service should be allowed to think of themselves - and be able to develop their career as a 'librarian'. The best people in the service- say, yourself, for example, should actually be running a library as its manager- you are responsible then to your local community.

I want to see an end to demarcation between jobs deemed suitable for professional staff- and those for 'non professionals' -- all the staff should be professional, irresepective of what degree or paper qualification they may have.

I want to see an end to the duplicate management structures of professional and non-professional staff. I want to see an end to the duplication of processing-- and I think these are the routes to a more efficient and better service.

Yes perhaps libraries would compete to give a better service than others nearby- why not?

And if libraries buy titles (because their budgets will now be much bigger than previously) that they believe their residents need to have, then why shouldn't they-- why should someone in an office 10 miles away decide that their community should not have a book?

Library managers should be accountable both to their community and to their council. They need a team of a variety of people with whom they can share that - why not? It will be a much more challenging job than the one they have now- when they can hardly influence the stock they have on offer.

There is nothing in this that I haven't said many many times before over many years- what is new is the development of 'size zero processing' and the associated EDI and web arrangements which have brought together bits of existing know-how and made it possible for anyone to do all this now. We have been working on all this for a year and it is all ready and available.

It's your chance but as I keep saying this is not about procuring a new process or technical supply arrangement-- it's about refocussing your operation so that it genuinely faces the public. Im sure, too, that the point is that what I am saying will definitely happen- the choice is whether you do it willingly and enthusiastically yourselves or whether you resist and wait until someone does it to you. The former is the better route, but you and your colleagues haven't got a lot of time left to get started. If BSBL collapses this is the only trolley bus out of town