« What will Andrew Motion say about libraries? | Main | Oh dear Camden »
September 14, 2008
Headlines for Hornchurch
From a commenter:
Hornchurch Library in Havering is open till 10pm Mon-Fri, and till 8 on Sat, is completely refurbished, and has a dedicated Information Reference Librarian, a role I believe has been dispensed with in most branches in Hillingdon. :)
I don't think it would hurt to be open and straightforward about your role in the Hillingdon changes. As I understand it, you were a reasonably well-paid consultant on the Hillingdon project, which I think you neglected to mention in this entry.
Posted by Perkins at September 14, 2008 7:54 PM
Comments
No problems with this. I was paid a consultancy fee for a report with recommendations on the strategy for Hillingdon. I was also paid a second fee for laying out the negotiation for supply of books and other materials. They were two separate phases.
I am not aware of the situation about reference librarians in Hillingdon. I made some recommendations about the cost of operating the central library in Uxbridge but they certainly didn't include removal of reference or local studies, both of which are very important services. I have not been involved in the implementation of the schemes at all. The reports have been on the public record for some time and my involvement was written up at length in The Bookseller
Many congratulations on Havering and Hornchurch. I hear that you have done great things. (If you are involved)
Incidentally, I would be happy and delighted to talk about the work in Hillingdon with anyone at any time. When the implementation began a lot of stories were put about which included ones about reference librarians and about outreach which were just wrong. It wasn't for me to respond, it was for the council, and they preferred to show by actions rather than words exactly what they were doing, very sensibly.
Posted by: Tim Coates at September 14, 2008 8:02 PM