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January 26, 2008
Jibber Jabber
Here are three paragraphs from the recent Hampshire County Council report on public libraries. What do they mean? (LIS means the 'Library and Information Service' operated by the county)
"5.2.1 The Panel is aware of the strength of feeling regarding book stocks, and the clear views expressed by some witnesses about the need for these to be increased after a period of declining investment in book stocks (see Appendix Two: Statistics for Hampshire Libraries from 1997/8 to 2005/6). However, members are also aware of the conflicting demands upon the LIS for funding, and the increasing range of electronic information and media services that need to be considered as part of library provision if the service is to modernise effectively.
5.2.2 Individual Members expressed a range of views on the of matter of book stocks which reflect the sort of discussion that needs to be held within communities. There are significant tensions between the need for the service to understand and respond to the opportunities presented by rapidly developing information and communications technology, as well as different lifestyles, and the view that such electronic services need to complement, rather than replace particularly fiction book stocks. The Panel understands that the LIS has to consider these tensions within the wider context of their role in supporting the County’s priorities.
5.2.5 The Panel accepts that discussions such as these are critical to the formation of strategy and direction for the LIS; it also accepts that there are no easy solutions since a number of interests may be represented in localities. Members see it as essential that such discussions actively involve the public in planning for the library services that are relevant to the needs and aspirations of the different target communities across Hampshire. In some instances this
might lead to greater investment in book stocks or in other instances, different resources may need to be provided."
OK? -- so what shall we expect.. ....
This report took two years to assemble and the most recent figures show despite a huge pouring of money into the service, more than anywhere else in the country, that both visits to and lending from Hampshire libraries fell again last year -- the decline in book lending in Hampshire in the past 6 years has been 40% and that is the worst figure of any English county. Do you get a sense of urgency to deal with this from the (92 page) report? Do you get a sense of anything? Yes you get an enormous sense of complacent supercilious waste of time and public money.
Posted by Perkins at January 26, 2008 7:48 PM