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October 18, 2007
How to be a public servant
This blog is ending tonight. It will stay open for comments, but I shall do no more than keep an eye on them
My thanks to Karen, Rachel and Trevor at Berkshire who had the idea for the blog, made it look good and kept it running (respectively).. Also many thanks to all of you have commented -- please feel free to carry on. And thanks to all those who visit the site. We do get about 4,000 hits a day, but I confess that a few of those are from people who hit every site selling strange goods.
The whole thing has been a lesson in how to be a good public servant. There are at least 5 million people in the UK who make their living in that way or as servants of public servants-- and if any reputable publisher wanted to turn the material here into a book for them, I'd be delighted to help.
I started out by observing that just as we have come to expect that very little of the money we pay to charities arrives with the recipient we intend we have now to realise that the public services in our country work in much the same way. They are more about employing people than being any help; and they are about seeking ways of obtaining even more money from the public while giving little in return. Those things are not right.
I am not stopping my attempt to revive the UK public library service-- I'm just going to climb the mountain again from a different side. (or bomb it from a different direction)
Posted by Perkins at October 18, 2007 10:03 PM
Comments
Thank you, Tim, for doing this consciousness-raising blog. I suppose by now, it's preaching to the converted, and so has probably served its purpose. Good luck with your alternative approach. Perhaps if it generates any eventual coverage in the online editions of news media, you could post some links here, for those who keep this blog bookmarked?
Posted by: Paul Vincent at October 19, 2007 8:23 AM
The future is… Ruislip
New library initiative launches
THE FIRST LIBRARY in a new scheme, designed to overhaul existing procedures and boost book stock and opening hours, opened last Friday. Ruislip Manor is the first of 17 libraries to be modernised as part of the Hillingdon Council programme, created in consultation with library campaigner and former Waterstone's MD, Tim Coates.
New developments in Hillingdon libraries include redesigning and refurbishing the buildings, creating a more direct form of supply from wholesaler to individual branch, reorganising staff and creating Starbucks concessions adapted to fit each library building.
The increase in book stock will be funded by improved discount levels achieved through talks between the council and its suppliers, while reviewing internal budgets and capital expenditure have helped fund the refurbishments. The book fund has already increased from £200,000 to £600,000 in the last three years, to around 12% of total expenditure; 90% of the backlist will be rebuilt and around 5,000 extra books have been bought as part of the process.
Henry Higgins, Hillingdon Council cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, said: “By putting our residents' needs at the heart of our plans we are bringing in new ideas and improving the facilities. These plans demonstrate a clear commitment from the council to provide 21st -century services for Hillingdon, helping us to be a borough of learning and culture.”
Coates explained that the supply structure has been simplified: “I call it Size Zero processing, a simple chain supplying from wholesaler to individual library, which cuts out the library supply base and the council distribution centre. We have simplified labelling so a wholesaler can handle it. It means that wholesale to retail discounts can be achieved and the link from publisher to libraries is strengthened. The library supplier does have a role here, in areas such as stock promotions to libraries.”
Some critics, including professionally qualified librarians, have said that the new plans will lead to a reduction in the quality of outreach work that libraries offer to the local community, such as literacy services and reading groups. “Outreach will change but from the town hall to the local library level,” said Coates. “It is a more local approach which empowers local library staff. There are perfectly good people able to work in the library and the demarcation between centrally based professional librarians and other library workers is destructive.”
The next library in the rolling programme is due to open before the end of the year.
Posted by: Ralph Baxter at October 19, 2007 8:54 AM
Your blog has been brilliant both in consciousness-raising, and in rattling the cages of those who need reminding that they are paid to provide the public with a comprehensive library service. It's also been useful to read stories (good and bad) about areas of the country other than my own: to know that people all around the UK are battling against the same problems - and experiencing some small victories. Many thanks Tim!
Posted by: Amanda Field at October 19, 2007 10:13 AM
Tim,
I don't always agree with your views, but you've raised many important issues (and some hackles)that needed to be aired.
Hope there are some librarians left to greet you when you reach the top of the mountain.
Best wishes,
Peter
Posted by: Peter K at October 19, 2007 11:40 AM
The blog has been a tremendous boost all round. A marvellous effort which has shown how much people want books in libraries. An obvious thing, one would have thought, but something which is taking so long to penetrate the heads of those for whom bureaucracy is all.
A very good thing for Tim to keep it open for continuing news, outrage and hope.
Posted by: Christopher Hawtree at October 19, 2007 12:17 PM
Tim,
Make sure you are wearing your hobnailed boots, whilst climbing your mountain - useful for shin kicking! Mrs Sideloader has been out and bought a pair(size 10)for Mr Grimsdyke. Rumour has it, Grimsdyke is keen on mountain climbing. Two on a hike together?
Thank you for a brilliant blog.
Peg.
Posted by: peg harker at October 19, 2007 2:12 PM
Thanks for a great blog Tim - hope that our Uni gets a visitation from you again!
Posted by: Katie Collis at October 19, 2007 3:42 PM
Tim,
Best of luck with your new ventures and thanks for an interesting blog.
les
Posted by: les at October 24, 2007 8:16 PM