The Good Library Blog

The point that needs to be remembered is that the Conservatives currently run most local authorities so already have the power to change direction away from the engineered decline of public libraries. The problem goes much deeper as was emphasised in from "University to Village Hall". Taking up the issues raised by the Select Committee two or three years back would be a good start and show that they are pepared to make a break with what they have been doing over the last few years.

This is correct. Here in Hove I have been attacked by the Conservatives' Chair of Culture, Recreation and Tourism David Smith after writing a piece in The Times about the Hove Library centenary this year - and the averted plan four years ago to close down that Grade-ll listed building. Smith was now saying the same thing as the previous administration, to whose proposal he had purportedly been opposed.

Martyn is right. We have to remember that Hampshire where the book collections have been reduced and Buckinghamshire where so many community libraries have been closed, are both Conservative councils. 'From University to Village Hall' which was Philip Pettifor's analysis of the declining ambition of the public library service can be found if you press on Philip's name in the left hand column. The Select Committee report is also in the same section