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March 4, 2008
Brighton Central Library
Councils which spend large amounts of money on capital library projects rarely think through the consequences for the operation of the rest of the library service. Many problems arise from the effect on the revenue budget- the ordinary money for paying the service every year. This is true in all cases-- as in Brighton where it was done with a 'Private Finance Intiative" or by whichever means the capital is raised
Here is a report on the current arguments which surround the Brighton Central Library, from Christopher Hawtree
"With the building of a new Brighton library (and its loss of books) and the long battle to save Hove’s Carnegie Library - now celebrating its centenary year - Councillors in this unitary authority are acutely aware of the importance which the diverse population accords reading.
When the new Brighton library opened, however, Councillors were taken aback by the uproar at its being closed two afternoons a week. Some rapid rejigging of the PFI agreement with Norwich Union / Mill Group was necessary to increase the opening hours.
Meanwhile, the authority’s opening hours remain below the recommended minimum, and for some while this has led readers to ask why Brighton library is not open in a Sunday if it really is such a “cool” city.
Shortly before last year’s local Election, Councillor Sue John announced at a meeting that if Labour got back in, the Library would indeed be opened on Sunday. There and then, off the cuff, Conservative councillor Carol Theobald announced that they would do likewise if put in charge.
Councillor John duly lost her seat, and the Conservatives formed a minority administration. Residents promptly held them to Councillor Theobald’s promise. This has rumbled on since May, with Questions asked at various meetings, and this Thursday’s Budget meeting will confirm the Sunday opening (at an earlier meeting the Conservatives, Greens and Labour each claimed to be the prime mover in this, which shows how popular a subject it is).
Curiously, funding of the Sunday opening is separate from the PFI agreement. The PFI covers the building (some £12 million), its operating costs - and the supply of books for all of Brighton and Hove’s libraries. Councillors are not exactly sure how this operates, and there is worry that the authority’s low level of book acquistion is a result of paying for the Brighton building during the next twenty-plus years. Happily, Chairman of the Culture Committee, David Smith immediately agreed to a recent public request for a report about the PFI set-up, and this will be available in April. More later. Naturally, Sunday opening should bring a demand for more books - and more shelves - in Brighton.
If readers everywhere make their cause known, Councillors begin to stir, fear for their seats, and things happen.
Posted by Perkins at March 4, 2008 2:22 PM