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September 24, 2008
Wars in Libraria
There are most definitely two warring factions in the world of Libraria.
The battle of words goes on again today on the letters page of The Times. The headline in the printed edition of the paper is 'Have our librarians lost the plot?'
On the one side are those people who believe that the population no longer has a need for libraries which provide books and other written information for pleasure and study as their main purpose. Books and reading material are not a sufficient attraction on their own. For libraries to be more widely used they need to diversify into other activities. Libraries must be 'more than just books'
On the other side are those who believe that the reason why people are not using libraries is because they no longer satisfy those needs properly. They don't have the books and information that people need and want and they don't even provide a quiet place one can read or study.
There is no reconciliation between these two views; there is no fence upon which one can sit to agree with both sides. If you are one on side you simply cannot be on the other.
The problem is that, like Jarndyce and Jarndyce, as this war enters its third or fourth decade there are too many people in the country who have never experienced a good public library and have lost interest.
It is time for decisive action... or it will be too late.
(Incidentally Jarndyce and Jarndyce is based on a true story that took place in Aldeburgh!)
Posted by Perkins at September 24, 2008 9:43 PM
Comments
Gants Hill Library is now closing its reference section and quiet study space two days a week.
Buckinghamshire currently charges some libraries for supplying them with books.
Brighton & Hove now charge an obligatory £1 "pushchair parking fee" for people who bring their children in buggies to mother and toddler sessions.
Posted by: Martyn at September 25, 2008 9:40 PM
Dear Martyn,
Gants Hill Library is closing its reference room for 2 hours each on a Monday and Thursday so that English class can be held, hopefully creating a whole new group of library users and avid readers. Chairs and tables and newspapers from this room have been moved into the main library so that customers can still study in what is a fairly quiet library (the Children's Library being completely separate). There are still 41.5 hours of library time per week when the Ref. room is available.
I hope that clears things up for you.
Redbridge Libraries
Posted by: Redbridge at September 26, 2008 3:43 PM
Dear Redbridge Libraries,
My apologies if I have mis-represented the position - what I wrote was based on a short piece in the online version of the Ilford Recorder (25 Sept) reporting closure for "two days a week." Literacy classes should be an integral part of every Library's activities.
I should add that the instances I cited were just three examples drawn from a much wide number of reports published on a daily basis listing restrictions to library services and the closure of public libraries across the country.
Posted by: Martyn at September 28, 2008 12:41 AM
No reconciliation? Has the world become completely stupid? I've always said make books and reading the central purpose of libraries (put them in pole position, so to speak) but don't throw out the IT. Quite simple. However, I find myself utterly exasperated by the rigid mindsets commented upon here - you'd find more tolerance on the Gaza Strip!
Posted by: James Christie at September 30, 2008 3:41 PM
Dear Martyn,
That's no problem. But I think a message to us all to take much of what we read in the press about libraries with a pinch of salt!
Best Wishes
Redbridge Libraries
Posted by: Redbridge at October 2, 2008 9:40 AM
Dear Redbridge Libraries,
Unfortunately all too many of the reports are true - in fact things are often understated,as cuts in library services, cuts in staffing and the closure of libraries are often just not reported.
James,
I don't think many people are arguing to get IT out of Libraries - on the contrary the argument is that it should be used more effectively to support book-based services. How about a single library catalogue for the whole all the public libraries in central London, for example?
What many people do object to is the fact that IT has been used as the pretext for the wholesale withdrawal of books, while one of the factors behind closing small libraries is that it is to pay for IT in the larger libraries.
Martyn
Posted by: Martyn at October 3, 2008 2:28 PM